The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-10-18
ORSON TINKHAM
HELD Up AND
TWICE SHOT
WeII.Known Farmer May Die OF
His Wounds
RUSHED TO TROY HOSPITAL
Aunoarian Arrested Early This Morn
ino and Taken to Troy for ldenti-
fication by Wounded Man.

Orson Tinkham, aged about 40
wears and who lives on the WinsloW
farm on the SALISBURY road, is in the
Samaritan hospital in Troy with TWO
bullet wounds, one of which is likely
10 cause his death.
Frank Snill, a Hungarian, was ar
rested early this morning, given
hearing in the office of States Attor-
ney w. ]. Meagher and taken by au-
tomobile to Troy in order that ne
might be identified by the wounded
man. Tinkham's injuries are OF such
a nature that all possible haste was
made by the authorities to secure the
identification.
The shooting happened on the high
wav leading to North Bennington, be-
tween the two bridges crossing the
Walloomsac river and in a dark and
lonesome locality One side OF the
highway is shaded by large maple
grove known as Clark's woods ana on
the other side of the road are mum
her of large trees. The spot Is an
ideal one for the preparation OF
hold-up
Mr.. Tinkham was in the village dur-
ing the afternoon yesterday with
single rig. He made some purchases
stopped at a gristmill and started on
his return trip about $50. He proba-
bly arrived at the scene of the shoot
ing about Gas o'clock. At the juno
ton of the road leading to Bennlng-
ton center with the main highway, ne
was accosted by rather rough-look-
ing individual who asked for rlde.
The farmer did not like the looks, OF
the fellow and slapped his horse with
the reins. The horse started, but not
quick enough for the man who grasp
ed the bride and demanded that the
driver give up his money.
In telling of his experiences Mr.
Tinkham said that the man fired the
first shot almost instantly after max
ing his demand for money. The horse
naturally started at the report OF the
revolver and when the would-be high
wayman fred the second time he was
still nearer his victim. The shot
struck Mr.. Tinkham in the groin and
inflicted what surgeons consider a
dangerous If not fatal wound. The
first bullet hit the farmer in the
cheek to reach its mark.
The horse kept the road and went
on toward North Bennington until II
reached the residence of Leon Percy.
Here Mr. Tinkham, who retained his
presence of mind to a remarkable de-
gree under the Circumstances, called to
the men who were working il the
barn. He was at once assisted to the
house of Herbert II. Harmon, Drs.
Frank ]. Hurley and c. S. Buchanan
were summoned by telephone as was
the Walbridge ambulance and the
wounded man was taken on the 7:45
train to the Samaritan hospital at
Troy.
States Attorney w. J. Meagher was
informed of the shooting by tele-
phone and accompanied by Sheriff
Frederick Godfrey, Deputy Sheriff
John Nash and Deputy Sheriff Perry
b. Gardner at once hurried 20 the
scene of the shooting in the latter's
automobile. The officers secured the
country in the vicinity but ccIld OBJ
tain no trace of the man.
Mr. Tinkham did not lose consci-
business for any length of time until
he was placed on the operating table
in the hospital Soon after being tax
en- into the Harmon house he had a
partial collapse but soon rallied and
was able to give the states attorney
a good description of the man who
shot him. According to Mr. Tinkham
the highwayman was about 80 years
of age, five feet eight inches high and
would weigh In the vicinity of 140
pounds. He was wearing a black
SLOUGH hat and black sweater. This
description tallies we'll with that of
Snill with the exception of the swea
ter. Snill had no sweater when ar
rested this moring but was wearing a
black shirt.
Mr.. Tinkham made the journey "a
Troy in the baggage car accompanied
by Or. Buchanan. Arrangements for
the reception of the patient had been
made by telephone and the man was
hurried in an ambulance to the hospi
tai where he arrived shortly after
o'clock. An operation was performed
Immediately in an effort to save The
mans life. When the abdominal cav
fly was opened it was found that the
intestines had been perforated in
more than a dozen places. II wa
necessary to remove a portion of one
Of the intestines. The bullet, a 80
calibre, was found lose in the cavity
and was brought back to Bennington
by DIR. Buchanan.
During the evening. States Attor
ney Meagher put himself in telephone
Communication with the police au
thorities in Troy. HoOsick Falls and
North Adams and gave them the des
cription furnished by Tinkham Of hi