News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1909-11-03
YOUNG BOY DEFENDS MOTHER
Cna'ley Bonner, Aged Thirteen, Struck Drunk
ef Father with Axe.-Latter May Die.


ef Father with Axe.-Latter May Die.
Striking in the defense of his mother
oharley Bonner, thirteen-year-old boy
strqck his father, Nelson Bonner, witt
theIhead of an axe Monday night at the
daIflson Dodge farm in the south part
Oh Pwn, lnflicting what may prove fataI
woind. Bonner was crazy drunk and
the action of the boy without doubt
sa'fd the life of the mother.
lhe trouble started at about $50 after
M. and Mrs. Bonner had returned from
M,rrisville, where they had been during
thl afternoon on business pertaining to a
fam trade pending between Bonner and
tlF LeClair Brothers, who occupy the E
G. Foss farm on the Elmore road
3cs. Bonner had been to Hyde Park in
the fuenoon to attend a special service
at the Catholic church and joined her
husbaid here early in the afternoon.
Whenthey started from home she noticed
that her husband was intoxicated and
has siAce stated that she thought he had
been treated. When they reached home
his condition was much worse and as
his wife stepped out of the wagon Bonner
attacked her, tearing off her hat and
other articles of clothing. Mrs. Bonner
escaped but was soon overtaken again
outside of the house, the crazed man
throwing her down, tearing her hair and
face and finally seized her by the mouth,
tried to open his jack-knife with his
teeth saying Il guess may as we'll end
everything now." A nineteen-year-o
son of Bonner was trying to keep his
father from doing more da mage and sue
ceedad in pulling him back from Mrs.
Bonner, who cried to Charley the younger
son to strike Bonner with something.
AT this point Charley seized an axe and
struck his father, the head of the weapon
striking just above and between the eyes,
crushing the skull and rendering him
unconscious. The family then ran to the
home of Victor c. Heath, when officers
Towne and browne were summoned.
Upon arriving there they found Bonner
in tue yard in semi-conscious state,
having suffered much from loss of blood
anG the cold. Drs. Johnstone and Val
leau were called and the man was chloro
formed and made as comfortable as pos
sibie although little hopes were given
fer bis recovery, on account of the size
a ar4 natufa of the fracture.- -
The man was taken to Mary Fletcher
hospital Tuesday morning The ply
sicians thinking an operation might save
ing we're that he was still alive but his
is very critical.
The family moved here last spring
from Ellenwood Flats, n. T., and rented
the Dodge farm. There are six children
at home, the oldest, Bonner's son by
former wife, and the youngest a baby
six weeks old. 1t is said by neighbors
that Bonner appeared to be a peaceable
citizen when sober but that he was a
hard drinker. John Rondo, a brother of
Mrs. Bonner, who has been working for
Albert Whitcomb arrived at the farm a
short time after the fracus and before
the arrival of officers. He said Bonner
had served time in New York state for
manslaughter. having killed man in
a hand-to- hand encounter Bonner is
ahout 40 wears of age aud his wife is
five years younger.
After full hearing this morning be-
fore Justice A. A. Niles, the boy was
charged, as the Court considered the
accused to be justified, basing his decis-
ION on Sec. 569S of the public statutes,
which provides that "If person kills
or wounds another in 5he just and neces-
sar defence of his own life or his wife,
parent, child, brother, sister, master,
mistress or servant, such per-
sonix " shall be guiltless.
At the hearing it developed that the
found half pint bottle
Of alchoho in the wagon Monday night,
about three fourths full. 1t was also
brought out that Bonner and three 9th
srs drank half pint of whiskey during
The process of farm trade during the
afternoon. wilkins e Lunt state that
-heg had not sold liquor to the man
since last May, having refused to let him
nave anything.