The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-12-21

sonvicted this afternoon of shooting
and severely wounding Orson Tink-
ham, a well-known farmer during an
attempted holdup on the night of
Octobr II, made a sensational at
tempt to end his life while being TAX
en- from the court room to the jail
following his sentence.
AS Cmell was being taken into the
jail which connects with the sheriff's
quarters, he suddenly broke away
from Deputy Sheriff John Nash Who
was leading him by the hand. rushed
into the sheriff's living room. seized
a revolver from the sheriff's desk
and pointing the weapon at mis- head
pulled the trigger. Fortunately the
weapon was not loaded.
Cmell's break caused a commotion
in the sheriff's quarters and Deputy
Sheriff Perry 3. Gardner, who was
just behind Deputy Nash sprang
through the door and grappleo with
Cmel. There vas a short struggle
but the husky deputy soon crowded
the PRISON. to the floor and wresled
away tie rev Oliver.
With The assistance at hand. 1t re-
uuired but a few seconds to put
Cmell behind the bars, but the eX-
element became even more intense
when almost instantly a sharp re-
port like pistol shot rang through
the building.
Officers hurried into the main room
OF the Jail fronting the cells, hardly
knowing what to expect 1t was evil
dent that the desperate man was de
termined to end his life. Would
they find q lfeless corpse lying upon
the stone floor? They remembered
that Cmell had succeeded in con-
eealing 4 number of cartridges about
his person which were not found
when he was searched. Could il be
possible that he had likewise beeI.
able to hide a weapon? With nerves
tuned to the breaking point, they
hurried past the heavy steel lat
ticed door and found the prisoner
alive and unhurt.
He had taken one of the cartridg
es which he had concealed no enc
knows where and in some unknown
manner exploded the charge. AS
the powder was not confined other
wise than by the shell of the car
fridge, Cmeli was unable to do him
self any injury.
The jury brought in the verdict of
simple assault at 1880 this afternoon
through it's foreman, w. w. West of
Peru, after being out four hours. he
sentence imposed by the court is not
more than FIVE years and not more
than four years and ten months at
hard labor in the House of Correc-
ton at Rutland.
81 want to die. want to die, | no
kill man. raising his right hand
cried Cmell after his counsel had ex-
planned the sentence of the court to
him. He talkd unintelligibly in his
language and then sank down on the
bench sobbing convulsively. with his
head on his arms. Sheriff John Nash
and Deputy Sheriff Perry Gardner
had to use force to get the prisoner
TO leave the court room and Il vas
on the way into the Jail that he got
away from TIE officers.
Cmell broke down and cried
Friday afternoon when his inter
prefer, ]. \. Koltonski, read
the letter aloud which he had writ
ten to his mother in Austria, while
he was in Jail
The letter, as translated by J. A.
Koltonski, from the Polish is as fol
lows:
Dec. 4, 1912
Dear Mother
am in trouble. was all right
while ! was working for Hendricks.
wanted to better myself so I've
rented a billiard room from a Po-
lander for the money ! had from Aus
tria and was doing we'll was ar
rested for theft of beer and alcohol.
had a trial and acted myself as in
terpreter. it cost me a large amount
Of money for lawyers. several OF my
colleagues Clipped in and that is all
gone. I was told by my lawyer that
! am to serve years in prison or
else one year on the Island where
can not see any one. I don't know
what will become OF me. I beg OF
you dear mother to pray for me and
give money to the church so Al
nightly God may help me in my pres
| ent miserable condition. Please
dear mother do not speak to anyone
about IL, but pray for me. I am kiss
ing your hands and feet am very
sorry that am in such a trouble. so
pray to God and may He help me out
and spare me from arrest
The address on the envelope was