Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-06-22
Policeman Christopher Miles Sc
riously Hurt while Trying to
Make an Arrest.
JOSEPHPLOOF THE ASSAILANT
Latter Then Turned Revolver on
Himself and Fired Twice
Both Men Taken to g.
Hospital,

Friday morning about nire clock
Officer Christopher Niles was shot. who
endcavoring to arrest Joseph Ploof OF IS
hrd stree. for whom he had II warrant.
charging breach OF peace. Ploof, after
shooting Miles, turned the revolver on
himself and sent two bullets into his
chest.
The police had been looking for Ploof
FOR threatening his wife with u revolver,
and many officers had gone to the home
Of his parents, with whom he lived. lie
mad not however. put in an appearance
since early in the week and seemed to be
aware of the fact that the police were
after him. Friday Chief Russell
thought he would make another attempt
20 get him and despatched Miles on the
case.
When the officer arrived none of the
usual occupants of the house was about
and he waited on the steps for some Of
them to arrive, he hesitated to go
through the house in their absence. Soon,
however. he heard the heavy steps Of
man upstairs and when some of the Ploof
family came along. Miles sa ne thought
Joe" was in there and went upstairs.
He met his man at the head of the
stairs and said I'm sorry. Joe, but I've
got warrant for your arrest" With
the words, "All right, I'll he down in q
minute" Ploof turned and went into his
room and the policeman not wanting
him to 60 down the stairs first, turned
his back to go below. When a few steps
down the stairs, he was shot. Miles
turned and asked what did you shoot
me for. but the reply was two shots,
when Ploof turned the gun toward him
| self.
I Miles, bleeding badly staggered to the
| hack into which he was helped by Hack
| man Topper, and they at once drove to
| the store Of Martin Sullivan, distance of
| a couple of blocks away. When near the
store. Alderman Sullivan was called out
| and Miles, who seemed only partly con-
scious, said Marty, I'm shot" Mr..
| sullivan got into the hack and took him
over to his house. On the way in answer
to the question as to who shot him, Miles
said Joe Ploof. asked him why he
did it,
LAST RITES ADMINISTERED.
A stimulant was administered at the
| house and Miles, who il u powerful man,
for minute stood on hf, feet He then
asked for priest and acted as though
he thought himself shot fataty Mean
while the olce station had been called
up by Mr.. Sullivan, who had also tried
| to get Il doctor. Dr. w. Baylies was
the first one found at home and he started
at once. Miles would not, however. allow
himself to be undresscd or to have any
thing done until he had received the last
rites Of the church, which were adj
| ministered by Fathers J. +. ellis and
j. j. Kennedy, who arrived quickly.
Meanwhile Dr. d. A. Shea arrived on the
scene and with DR.. Baylies went with
! the wounded man to the Mary Fletcher
hospital ploof was also taken there
| Chief Russell as soon as he was notified
of the shooting, sent officer Ryan to the
house. Ryan met officer German, the
man On that beat, and both went over
as did Sheriff Allen who had been notified
through some other source. Ploof who
had fallen at the foot Of the stairs, was
lying on a couch in his fathers room ani
seemed to be f. a dG2ei condition. Wher
questioned. he maintained stOutly that h,
did not shoot Miles but remembered shoot
ing himself. He wanted hts wife. from
whom he had been separated, and sh,
was sent for. The two were closetet
together for some time.
RELOADED REVOLVER.
Ploof told other members OF the famil,
that he had slept out of doors on the tw,
preceding nights and had wandered al
over Colchester Point and the region sur
rounding Mallctts Bay. DR. j. w
Courtney, Wno was one of the first o,
the scene, secured the revolver. and I
IL evident that Ploof must have reloade
It as there were no empty chambers II
Il. The gun was given Sheriff Ale
and is Identical in every particular wit
E the one used by Bosworth in the murde
. OF n week ago In Essex Junction. 1t is
Hopkins and Allen OF 80 calibre
Within few minutes after the shoot
Ing a crowd of several hundred ha
gathered about tho house ana the age
couple, parents OF Ploof had arrive
on tho scene. They were both horrlie
at the news. The mother and sister near
, | ~ lost consciousness because Of the shoe
and restorativcs were administered.
Last evening DR.. T. e. McSw~eneJ
, WHO is Miles personal physician, sal
that his condition was very serious an
| tnat tncre was strong possibility Una
, pneumonia would set in. He was In II
, tense pain. The bullet which entered tn
back Just below the shoulder blade an
took downward course is now probabl
imbcdded in the lungs. Ploof is apparent
Ily resting comfortably. Ono bullet, prof.
, ably the first went into tho chest near III
arm pit and came so nearly to the SUI
, face on the other side that 1t was remove
a Yesterday afternoon The other went
below the heart and has not got bee
i, taken out, No important change In III
a condition Of tho patient Is looked fl
a within "a hours.
: MILES A POPULAR OFFICER.
r Officer Miles has always been one OF II
most popular men on tho force and on
q a short time ago the residents on II
7 street where he was doing duty petitone
g an alderman to use his influence to pr
S vent a contemplated transfer. Thr,
months ago. when the Pine residence {
: Murray street was on fire, he rushed
and carried out a girl who was In FAM
and burned himself In the act so that OF
Of his hands has never recovered Its fl
n use, as some Of the tendons were burn'
y through He was incapactated for VOL
v after the fire for several weeks. In MAI
r other ways he has shown his Drawer
l. and during the seven years on the for
y he has accomplished many creditah
feats,
Mr.. Miles is 40 years Of age and has
u. wife and two small children, one bal