The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-06-09
After Wounding H. A. Stat
en- at Vernon Yes
terday
HUGH COLLINS WAS
PUT UNDER ARREST
He Had Been Convicted of
Intoxication, Staten Be-
ing Witness

Brattleboro, June 9.Hugh Collins, q
years OF age, substitute station agent at
| Vernon on the Central Vermont railway
! five miles south of here. yesterday
morning shot with a borrowed rifle Rep
representative Herbert A. Staten, who
had been a witness against him Satur-
day when he was tried for intoxieaton
and fined S5 and costs, amounting in all
to 1902. No one witnessed the shooting,
but Collins admitted it. The circum-
stances were peculiar.
Mrs. NJ |. Reed of Brattleboro had
been visiting in Vernon and intended to
take the northbound train from that sta
tian, which brings the Sunday morning
papers and reaches Brattleboro at $3.50
Mr.. Staten, knowing OF the condition of
Collins the day before, said he would go
to the station with her and flag the
train. as he did not believe that Collins
would do his duty
Mrs. Reed said that they went to the
station and found the door locked, The
flag was lying on the station platform
and Mr.. Staten picked it up and placed
it in position to flag the train. Mrs.
Reed sat down on a bench in front OF the
window OF the telegraph office, and MIR.
Staten stood some distance to one side
Collins. who was in the office, walked
to the window and said Good morning"
to Mrs. Reed She responded in kind,
and Collins asked Wont you come
ing" Mrs Reed declined, and as she did
SO noticed that Collins rested a rihet
against the window 81 !
Mr.. Staten remarked that as the train |
was about due and the flag was up, he
thought he would go home and. saying |
good bye to Mrs. Reed, started along |
the platform to his home, only a /
lew rods from the station. A minute /
ater Mrs. Reed and George Petteplace,
newsboy who was waiting for the
rain to get his Sunday papers. heard l
wo shots. They had not seen Collins
nce his conversation through the closed i
window of the ticket Office with Mrs.
Reed.
"I've just Shot Staten"
A minute later Collins appeared from
he direction in which Mr.. Staten had
walked, carrying rifle. He rested the
.un against the bench upon which Mrs.
reed was seated and said: I've just
hot Staten. Here is the gun" With
hat he turned and walked away.
Mrs. Reed and young Petteplace hur-
led across the platform and found Rep.
Staten lying under a tree.
lie was conscious and called TO his |
rife, who was hurrying towards the .
pot. to go and get John Wright. Mrs.
eed ran to the house and summoned Z
'r. George r. Anderson of Brattleboro, {
he family physician, and Others called {,
ificers from Brattleboro. Dr. Anderson
rdered the ambulance and Representa-
We Staten was removed to Memorial
ospital in Brattleboro, suffering from
bad wound in his right hip and another
the right forearm.
Collins, during this excitement, walked
, the home Of Oscar Thayer, where he
nd been boarding, and remarked. Il
less I'm crazy. I've just shot Staten.
was at this house that Deputy Sheriff
l. Knapp and other officers found
ollins when they arrived by automo-
lie little later They brought him
Brattleboro and locked him up.
Collins, when arrested upon COM
amt for drunkenness made out by ii
.ate's Attorney A. V. ID. Piper. ap-
dTed DeIOre Munlclphi JuuRe r.. u. Il.
irber, who motored to Vernon Satur- K
" to hear the case, declined to engage NJ
unset and conducted his own case n,
pom the evidence given by Representa-
re Staten, c. f. Davis and A. c. Barnes, y
was found guilty and the fine inn pl
sed, which Collins paid. The testi- te
ony was to the effect that Collins was =,
leep on the table when the witnesses.
tn others, went for their mail and os
at he was so drunk that he was in
pable of conducting the business of ac
E railroad. Saturday evening Collins m
is heard to declare at several different re
mes that he would have the witnesses
10 had testified against him arrested.
e gun he used he borrowed yesterday
,rning of George Thayer. son of Oscar. Tt
tn whom he boarded. He obtained
! weapon by saying that he was going
nting.
Herbert A. Staten. the victim. is ri'
tive of Beverly, Mass, 81 years of ba
E. farmer and resident OF Vernon W
&C 1894. He was elected to the pres a
legislature. 50
| ms