The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1906-07-05
THOMAS JAMESON
FIRED THE SHOT
Returning Home From Grange
Meeting Early This Morn
ing Latter Found Intruder
in His Barn ~ A Strange
Case.

Williamstown. July Sired A. AIMS
worth was shot and fatally in
jured carly this morning by Thomas
Jameson at the Iattcr's farm, Mr. jam
icson taking him 10 be burglar The
victim Of the shooting died at u o'clock
today. The affair has caused the great
est excitement here, owing to the prom
inence Of the parties in the affair The
presence Of Mr. Ainsworth IN the barn
Is hard to account for. There is re-
port here that he went to the barn
with the intention Of making away with
himself, and that he had no intention
of doing any harm to the Jamiesons.
This story Is heightened BY the fact
that he had d rope attached to his neck
when shot.
The unfortunate affair took place this
morning shortly after half past twelve
o'clock. The Jameson brothers, John
and Thomas. had been in town TO attend
the meeting OF the Grange, and returned
to their home, two miles away. shortly
after the meeting. Thomas started to
walk home, and having left The village
considerably earlier than his brother.
got there first. When he reached home
he looked toward the barn and saw a
light knowing that everything had
been left all right and that there should
be no light in the barn, as his brother
was still in WiIliamstown, be began an
investigation.
In short time his bother, John. re-
turned from Nilliamstown. and drove
into the yard. Meanwhile Thomas had
secured q rifle. as he feared that the
intruder was a burglar and that il was
his intention to steal a valuable stall
lion in the barn. They then called out
and the man on the inside came TO the
door.
What do You wants" he WAS asked.
i don't know; ! guess am crazy
came the response from the man in the
barn.
After short parleyiag, during which
the Jameson brothers got no satisfac
iion. the intruder started to run; where
upon Thomas Jameson raised his 45
cslihre rifle and fired Ainsworth drop
ped in his tracks, having gone twenty
yards from the barn door
A telephone message was at once
sent to Williamstown and to Barre for
doctors Drs Watson Of this place and
Reid Of Barre responded as soon az pos
sible. They found that the bullet had
entered the maH's body Just above the
right hip in the rear and had come out
in the front on the left hand side.
During it, course the missile had torn
the intenstines badly. making tile wound
probably fatal. The physicians did what
they could to attend % the injury, bnt
they gave no hope then Of the man rccny-
cry. This forenoon early the man was
brought TO this village
The victim OF the shooting Is a man
OF iueproachable reputation, which
makes the case one Of the stfangest.
lie was 0nc of The prominent members
OF the Congregational church. lie was
born in Williamstown. the son Of the
late Rudolph Ainsworth, who kept a
store here ior nearly half century.
some years ago Fred bought the Brush
drug store here ana was conducting it
at the time Of the shooting. He WAS
Gs years Of age and has two brothers,
George A., q this place, tic well known
newspaper correspondent, and 4 brother.
Frank, Who lives ii The West Mr.
Answorth was never married
Both the Jamiesous, who are Young
men q good reputation, feel very badly
over the affair. a. they naturally would.
They did not know who tic intruder
was and did not learn until they ran
e. his side after the fatal shot Then
they recognized Ain Ainsworth. as he
Was well known t. theut The two
young men came q WilIiamstown from
Cardinal, Canada. three years ago, and
purchased the farm where the shooting
took place 'I'homas in talking Of tho
affair this forenoon told the story as
given above Saying tbat he fully be-
lcyed that the nan Was bur-
glar. after sccinY the light and after
getting no satisfactory answer from the
man whey they called him to The door
Tim authorities went 70 the lamieson
furm shortly after tho doctors arrived
Thomas Jameson told them that he
would be ready 10 respond if they want.
ed him, but no arrest was made The
affair i the sole topic Of conversation
here, and no ono Il able to account for
the affair satisfactorily Great sym
pathY Is felt for all concerned
The general belief Il that Mr.. Aims
worth wandered 10 tlie barn while TEN
porafilN deranged and thai he hal Iii.
tended tp take his lie.
Yesterday Mr. Ainswortli stated 70
citi1eni
eThem'll be something happen IN this
town tonight that will surprise people