The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-06-17

Joseph Ploof Then Attempted to Com
NIT Suicide

Joseph Plocf Ihen attempted 10 OoW
NIT Suicide
Burlington, June17-C christopher a
Miles a member of the Burlington po-
lice force was shot yesterday morn
ing by Joseph Ploof of As Ward street
and the officer is now in the Mary
Fletcher hospital in a serious condit-
ion PlOOf turned the revolver on
himself and fred two bullets into his
own breast in the region OF his
heart lie is also in the Mary Flet-
cher hospital Both men are ia
serious condition, but Miles may re-
cover if the bullet can bee locatei by
means of the X-Ray machine
Ploof shot Miles in the back a. the
officer was walking down stairs
ahead Of him in the Ward street
house. Miles had just read q wer-
rant to Ploof charging him with
breach Of the peace and ordered
ploof TO accompany him 70 the police
station ploof rose from q couch on
which ne was lying and Miles started
down the stairs ahead OF him
Miles had taken only Few steps
when Ploof pulled a revolver from
his pocket and fred at the officer,
the bullet striking him near the mid
die of the back i'm the region OF the
heart! Ploof then turned the reYoi-
yer on himself and fired two shots IN
TO his own breast
Miles staggered to the bottom OF
the stairs and fell into chair. lie
did not lose consciousness, but was
able to stand when the physicians
arrived and pulled back his uniform
TO show them where the bullet struck
him. As soon as possible hack was
called and Miles was hurried toward
the hospital. He had only ridden a
short distance however when he be-
came weak and was taken into the
home of Alderman Sullivan, a few
doors from where the shooting oc-
CURED It was thought he was dy-
ing and a priest was summoned Dut
the ambulance had been called ana
Miles was rushed to the hospital and
taken to the operating room.
The attending physicians began at
once to probe for the bullet and Dr.
insolvency stated that unless com
plications set in Miles had fair
chance of recovery.
During the excitement Of getting
Miles to the hospital Ploof was LETT
at the Ward street house and the am
bulance ordered to return from the
hospital for him Through mlsuh-
derstanding the ambulance drivers
overlooked the trip for Ploof and II
was sometime later before the man
was taken to the hospital His CON
dition is regarded as more serious
than that of Miles but is Is thought
he may recover
Ploof is an electrician by trade and
has worked for number OF electric,
al firms in this city 1t IS claimed
that he has been intoxicated for sew
eral days and was in an ugly mood
today when Miles called at the house
Ploof was seen on the street IN tne
morning about o'clock and was sad
not TO have appeared intoxicated then
The shooting occurred about o.
clock Ploof is alleged to have threat
ened TO kill his wife and it was in
connection with this threat that the
warrant charging breach of the peace
was issued
When asked why he did the shoot
ing Ploof said he did not know but
that he must have been crazy. lie
said he aimed at the officers heart
Miles was only few PAGES in ad-
vance of Ploof when the latter fired
Miles has been on the police force
eight years and has good record
as an officer. Some months ago he
iniure his hand trying to save a
Young girl from being burned 10
death and had only been back on
duty a few weeks Miles had no OPP
portunity to defend himself from
Ploofs attack as he had no warning
that the man intended to shoot