The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1913-06-16
PATRICK MoRRlssEY DEAD
Was For 35 Years Deputy Sheriff Of
Bennington County


Deputy Sheriff Patrick Morrissey
OF Stamford, one of the bestknown
men in southern Vermont, died Sat.
urday Afternoon at his home. Mr.
Morrissey was in his 18th year, and
was born in Ireland in county Wex-
ford, and went to Stamford more
than so years ago. He was regard
ed as one OF the substantial citizens
of Bennington county and it was
frequently said of him that his word
was never broken. For more than
35 years he had been deputy sheriff
of Bennington county, and during
his experience in that office handled
number of important criminal and
civil cases. He was a fearless and
upright citizen and held the respect
and esteem of all who knew him.
When young man he enlisted in
one of the cavalry regiments of Yer
mont and served with distinction dur
ing the civil war. Since the organic
alton of the Grand Army he had TAX
en- an active interest in all its affairs
and was prominent in its councils.
Returning from the war he settled
down in Stamford and there began
to have honors showered upon him.
He served two terms in the Legis-
lature and held every town Office at
one time or another. He was post
master for four years under one Of
the Cleveland administrations.
In his capacity adventures making
arrests and chasing criminals
through the sparsely settled country
side Of southern Vermont He round
ed up alone the four men who were
known to be present in the shack
where Mag" Shea was murdered in
Stamford over 20 years ago and one
of whom was sentenced to '99-years'
imprisonment. He drove to Hart
MELVILLE, one dark night and arrest
ed Edison Fuller for the murder Of
Witham. Two murderers in the lit
tie town of Woodford we're arrested
by him and Sheriff Robinson OF Ben
nington and the deputy sheriff was
wounded in arresting Louis Glenn.
who was wanted for putting paris
green in the spring of Justin San
ford's home. In forcing an entrance
into the Glenn shanty the man he
wanted slashed him on one hand
and arm with long double-edged
knife. Glenn then retreated TO the
loft above. where Morrissey and
Sheriff Robinson tore off some of
the boards and went up and got
him" Many a long chase he had
after horse thieves and II was a
long trail that permitted both man
and horse to get away from him.
During his term as sheriff until two
years ago he never missed a session
of the county court at Manchester.
About 20 years ago he bought the
principal store in Stamford and had
conducted it with his son, Daniel J..
up to the time of his death. He was
life member OF the Hoosac Valley
agricultural society. and no fair was
complete without the sheriff on
horseback. He was a member of c.
ID. Sanford Grand Army post Of
North Adams and OF the Elks' lodge
of Bennington. Mrs. Morrissey died
about three years ago.
His death followed an illness of
several months from a complicalv.
of diseases. and was not unexpected.
The funeral was held this morning
at 10 o'clock at St. Patrick's church
in North Adams of which he had
been a devoted member for more
than half century, and burial was
In ST. Joseph's cemetery in that
city. He is survived by son, Dan
iel Morrissey, and two daughters,
Miss Mary and Miss Alice Morrissel
all of Stamford and two brothers,
James and Daniel of Lawrence.