The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1904-05-13
HIS ASSAHANT
NOT CAPTURED
Officer Vas Probably
Arresti1g the Man Who
Is Thought to Be a De-
Serter from Fort Ethan
Allen.

Burlington, May 18.-James McGrath,
one of the night policemen and watchman
on the lake front was shot and fatally
wounded at 7.20 O'Clock last evening al
the corner Of Main and Battery streets.
The man who committed the murder inn
medIately after ran down to the lumber
yard. MoGrath was taken to his home
but died on the way there.
A man was arrested last night at Basin
Harbor as The suspected murderer, and
was brought here this morning by 0flcer
Dillon Of Yergennes. Fred TOrence Of
JAY n. T.. an insurance agent, who left
here on the 80 train, about the time Of
the murder last night, was released.
The man arrested at Yergennes in s.
freight car early today says his name Is
John Thompson, tramp, en- route from
Montreal He wore soldiers shoes and
his shirt answered fairly well the descrip
ton OF the witness to the deed. A revol
ver was found in the car The hearing is
now on.
The suspect arrested at Nergennes in
preliminary hearing, said he deserted from
Montreal, passed through here last even
ing for New York As a matter Of fact be
Jumped freight at ShelbuEne.
Tbs conductor Eao telegraphed to Yer
gennes TO hold him found a 3s calibre re-
yolver in the car, four chambers Of which
were empty. corresponding to shots fired
at McGrath. Williams stories conflict.
He was identified by the witness Of the
a.,t 80 49,. -. ..Fak sssn =, auH s4sftl ho kbld
There was one eye witness to the crime,
joachim I.abarge, who saw every detail
from a window Ia his house, 20 Main street.
He says that he saw McGTath and a
strange man walk up from the lumber
yard together about T,29 O'Clock. They
came up the middle Of Main street, and
we're engaged in conversation. When OPP
pOsite fabaTge's house, which Is the SEQ.
ond one below Battery street, they stopped
aud faced each other Suddenly the
stranger pulled revolver from his pocket
and directing II point blank toward Me-
Grath. fired two shots,
Both took effect as the pistol was not
two feet from McSrath's chest. The po-
Eeeman staggered and attempted to walk
towards Richards boat shop on the cor
ner. The stranger started back about ten
again. He then ran toward the lumber
yard and wheeling about took one last
shot which Is supposed to have gone wild.
He then disappeared In the lumber yard
MleGrath then fell never utteTing o sound.
The sound Of the shots naturally attracted
attention and very soon large crowd as
sembled st the spot. The ambulance was
telephaned for, also DR. McSweeney. Ev-
erything possible was done for McGrath,
but the murderer's aim had been too true
and he died before reaching home.
George LeClaif, clerk at the Russell
House, almost opposite the point where
the man fell, ran 10 the scene and realiz-
ing the case was a desperate one returned
"a the house and telephoned TO Dir, Me-
Sweeney. to police headquarters, for the
ambulance and for a priest Willing
haekmen hastened after the priest and ply
sieian and within a short time both were
on the scene. DR.. MeSweeney, after ex-
aminiug the mans wounds, realized that
they were critical.
Then it was that a scene which ID sci
dom witnessed on the streets Of this city
took place The wounded man was lying
on the ground with the boat house as a
background and pile Of lumber on the
opposite side filed with people who had
gathered from the surrounding neighbor-
hood. At the head Of the dying man knelt
A woman 81 the neighborhood with prayer
heads Ia her hands reclting the rosary
and nearly half Of the crowd 10 kneel.
inc position repeating the responses. IN
the center Of the crowd stood Father Gill
il az the Cathedral administering the last
rites Of the church, with DR., McSweeneS
al his side. The ambulance soon arrived
ana started for the officers home, 1877 No,
chamOlain street, but the man died in :
few minutes without regaining conscious
ness.
Main and Bank streets on ChamplaiT
street. while on his way home in the am
hulanee. An examination was made q
the house by Drs. +. 4. Clark and + Z
Mesweeney and three bullet holes wer'
fonnd. The one which evidently proved
fatal was the one which entered about tw'
inches below the right nipple and one-hal
incb IN toward the middle Of the body
nassine down obliquely about the middl
~ tbe left arm two inches and remaining