Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1909-03-25
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Stranger Found Dead.

Stranger Found Dead.
Some of the pleasant consequences OF
having licensed saloon in a town were
forced upon the attention Of Braintree
Monday morning, when Henry Haraden
found a stranger lying behind the Baptist
church at Braintree Branch, frozen to
death in a drunken stupor. He was
stretched out on the grass where the sun
had thawed the snow from a ledge, about
rod from the track, and at his feet was
the cause Of his undoing-a pint bottle
with perhaps a tablespoonful of alcohol
left in it. He was lying ON his back; his
coat, which be had been too far gone to
even button around him, was thrown
open, while few feet away from him
were his overcoat and hat. To all ap-
pearances he had simply dropped down
and died without q struggle.
| First Selectman H. F. Flint was noti-
fed, and he summoned DR.. @. w. Scott
and Undertaken A. F. Lamb from this
village. The doctor pronounced it a clear
case OF death from exposure to the freez-
ing atmosphere while the man lay in the
heavy sleep Of intoxication. There were
no marks on the body aside from a bruise
that had barely broken the skin on one
side Of the face, while lower down on the
other side was a second injured spot, both
looking like bumps he might have re-
ceived in staggering around.
There was not a scrap OF paper about
him to give any clue to his identity. All
his pockets contained were 70 cents in
money, razor and stone for sharpening
il, pipe, tobacco and matches and several
bunches OF shoestrings. He was un-
doubtedly tramp though more cleanIy
and better dressed than the ordinary
tourist and with some regard for his per-
sonal appearance as the presence Of the
razor indicated. Those who saw the
body thought he might have been any
where from 40 to 43 years OF age.
Jan. 19, eight tramps were sent from
this place to Chelsea on the charge Of va
grancy to serve a sentence Of go days in
Jail, from which they were released Fri
day. This man, known by his confreres
as New York State Whitley, hastened ct
once to Braiutree with joyful step to
quench thirst Of so days compounded
intensity at that pride Of the town, the
licensed saloon. Although Barkeep Ar
cher could not certainly recognize the
bottle lying with the body as one ever be-
longing to his stock in trade. CT the dead
man as late patron Of his place, there is
not much reason for supposing that the
beauty Of its scenery caused New York
State Whitley to hit the trail for Braintree
as soon as the jail door swung to behind
him. At any rate he and a companion
succeeded in raising their spirits to a
hilarious state Of cheerfulness there Sat
urday, and sometime during the day they
we're commissioned by one William Finn
to buy dollars worth of liquor for him;
but that was the last Mr.. Finn saw Of
his dollar or his agents until he identified
the dead face OF one OF them.
Between and O'Clock Saturday after
noon, Whitley was seen staggering along
the track by Richard Thompson, who
works for George c. Flint and was driv-
ing by where the road and track run near
together. While Thompson watched the
swaying figure it fell and did not seem
disposed to rise again. Thereupon he
left the team and, going to the man,
found him sound asleep on the rails. He
reused him and, Learning that be wanted
to board train, be told him he better go
back to Braintree and saw hirI safely
started in the right direction before re-
turning to his team and driving on. The
man, however, went hardly 20 rods before
sleep again overlook him and he crawIed
up back Of the church to meet his death
in the bitter cold Of Saturday night.
The body was brought from Braintree
by Mr.. Lamb and placed in his undertak-
ing establishment, W here it remained until
Wednesday. Then, not being called for.
it was put in the tomb.
The only clue so far as to the Identity
Of the deceased is obtained from the DO
lice court records, which show that of the
eight vagrants sent to Chelsea, Jan. 19,
six we're towards or over so years OF age,
while two, who stated that they were, re-
spectively, 3s and AZ years old, gave their
names as William Baker of Burlington.
machiDist, and Frank Williams OF Yer.
non Center, shoemaker. New York State
Whitley was enc Of these two but which
one has not been determined, nor is it at
all unlikely that both names given were
fictitious.