Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-06-02
PRIVATE BERNARD DEAD
Possible Murder Follows a Drunk.
en- Row at the Post.
Having Filled Up on burlington Whis-
key, the Soldiers Returned 10 Fort
Ethnn Allen, Where BERNARD
Wns Found sunday Morning.

Frank Bernard. soldier of the 18th
cavalry, at Fort Ethan Allen, is dead at
the post hospital, as the result of what
seems to have been a drunken row. Ber-
nard and three other soldiers came to
this city Saturday evening bringing with
them pair of army shoes which they
offered for sale Bernard was selected to
SCH the shoes and was told to get two
dollars for them He sold the shoes but
claimed to his companions that he did not
cet two dollars. Micue, the soldier to whom
the shoes belonged. wanted Il dollar from
Bernard, but the latter said he did not
have it, Tho men then began to fight,
but werc prcve,ited by other soldiers who
we're present. They started for an OBJ
scurc place to dec Ie tie battle. but Ber-
nard managed to elude them and go to
the post. Mcue, in company with the
other soldier. went back to one of the
saloons and while there Dragged that he
would got Bernard before he went to bed.
Bernard got 10 the fort and Micuc, in
company with another soldier, went to
the post aud hero all trace OF the men S
doinGs is .oSt
About 1-20 o'clock one of the artillery
EorSeants was going to his battery. and
In passing in front of Troop ks quarters
noticed a man lying in front of the quar-
tors. lie tried TO arouse him but the man
refused to move. Thinking the man was
only a drunk he lot him remain there.
Shortly after the sergeant had passed
two Other soldiers discovered the man
and Went into the troops quarters and
nwOkc some Of the members who brought
the man in and put him to bed In the
dark they did not know that he was in
cured but thought that he was ntoXi-
Gated. Tho next morning when tho mem
hrrs of the troop arose they found Der.
nard covered with blood. lie was imme-
RI talx i'd a l.,
died at 20 o'clock Sunday evening. His
injuries consisted of a bruise on his hip.
one on his shoulder and several scars, all
presumably wounds received in fight
The wound which probably caused the
mans death was the cash in his head
This resulted in fracture to his skull
This wound may have been caused by a
kick in the head. or 1t may be from u
fan, the mans head striking on some
blunt object. lie was also injured inter,
nally, by being kicked and stamped on.
The authorities at the post. on learning
OF Bernard's death. confined three mer
in the guard house, but two of then
have since been released, the other Pri
waite Micue, being stil in confinement
Although nothing definite can he proven
against him, web of circumstantial evi
dence is being woven around him.
The general opinion al the post is thai
bernard fell from ono OF the windows II
his sleeping room to the ground n dis
lance of about 30 feet, but this does no
seem plausible. To do this he would hav,
frst struck the tin roof of n porch, This
was thinly coated with sand and docs no
show any sign of a man having rolled az
IT. His position when found might indi
cate this, but he could have been thrown
over the railing of the porch and hav,
attained this position.
1t is not definitely known as yet wha
action will be taken In the case, but tn
military authorities will use all their ef
forts to find the real cause of the man
death He was young soldier in tn
troop and up to tho time of this affai
held an excellent reputation. The men o
the troop all speak well of him.
Micue, the man in confinement, Is ais
a recruit, from Watervlle, Me
If the case is proven to be an accident
Micue will be released from the guar
house, but If pot he will probably answe
TO the charge Of manslaughtcr. The mill
tary authorities have full jurisdiction 4
the case, the crime, If there was a crime
having been committed on militar
reservation.