The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-12-24
PRISONER TOLD
HIS STORY IN COURT
John A. Thomas Charged with Shooting
Burlington Policeman, Held for
County Court.

Burlington, Dec. 24 John A. Thomas
charged with assault with a dangerous
Weapon, with intent to kin, was at
raigned in city court yesterday after.
moon and was bound over to Chittenden
county court, bail being fixed IN tile sum
Of $1,000. Mr.. Thomas IS the man who
on the morning Of November 8, shot
Policeman John H, Ryan il the thigh
Of the left leg. Ryan was about to ar
rest him and Thomas fred the revolver
while it was concealed in his oyercoat
pocket
Il is thought that Mr. Thomas is in
sane and his testimony yesterday would
seem to strengthen that belief He talk
ed in quick snappy manner and
repeated many things over and over
again. FIe told Of writing letters to
Theodore Roosevelt Speaker Cannon,
the secretary Of war and the secretary
Of state at Washington and congressman
and senator's.
He said that on the morning Of No.
yember he left him home on Cedar
street at s:l5 o'clock, carrying his UNI
breiia in his right hand. He walked
from Cedar street to Elmwood avenue
70 North street and thence TO Wnooski
avenue While crossing Cherry street
o. thereabouts he placed his umbrella
il bis left hand, placed his right hand in
his oyercoat pocket. lie said that this
arm was crooked and he was In the
habit Of carrying it ia his pocket When
Officer Ryan confronted him and another
officer held his arms from the rear, he
said that the revolver was 6red unbe-
known TO himself He thought it WAS an
accident
When asked why he carried a revolver
he answered that he had recently tray
eled over 1000 miles and that he needed
it TO protect his money and deeds to
his property He said that previously
TO his arrest he had Aired the revolver
eight times, twice on the Winooslsi road,
once on St. Paul street and five times
at the corner of North street and North
Winoosld avenue. He fired the gln on
Winooski read because he wished to see
liz il would work, but on the other
occasions Ne fred Il because he wanted
to. He purchased it at a Church street
store
He said that he had never been in
Jail but had been an inmate Of an asylum
IN Newbury. Michigan AT that time he
WAS a resident 81 Grand Ainrais. Mich.
He was in the asylum from May Is,
1908, 70 June, 1909 He did not know
why he was pnt there and knew no rea-
sou why any one should wish him con
fined Upon heing released, he visited
Illinois. Wisconsin. Indiana, Pennsyl-
vania. Ohio, New York and Canada, vis-
ting the latter place five times During
this whir through the states he said
he also made short vislt In Pittsaeld,
Mass. He then came to this city, ac-
companied by his wife.
While an inmate IF the asylum he said
that he had written TO Roosevelt snd
Speaker Cannon to find out what he WAS
confined for He also asked them o re-
lease him. He also wrote to d United
States senator and congressman aaa to-
other persons whose names be saw IN
the papers
n Burlington this summer he said
he was cheated at the local postofiee.
one Of the clerks taking q dollar from
him. He sold he wrote to the postof
fee authorities at Washington and had
received several replies from them.
While in Jail he said that he wrote 10
the secretary Of state and attorney gen
eral at Washington. asking why he was
arrested In such an odd manner He
wished 10 know why he was ia jail