Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1907-12-30
MURDER AND SUICIDE.

A terrible tragedy occurred near South
Barton Saturday night which has east a |
gloom over the whole community and
brought untold sorrow to whole family.
the affair occurred in the edge of Sutton
about one mile from South Barton, at the
home of the E. A. ButterfieId family. The
family consisted of the father, e. A. But
tertieid, SO years of age; the mother, Mrs.
Butterfield; Mrs. Butterield's mother,
Mrs. Thomas Berry, about 70 years of age;
three boys, Edward, about 22 years old,
Frank, 19 years old, Arthur, II years
old; and one daughter, Henrie, II
years old. About O'Clock Saturday
night while Mrs. Butterfsld was writing
at a table and Frank was reading Mr..
Butterfeld suddenly took loaded rife
and stepping near Mrs. Berry shot her
through the head, killing her instantly.
Tue little girl YVES sitting in her grand
mothers lap at the time. She was terribly
frightened and ran to the home of G9orge
Wheeler, the nearest neighbor. After Mr..
Butterfisld shot Mrs. Berry he made the
attempt to shoot his wife, but Arthur took
hold OF the rife and pulled it from his
mothers head. Just then the oldest son,
E iWard, and Harry Robbins cam3 in, and
/ sesing there was trouble Edward grapplad
with his father and threw MIN to the floor,
and Mr.. Robbins took the rifle away from
/ him. at this time neither Edward nor
1 Harry knew OF the death of NJ M-s Berry
as the body sill remained in the chair
in sitting position. The young men let
/ NJ . Butterheld up AMI ne drew a knife
70; another battle but was una ole to do
execution with it. Thea he weat into
the bedroom, got revolver and came out
prepared to do more shooting, but everyone
left the house, finding they had a crazy
man to deal with and not wishing to in
jure him. When Mr.. Butterfsld found
everyone was gone he went to Georgt
Wneeler's TO find his wife, intent on kill
ing her. Mr.. Wheeler met him at tht
door, and the infuriated man demanded tC
know II his wife was there. Mr.. Wheele
told him she was not (though she was in
hiding in the ceIlar.) Mr.. Buttertielc
wanted to go in and see for himself but
Mr.. Wheeler said his housekeeper wa
afraid of him and so he did not persist IL
going in. He asked Mr.. Wheeler to com
to his house aud he went with him, Ii
the conversation about his killing
Mrs. Berry Mr.. Butterfield declared n.
officer should take him alive and goin,
into his house he made preparation to de
fend himself from the officers. The of
ficers at Sutton were notified of tn
. tragedy. They cams late in the evening
but did not attempt to enter the hous
i until morni lg. Whsn they did the
found Mr. ButIerieid's body with the to
: OF MS mead blown of, he having put tn
muzz.e OF MS rife just back of MS ear an
7 discharged it in that position.
: NJ. Sutterieid mad always been Gale
T an upright, honest, hardworking man b1
L within ie years had taken 10 drinking
= About twenty years ago ne bought Il
: land whs-e ne lived. Hs cleared the iant
; built him q log house, worked hard. q
S ahead, recently built new ba-n, aad witt
: In two or three years built good hous
OF late ne spsat considsra Die eims nuatin
ana fishing, aud coltinued drinking.
, his house were foand three rifles, sh