Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-12-30

John A. Thomas, charged with assault
with n dangerous Weapon. with intent to
KILL was arranged In city court Thurs
uay afternoon and was bound over to
.hlttenden county court, bail being fixed
IL the sum Of 1880. Mr.. Thomas 10 the
man VINO on the morning Of November 8
shot policeman John II. Ryan In the
.nish or the left leg. Ryan was about to
arrest him ana Thomas fred the revolver
"hlie 1t was concealed in his overcoat
pocket.
ronce'nan Ryan was the principal wit
ness for the State. He testified as to the
shooting. az did Officer William, Collins.
james Cossrin. . fireman. and John
seith. OTicer Ryan told of walking I'm To
Ihomas on South Winooski avenue. he.
low College street. and kin Mr..
Thomas what his name was. He then
placed his hands on his shoulders. when
the revolver was fred. Tho stories Of
inc other witnesses were much the same
snd corrohorated tho accounts that pre-.
'iously appeared In the press.
IL is thought that Mr.. Thomas Is insane
and his testimony Thursday would seem
TO strengthen that belief. He talked In
a QUICK snappy manner and repeated
many things over and over again. He
OLD or writing letters to Theodore Roose-
vet, Speaker Cannon. the secretary Of
war ana tho secretary of state at Wash
thgton and congressman and senetors.
He said that on the morning Of Novem-
Der S he left his home on Cedar street at
NIB O'Clock. carrying his umbrella In his
right hand. He walked from Cedar
street to Elmwood avenue to North
street and thence to Winooski avenue.
While crossing Cherry street or there
abOuts he placed the umbrella in his left
hand placed his right hand in his over
coat pocket. He said that this arm was
crooked and he was in the habit Of car
rying 1t in his pocket. When Offcer Ryan
confronted him and another oflcer held
his arms from the rear. he said that the
revolver was fired unbeknown to himself.
He thought It was an accident.
When asked why he carried a revolver
he that he had recently trav-
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 fred the revolver eight
times. twice on the W'inooski road. once
on st. Paul street and five times at the
corner Of North street and North Winoo-
"' ~ ~ ~ 8Nh III Nv VI
nooski road because he wished to see II it
would work. but on the other occasions
he fired 1t because he wanted to. He
II at a Church street store.
He said that he had never been in Jail,
but had been an innate Of an asylum in
Ncwbury. Michigan. Al that time he
was a resident Of Grand Marais, Mich.
He was in the asylum from May is, 1905,
IN Y;,~o 1nlA II. ltA 49, .-.r- --A~~ L..
was put there and knew no reason why
any one should wish him confined. Upon
being released. he visited Illinois, Wis
coHsin, Indiana. Pennsylvania. Ohio. New
York and Canada. visiting the later place
five times. During this whirl through
the States he said he also made a short
visit in pittstield. Mass. He then came
to this city. accompanied by his wife.
When asked II he approved CT saloons
he said: Yes sir. ! approve OF saloons,
| think that everybody should sell
liquor that wishes to. or course. that Is
an individual matter and l have a right
to an individual opinion"
In referring to his membership in the
Church he said that the ques-
ton did not matter; he had a right to at
tend what church he wished; 1t was a
Of individual opinion.
When asked what his politics were he
answered in the same strain. II was a
of individual opinion; he had al
been a republican.
While an inmate OF the asylum he said
that he had written TO Roosevelt and
Speaker Cannon to find out what he was
confined for. He also asked them TO re-
ease him. He also wrote to \ United
senator and congressman and to
,ther persons whose names he saw in
he papers.
While in Burlington this summer he
said he was cheated at tho local post
,nicc, one OF the clerks taking q dollar
his. He said he wrote to the post
,fiice authorities at Washington and had
several replies from them.
While in jail he said that no wrote to
he secretary OF state and attorney-gen-
.ral at Washington. asking why he was
In such an odd manner. He
to know why he was in Jail.