Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1908-12-10

the Telegram published the following
story:
"charlestown, Nov. 22s--(speciai to
the Telegram. )--Spike Sullivan was
released from states prison this morn
ing after serving a sentence Of ten
years.
Sullivan was visited by two
Springfield gun manufacturers this
morning after he had been released.
and before he left the Office Of the in
stftution. The men offered Sullivan
$4,000 for a gun called an air gun
Of which Sullivan is the inventor II
appears that Sullivan was an adept
mechanic. and during his stay at the
prison was employed In the machine
shop. At odd moments he tinkered
on q strange looking contrivance
which he was pleased to call his air
gun,
About a year ago he finished his
work and had the gun completed, al
though in rough form. He was ap-
parently afraid lest somebody steal
the result of his inventive genius as
he guarded the gun closely and never
allowed anyone to touch II.
"A week before his release he asked
Warden Smith to give him lead bull
let and Sullivan placed it in the gun.
Aiming at a pine plank. three inches
thick. Sullivan pulled the trigger. No
report was heard. Walking to the
pine plank Warden Smith saw a hole
that extended through the board. The
bullet was found crushed against the
wall
The Springfield gun manufacturers
heard about the air gun and were
present to negotiate with Sullivan for
its purchase.
Sullivan said he guessed he'd rath.
er keep the gun for awhile, and on
being pressed said he would not part
with 1t for any figure.
"He left the prison a free man. car.
rying In q box his precious gun"
This article appeared In the Tele'
gram, but little attention was accord
ed It then. Fortunately Mr.. Spade has
a faculty Of remembering such little
things.
In the first place, Mr.. Spade OBJ
served that Mr.. Bold was found lyine
beneath the mouthpiece Of the speak
ing tube. Also that Coroner Ed
wards reported the bullet to have en-
tered the head between the eyes-alsc
that the servants had heard no noise
during the night.
lie noted that Ohacer Mcclure said
/ that nobody excepting one man had
: been around the premises. This mar
/ was at the front door between nin'
and ten O'Clock and spoke TO SONS
/ one in the house through the speak
ing tube.
: He remembered that Miss McGei
: declared that she had heard no noisl
1 except that Of slamming door; AM
yet Mr.. Boid's bedroom door wa
: found open the next morning. He re
< membered that the bed had not bee
D slept in. He concluded that some on
: on the lower veranda had called Nj
e Bold to the speaking tube, and ha
then fired a revolver up the tube, tn
h bullet striking Mr.. Bold between tn
o eyes il was evident that when NJ
s Bold fell to the floor beneath th
mouthpiece OF the speaking tube tn
Q noise made by coming In contact wit
d the floor was that which made Mis-
e MCGEE think it was the closing Of
door.
4 But II a revolver was fred up tn
speaking tube somebody would hav
s. heard the report.
e Then Mr. Spade remembered thi
1t Sullivan had threatened to get eve
le with Mr.. Bold. Also he remembers
e that Sullivan had been offered $25, Oh
,e for an air gun. a gun that made abs
n lutely no noise.
~ Mr.. Spade concluded that Sullivi
Sc was in no financial position to tui
to down such an offer for weapon U
less he had some important reason.
Sc Could IT be possible that Sulliv;
C. wanted the gun to satisfy the We
i'd geance he had been nursing for t
IT. years?
Mr.. Spade decided in the afirn
ed tive.
ng The rest was easy.
Chief Fitzgerald was notified a
he two detectives brought Sullivan. W
at was found in a waterfront bar-roo
pa to police headquarters.
ID, Sullivan, completely taken by s.
en- prise, confessed as follows:
go Il went to the Bold house that nie
to and rang the bell. was near t
he tube. and In a few seconds l hea
in Boids voice asking who was theI
tor Il showed the barrel Of my gun
lly the mouthpiece Of the tube SO Il
the curved end pointed up. and /
pc tube being just the same as a 10
nd gun barrel / pulled the trigger.
al heard Bold drop to the floor abe
his me. l was sure that no one got W
to me.
ere Il wasn't there more than two n
The utes. The next mornin' ! read In
,lu- papers that he was dead and the q
were daffy. o, yes, I'm your m
mes But I'm insane And take good G
Of the gun. But anyway. I've s
let. the patent rights for $4,000. ans
ued guess I'll be able to get lawyer t
oid will make you fellers hustle to DR.,