Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-09-30
Abel Hartshorn, Aged Farmer,
Shoots Neighbours Wife and
Then Himself.
ALIENATION SUIT THE CAUSE
Mrs. Fred Frye Returned the Fire OF
Murderer rut Bullet Went wild
Fiftecn-Yenr-Old Ray Taylor
Shot Ilartshorn Three
Times.

nanvillc, Sept ga murder followed
W a suicide Is the record of the days
york In this peaceful hill town. At $3.50
This morning Abel Hartshorn entered
the home of r. J. Frye and at once fired
shot from his revolver. hitting Mrs.
Kate Frye In the neck. She immedio tclv
reached for her revolver and fired at
Hartshorn, the bullet missing hin, and
rtrking the mirror over the sdehoard.
Hartshorn fired again. tho bullet passing
through the woman's left temple and
killing her.
Ray Taylor a 15-year old boy, who
had been doing chores there through
the summer, was in the room and just
before Mrs. Frye was shot the second
lime she told the boy to shoot Hart
Fhorn. lie Immediately picked up tho
revolver which Hartshorn had knock
I'd out Of her hand. and fired three
shots at Hartshorn. One bullet struck
glancing blow in his cheek. the
second grazed the top Of his head and
the third struck his left arm and
lodged in his body.
Taylor then picked UP Esther tho
year-old daughter OF Mrs. Frye,
and carried her to the nearest neigh
Dor, Mrs. Henry Page. whom he told
Of the murder
Hartshorn soon left the house
crossed the road and. climbing a stone
wall. lay down behind 1t, took n dose
If powdered strychnne and then
killed himself by putting a bullet
through his right temple
Mr.. Frye had just left the house
with the oldest daughter, Luella. aged
ten. who had gone to school, and when
,he murder occurred was at the black
tnith shop. Returning home with the
ncighhors he found his wife dead In
The house and the murderer dead
Just across the road.
The selectmen. Or. C. NJ Libby, the
health officer. and DIR. Henry L. Pache
made Immediate preparation for the an.
toHsy, awaiting the arrival of the county
nficcrs High Sheriff George T. Winch
eame up from MCIndoes In his automo.
bile and J. Rolf Searles of ST. Johnsbury
representing States Attorney Smmonds
md Deputy Sheriff Fred s. Hartman
drove from st. Johnsbury. The autopsy
was neld at noon with the findings as
stated above.
Hartshorn was Ct years old and had al
ways lived in this town. In years pas
ne has been in constant trouble with hi.
neighbors and two families have left the
state within a few years to get rid o.
lis annoyances. For about n year he ha.
been more attentive to Mrs. Frye thar
:he conditions warranted and two week
ego Mr Frye brought suit against hin
5cr $1,000 for alienation OF his wfe's af
feotions. II IL believed that the bringing
Of the suit led him to commit murder.
II was evidently his intention &c
KIN Mrs. Frye and then take his owr
life with the strychnine. but, having
been shot, perhaps fatally. by young
TAYLOR, he changed his mind and sho'
himself.
He was n prosperous farmer anc
breeder Of horses and leaves a father
90 years old. wife. two daughters
and two sons. one son and ons
daughter lived at the homestead The
other daughter Is married and live.
here and the youngest son lives in ST
JOhnsbury. Mrs. Frye vas 3b year:
old and Ia a native of the neiEhborine
town OF Waterford She married
about dozen years ago and had two
little girls.