The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1904-06-20
SUICIDE
AT GRAVE
Sad Ending Of Life Of Gideon
H. Burton.
BULLET THROUGH HEAD
Mr.. Burton Was a Printer and
Came Here from New York
TO Kill Himself.
BULLET THROUGH HEAD

mrs JOnn u. HarWoOd was going
through the village cemetery Sunday
morning about seven o'clock she saw the
body of manlying across a grave, Up
oninvestigation she found that the man
was dead, that his head was near the
marble monument, and near his right
hand was a Swift, 80 calibre revolver
with two chambers discharged. Mrs
HarwOOd informed the authorities who
were promptly on hand. 1t was found
that the dead man was Gideon Burton,
former well known resident of the
village, in which he was born about
90 years ago. His wife who survives
him, was formerly Miss Rcba Morton
of Bennington.
Mr. Burton learned the printers trade
under the late J. /. c. Cook, and for
a number of years was connected with
the Bennin gton Banner. He left here
about thirty years ago. For several
years he conducted job printing es-
tablishment on Williams street in New
York, and later on in Brooklyn.
Saturday afternoon Mrs Frank Day,
who is a sister of Mr. Burton. received
a telegram from Mrs Burton asking If
her husband was here, and stating
that before he left home Thursday, he
said that he was coming to Benning-
ton to kill himself on his father's
grave. She asked to have them look
out for him. Up to that time he had
not been seen here and an answer to
that effect was sent. Mr. Burton ar
rived on the 6;45 train but did not go
to the home of his sister and the first
she knew that he was here was when
she heard of his death.
Mr. Burton was seen during the eve
ming by several, and at eleven 0 clock
was in the lunch cart taking lunch.
He must have gone directly from the
cart to the cemetery, for about half an
hour after revolver shots were heard
by John Kelso, Chauncey Rudd, and
others living near the cemetery. They
thought that some one was shooting
at cats or some other animal and paid
no attention to it,
Burton must have been very metho-
dical in his preparations, Judging
from appearances. There was about
S2 found on his person, some papers,
but nothing giving any reason why he
should kill himself. 1t looked as if
the shot must have entered the head
directly under the left eye, but the in
made after would indicate
that the muzzle of the revolver was in
his mouth. He had apparently oeen
dead several hours.
Mr. Burton had been subject to at
-acks Of dependency since the death
Of his daughter three years ago this
month, and it is probable that he took
MS life in one of these periods. He
vas in good circumstances as far as
Known. For several years he had
oeen president of the Junior order
If United American Mechanics
)ne of the leading mechanical organi-
.ations of the country.
Mrs Burton was notified by tele-
,hone and arrived here this morning.
The body was taken to Walbridge's
rooms and attended to,
md from there to the residence of his
lister on Adam st.
Mr. Burton was veteran of the civil
'ar enlisted in Company A. 4th YER
lont, Bennington Company A. in
.ugust 1861, and on the 9th of the
anne month was commissioned second
lieutenant Company C. He was pro-
noted to be first lieutenant July II
S62 and remained in the service until
ebruary IA 1862 When he resigned.