The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-07-15
GEORGE B. NILES is
ARRESTEDAT HOME
IN SHAT ISBURy
In Connection With Death of
Father-ln Law, Chas. Barton
WAS ASLEEP WHEN FOUND
Even After Being Lodged in Jail Was
Too Intoxicated to Realize
What Had Happened

George B. Niles was arrested late
Friday afternoon at his home in the
western part OF the town of Shafts
bury, brought to this village and lod-
ged in Jail He is charged with be
ing responsible, but to what extent
is not yet known. for the death of his
fatherin-law, Charles Barton, who
died suddenly at the farm occupied
by the two families about o'clock
Friday forenoon
Information OF the suspicious ma
ture of Bartons death was communi-
Gated to the authorities here by Dep
uty Sheriff George l.. Corey at o.
clock Friday afternoon. States At
torney w J. Meagher at once order.
ed an automobile and accompanied by
Sheriff Frederick Godfrey hurried to
the scene of the alleged tragedy
They found Niles asleep in the house,
made the arrest and brought the man
to the county Jail 1t was apparent
that Niles had been drinking for some
time and even after he had been plac-
ed in a cell he was so thoroughly I'M
der the influence OF intoxicating liq-
uor that he was unable TO realize the
danger Of his situation
According to the statements Of the
officers there were marks on the face
Of Barton that would indicate that he
had been struck one or more times
by a persons fist There were no
marked abrasions OF the skin but one
eye was discoored as though from a
blow.
The circumstances OF the death of
Mr. Barton are shocking, whether a
crime or accident II appears on the,
surface OF events 20 have been due
solely to the drunken habits OF his
son-n-law. George b Niles who for
several years has been constantly
drunk whenever he had the money
and got where liquor could be had
The story OF the case is said to be
as follows though these reports are
subject to corrections
Thursday Niles went to WallOom-
sac and came home drunk as usual
He had liquor enough on hand so he
started in drinking in the morning
He is said TO have been ugly and
abusive to his wife and finally attack
ed her and poured hot water on her
from a kettle. burning one leg pain
fully through her clothes Al that
time Niles was not drunk enough so
but what he could walk and talk and
illtreat Mrs. Niles
M narfnu Har father ufuU foo
bic old man OF %. recently seriously
sick and no match for a big able bod
led brute such as Niles is said to
have been when drunk However. he
tried to protect his daughter when
Niles was pouring hot water on her
Just what happened then will come
out in detail later and on that hinges
the question whether IL was a crime
or accident Mrs. Niles herself was
too much upset and distraught TO be
very clear about IT, Persons who
went there later In the day say that
the indications were that Mr. Barton
had been struck In the face and that
In falling had hit the back OF his head
on the floor He died either at once
or within very few minutes without
moving
All this happened between and 9
o'clock Friday forenoon About 9 o.
clock Niles appeared on horseback at
the home OF George II. Bronson ana
asked Mrs. Bronson to telephone for
doctor. lie gave evidence OF hav-
ing been drinking. but he was not
drunk as was shown by his telling
Mrs Bronson with an oath that he
didn't want her to go TO his house,
when she offered to 80 over and help.
Mrs Bronson. however, pluckily
! told him that she should go anyway.
as 1t was apparent from his talk that
help was needed Though she had
sickness at home. Mrs. Bronson left
at once and went across lots. about a
/ ten minute walk to the Niles home.
She found Mr. Barton dead, Mrs,
Niles badly burned. terribly upset and
her aged mother. Mrs Barton. sick
In bed and nearly frantic Mrs
Bronson after time was able "a
summon her husband and Henry
Bump who were working In the fields
near by.
Niles followed Mrs Bronson BACK
to his home and assisted the other
men a little In moving the body OF MI
Barton from the floor to the bed. a
little later he hitched up team and
drove OF. presumably to Walloomsac
lie came back about o'clock. much
drunken than before and with tive
quarts OF whiskey He again began
to abuse his wife and the neighbor'
had to protect her Finally he lay
down In a drunken stupor and was
asleep when the officers came.
Or u. ". Stone, the state paihol
ogist came from Burlington on the
night train and went with the States
Attorney to the Niles home this fore
noon aud performed an autopsy OF
the body of the deceased The result
will not be known until Niles II
arraigued