Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-01-02
dward Butterfield, Aged So Shot Mrs. Lydia A.
B. DurXee, Aged 70, AS She Held Child in
Lap-Murderer Drove Family Out and Bar
rcaded Himself with Arsenal of Weapons
Threatened to Kill Everybody but Officers
Found Him with Head Nearly Blown Off.

Sutton, Dec. 29-High on the rocky
hills of Sutton. only two miles from the
placid waters of Lake Wlloughby,
double tragedy was committed last night
and this morning when Edward Butter
field, aged 50. deliberately killed his
mother-in-law, Mrs. Lydia Ann Berry
Durkee. aged 20, and at day break this
morning killed himself with the same
rifle rather than face capture at the
hands OF a posse Of dozen officers who
had been shadowing the house since
midnight
Butterfied had been acting queerly for
some time and a quart Of alcohol, which
he had consumed since Christmas. had so
deranged his already weakened brain that
1t is evident ne intended to Kill every
body In the house. After he had COM
mitted the awful deed and before the Of
ticers arrived he discussed the matter
freely with his only neighbor. George S.
Wheeler and told him he had an
admontion from the Almighty that he
would be rewarded with seat at Gods
right hand IL he killed his motherin-law.
The family consisted OF the husband.
wife, the mother-in-law and four chill
dren Edward, Frank and Arthur, aged
p 10 and 49, and the daughter, Henri.
aged II. All we're present at the supper
except Edward and at seven o'clock the
father came from the dinlng room mo
the sitting room, where his ">Ie was
writing at her desc and the grahoihott.er
was In an adjacent rocking chair with
little Henri IN her lap.
SINGS A SONG AND f1HEo'
r,o ,o.hor ,xos worry angry hecause his
,.iro u,.s ,rri-ing IN her brother. tearing
A.. ,o,,s,od letter aud other napers
r 49,, ao.,, ,.,or ,oLirg another drink
- o,.,,o, ava sinoine song. without
,-,,,,, u. so,zod Winchester re-
.,co ,,o sno, Mrs. Durkee in
~. . .ho a,,n ,e,rr 90 close that her
,,or-,h,, h,,clsed nv the powder.
nv rail nassed through her right eye
and TWO doors INTO the saru' N.''e -'o'
.rn,ad ord ran 70 Mr.. wheeler's house
.oroo +,,rtv rods AWAY and bursting omen
,be door cried "pana has shot grandma"
A,,or ,nstart,v killing Mrs. Durkee
pr++oree,d aimed his rife Mt his wifo's
hcad In. his son. Arthur. quickly raised
,be harrol iust MS his two brothers.
.-ro,,, ana Edward cor7o IN Tho three
ave o.e,s.cd ~, tho,r connsnion. Uar-
yoy pohh,ns throw r2u-toroeld down. but
NOT baeoro ba had struck his wife a vici-
ous h,or. IN tho hoad
M +or,,,v red e,or, mo house IN tor
w. ,oo,.irg tho n,,,rlerer on guard and
~ r,,,od ~, n, orecral consisting of two
,r,rchaster rnn.at,ry rifles. two shot
crns two revoIvcrs. all loaded to their
,,,uoet conac,.v and two dirk knives
17dword ran reor,v three miles IN the
ro.rost toIanhone ar South Barton to
no.ifv tho suite, authorities and II was
o,o,.o, o,c,ocL hoforc Dcputv Sheriff
r,bo,r,a, and two assistants arrived. In
.bo meantime putter6eld had been IN to
,vbo.,er.s house three times hunting for
h,,. ,r,t. ard told Wheeler bo would kill
r,.hod,, ,rd overvhody who attennted
% orros. him
ARRIVAL OF THE OFFICERS.
c,o, ,y,oon -, Melinda, ,r,-,,,od At