The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1904-03-22
ASSAULTED
BY TOUGHS
John Watson Victim of Mur-
derouS Attack.
BY DEFORGE BROTHERS
ASsailants Captured in PownaI
after Battle with the
Officers
BY DEFORGE BROTHERS


mer, employed by the electric light
company, was set upon and beaten by
the DeForge brothers of Woodford
Monday afternoon.
He was on his way down from Ben
nington Center late in the afternoon
and when near the old St Francis de
Sales church met John DeForge and
brother who were going the other
way. They had apparently been drink
ing and We're quarrelsome and danger
Gus.
As Watson stepped from the pole
where he had been at work one of the
DeForge brothers, who had approach
ed close, struck him over the head
with a bar of iron.
Watson, who was taken completely
by surprise dropped like a log, though
fortunately he did not lose his senses
and was able TO dodge some of the
blows that both DeForges rained on
him as be lay in the road,
The approach Of DR. II. w. Burgess
and another man frightened the assaii-
ants and they hurried away.
Watson after a few minutes gained
strength to come down TO the village
and notify the officers who started in
persuit.
When Watson.reached the village
he was covered with blood and dirt,
his head was gashed by the iron, his
face cut and bleeding, and his clothes
torn and muddy.
His wife tainted at her first sight
OF him and it was some time before she
regained her composure.
Doctors were called and his wounds
dressed. They found that his skull
had been badly used but was not
fractured and he isexpected to recover.
As soon as possible Deputy Sheriff
Godfrey and Jailor Russell accom-
panied by w. b. Taylor went in pur-
suit of the rufians. They traced them
through Bennington Center, over the
west road to Pownal where they over
took them and endeavored to arrest
them.
The brothers fought like fiends.
They had the piece of iron with which
they struck Watson, and this they
used on officer Godfrey, who was con-
siderably cut up. and Russell was in
jured some
One of them seized Godfrey's left
hand between his teeth and took out
quite good size piece of flesh. The
officers hung to them and late in the
evening they were landed in the coun-
ty jail here from which they will not
be liable to escape at present,
Walter Taylor, who waswith Deputy
Godfrey and Officer Russell, joined in
with them to help subdue the two in
turiated men. AS a result he received
severe cut on the left cheek and
some other minor cuts. He says
that fguratively speaking, the fur flew
for few minutes.
The two brothers we're for some time
residents of Woodford, where they
gained an unenviable reputation.
They have been before the municipal
court here several times, but it is
probable that after this escapade they
will retire from society for the present
at least.
Watson is confined to the house to-
day, and complains of pain in his
head. The expectation is that he will
fully recover, but the attending physi-
clans think he had better be quiet for
a few days. Superintendent Larrabee
of the electric light company says
that he has been a good steady man,
since he came into his employ.
When the officers who had been
after the assailants of Watson arrived
at the jail with their prisoners, they
found that the key to the handouts was
gone. 1t could not be found and be-
fore the two prisoners could be sepa-
rated file had to be procured, and
the lock fled off. 1t took about half
an hour to do this.