The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-10-19
FIGHTING CHANCE
FOR HIS L|FEFOR
TINKHAM
Encouraging Word from Surgeon
Who Performed Operation
SHOT BY H0LD-UP MAN
Further Particulars of Attempt to
Murder and Rob Well-known
Bennington Farmer

DR.. ]. p. Marsh, the surgeon at the
Samaritan hospital, who performed
the operation upon Orson Tinkham
Thursday night, was in the village
last evening on professional business
and stated that the wounded man
had fighting chance for his life.
Tinkham, who was shot through the
groin by a Hungarian gypsy in an
attempted hold-up, is man in ex-
cellent physical condition and his
chance of recovery are better than
the average in similar cases.
Cmell, the young foreigner, who is
charged with the shooting, has fall
ed ever since he was first brought
before States Attorney w. j. Meag-
her Friday morning, to reveal much
information concerning himself. AS
far as could be learned he had been
in the village about two days before
the shooting. He claimed that he is
only 20 years of age and does not
look much older. 1t is likely that he
drifted north from Pittsburg, Pa, as
he stated, as there are many Hun
garians in Pennsylvania employed in
the coal mines. Some paper drink
ing cups used on the New York Gen.
trail railroad and Boston and Maine
time table were found in his pockets.
He had only one cent in money.
The revolver found in Cmell's
stocking is a new five-chamber 32-
cailbre weapon. AS was stated yes
terday three of the chambers were
empty and two contained loaded cart
ridges. The weapon, which was OF
double action pattern, was foul
showing that it had been recently
discharged.
One of the strongest features of
the evidence against Cmell is the
fact that long black silk handker-
chief was found in his pocket. The
handkerchief may have been fasten-
ed across his face in the shape of a
half mask at the time of the hold-up.
Tinkham expressed the belief that
the mans face was covered by the
neck of turtle neck sweater but
Cmells weater, which was black as
Tinkham stated, was a coat shape
When Cmell was brought before
the wounded man at the hospital Fri
day morning Tinkham said that he
was positive that the Hungarian was
the assailant. When Cmell spoke
Tinkham said that is the voice.
Tinkham is positive that the first
bullet, fired by the highwayman,
struck him in the groin. The second
passed through his cheek and the
third through his hat. The wound
ed man, now that the excitement,
which followed the incident has abat-
ed, is convinced that the shots were
fired in that order. He had risen to
his feet when the highwayman seized
his horse by the head and dropped
back to the seat of the wagon after
the first shot was fired.
Smell is a man of deceptive appear
ance physically. AS he sat in the
automobile Friday on his way to the
hospital to be identified he looked
like boy. He is largelimbed, how
ever weighing 166 pounds. He is
five feet, seven inches tall
In Troy Friday after Cmell had
been taken to the hospital and identi-
fed the officers carried him to the
Troy Jail in order that Sheriff Smell
might have a look at him. There
was a slight suspicion that the gypsy
might be Donate, the man charged
with the murder of the Morner fam
lily last December While Cmell is
a similarly proportioned man he does
not resemble Donate in other re-
spects.