Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1908-12-09
MURDER AT GLOVER
Ray Coomer Shot and Instantly Killed by
Levi Partridge Saturday. Bound
over in the Sum of $4,000.

| some time COOmer has been rather in
innate with Mrs. Partridge and his
attentions have been the cause of con-
siderable trouble in the Partridge
family. Last July Partridge swore cut
a warrant for Coomer on a statutory
charge and he was lodged in county
Jail. Mrs. Partridge left home. but a
reconciliation was effected and Par
fridge gave bail for Coomer's release
and warned him to keep strictly away.
Of late however his after tions became
more marked. and about O'Clock Sat-
from work in the field, and sesing
Coomer's horse hitched outside, entered
the kitchen, finding Coomer and
his wife there. 1t is reported that
Partridge told Coomer to leave the
place at once, but Coomer said he
wouldn't till he got good and ready,
whereupon Partridge entered closet
off the kitchen, took down his shotgun
and before Coomer realized what Par
fridge was doing he re ceived a full
charge from the gun in the top of the
head, blowing the top part of the scalp
entirely off and killing Coomer in
stantly. Partridge then threatened to
kill himself with revolver but was
kept fror; doing so by the entreaties
of his wife and little Walcott i'd
who was living there. Buswell Leon
ard of Clever happened to be pass
ing and was called in. Selectman A.
C. Phillips was notified, and he and
Constable A. G. Sargent arrested Par
fridge and turned him over to State s
Attorney w. M. Wright of Barton.
Partridge was locked up in the police
station at Barton Saturday night AID
, was taken to Newport Sunday.
A hearing in the case was held on
Monday evening at the courthouse in
Newport before Municipal Judge H.
B. Cushman, Attorney-General John
G. Sarg gent of Ludlow and States At
: torney w. M. Wright appearing for the
e state and E. A. Cook and Frank
Thompson for the respondent. The
t hearing occupied the time till nearly
IL o'clock p. M, when an adjourn.
ment was taken till yesterday morning
for it's completion. Judge Cushman
i took the case under advisement, and
o later bound the respondent Partridge
q over in the sum of $4,000 on charge OF
{ murder in the second degree. The
g general opinion of those who are more
or less acquainted with the facts seems
: to be that Partridge's crime was com
e mltted after great provocation anc
f that he will have little trouble in get
ting bondsmen.
IS Partridge is about 35 years of age
( and his wife is somewhat younger
n Mrs. Partridge was formerly Mrs
q Nav Sykes ard for some time previous
$ to her marriage four years ago sh'
5 was employed at the Peerless factor,
le at Barton. Partridge is PRACTICAL!
is alone in the world, his parents having
'e died some years ago. Coon er's repu
tation was not of the best. For time
he was employed at the hotel il
= Greensboro Bend, but lately has beel
a farmland. He had been employees
by Partridge at various times. bu
s. since the July arrest Partridge ha
On watched him more closely. No on
save the wife and the three-year-ol
~ child witnessed the tragedy and man.
~ conflicting stories are afloat, but a
near as obtainable the facts are a
here given. People who know ex
listing circumstances express no partie
10 ular surprise at the tragedy. sayin
that Partridge has been greatly ap
10 gravated by Coomer and that Coomel
~ who is muscular fellow and fighter
had once thhrashed Partridge and tina
Partridge was afraid of Coomer.
ed DR.. Hastings arrived at the hous
n less than an hour after the tragedy
r ,r He found Coomer's body stretched o
he the floor, where it remained by orde
N. of Attorney General Sargent of Lno
mt low till he could reach here Monday
- when the body was removed and photo
,r. graphed by Walcott of Barton, and
ss horrible picture it makes. The funel
er al services of young Coomer wer
n held at Glover Tuesday afternoon. Rev
Ie W. A. Warner of Barton officiating
lr- Selectman Phillips says that Partridg
IT, has had considerable domestic troubl
,ar the past two years. but does not plac
of the blame for any of the trouble upo
nd Partridge. who is hard working farm
m er and bore fairly good reputatio
"a "a in the community. Mrs. Partridge
to said to admit that she was the cause {
nd the trouble between the two mer
'cn Partridge is native of Glover, livin
his his on the farm his father formerl
'ch owned. med.