The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1904-05-14
SUSPECTED
OF MURDER
Charged with Killing Police
man James MCGrath.
MAN WAS A DESERTER
Gives His Name as Warner Will
IiamS and TaIIies with Muir
derCr's Description
MAN WAS A DESERTER

Burlington, May 13.-The man ar
rested last night at Basin harbor on
suspicion of being the murderer of
Policeman John p. McGrath, who was
killed in the lumber yards district ear
ly last evening, was brought here this
morning by Officer Dillon of Vergen-
mes. He was Fred Terrence of Jay, n.
Y, an insurance agent, who left here
on the 7:3O train, about the time of the
murder last night. He was released,
but further developments are expected
soon.
A man was arrested in Vergennes in
freight car early today and brought
here. He said his name was John
Thompson and that he was tramp,
en- route from Montreal for New York.
He wore soldiers shoes, and his shirt
answered fairly well to the description
of the witness to the deed A revolver
was found in the car.
At the preliminary hearing held this
afternoon, the man gave the name of
Warner Williams. He said he desert
ed from Fort Ethen Allen Wednesday
and went to Montreal. He passed
through here last evening for New
York As a matter of fact he jumped
the freight at Shelburne audwas found
in the car by the conductor, who tele-
graphed to Vergennes TO hold him. A
IS calibre revolver was found in the
car, four chambers being empty, and
corresponding to the shots fired at Nc
Grath Williams stories conflict. II
he is identified by the witness of the
deed as the right man he will be held.
The description of Francis Lavallee,
the watchman in the Shepard & Morse
yard, who saw a strange man convers-
ing with Officer McGrath shortly be-
fore the shooting, tallies exactly with
that of the man under arrest He |
heard the officer and stranger talking |
about the advisability of the latter's |
returning to the post, and heard the |
stranger say that he did not care to
walk up there, as his feet were too
sore, and because he would be put in
the guard house.
The arrested man also answers the
description given by a man named
Hammond, fireman who saw the
fellow prowling about in the lumber
yard in the evening.
Williams said he had served about
two and one-half years in the cavalry,
and that he deserted Wednesday. On
tuesday he claimed to have received
pay amounting to Sl4.75 which with
What he had amounted to $40. When
asked what had become of the money
le replied that he lost it from his
pocket.
His feet are badly swollen, and this
act IS regarded as significant as the
murderer was heard to tell Policeman
dcGrath that he would not go back to
he post as his feet we're too sore.
After williams examination at the
,olice Office, he was taken to the Jail.
IN being searched three cartridges, ,
me of them creased with a jack-knife
yere found upon him. About 70 cents
a money was taken from him, and a
OF of toilet paper, water soaked.
The man claims 10 have reached /
his city at about II O'Clock Thursday =
light, and to have slept on top of a
umber pile. He said he left the city
t daybreak and walked five or six v
niles and then boarded freight train, q
ntering the car in which he was ar
ested.