The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1915-07-19
STAGGERSFROM ST
J0HNSBURY POOL
ROOM TO DIE
Death of Sumner Brown Probably
Due to Drunken Quarrel
SHERIFF SEEKING HARLOW HATCH
Victim Shot Through the Lung and
Lived But Three
Minutes.

St. Johnsbury, July 1S.-Sumner
Brown, about 25 years old, shortly af-
ter Sis O'Clock this evening stagger-
ed from the door of the Hatch pool
room in this village crying 81 am
shot" and fell upon the sidewalk dy-
ing in three minutes. Twenty min
utes later Sheriff w H. Worthan and
20 deputies were securing the town
and surrounding territory for Harlow
Hatch, Browns employer. who was
with the man. it is alleged when
Brown received the bullet. from 80
calibre revolver, through the lung
just above the heart.
Hatch who was in the pool room
when Brown was carried in by by
ISLANDERS, disappeared in the confus
ion.
An investigation was started inn
mediately and it was learned that
Hatch and Brown this afternoon hir-
ed G. L. Kirk to take them to Dan
vile in an automobile, Kirk brought
his passengers back to St ,Iohnsbury
and left them at the pool room short
ly after s o'Gbaek tonight. Z
1t is said that both Hatch and
Brown had been drinking but that
neither was in a bad condition from
liquor. Both men. according to Kinks
story, were apparently friendly tow
ard each other. They paid their au-
tomobile bill and went into the pool
room.
What happend in the pool room is
not known. The revolver was found
on the floor where it had been drop
ped or thrown. Dr. w. b. Fitch. who
arrived shortly after the shooting.
said that there were no powder stains
or burns upon Browns body or cloth
ing which would bear out the theory
that the man did not shoot himself as
he could not have done so. it is claim
ed without burning his clothing at
such short range.
Word was sent at once to Dr. b. II.
Stone OF Burlington, state pathologist
who will be here in the morning to
hold an autopsy.
According to the statements of
several who saw Brown stagger from
the pool room and who saw his body
taken back into the building, Hatch
was present and acted confused. 1t is
said that he urged that a doctor be
sent for and when some one said
they did not know where there was a
telephone Hatch is said to have vol
untecrcd TO show them where the
central Office was. 1t is claimed that
Hatch went out to show someone
where they could reach a telephone
and that he disappeared.
Both Brown and Hatch were in
their shirt sleeves and Hatch was SO
dressed when he disappeared in the
crowd which had by that time as
sumed considerable proportions.
Many of the curious ones who
quickly congregated about the pool
room came from nearby mission
meeting attracted by the shot which
was plainly heard by dozens of per
sons in the neighborhood,
But little is known of either Hatch
or. Brown. Brown, who came here
from Jefferson, n. H., in May, is mar
ried and has a three-year-od daugh-
ter. His wife is employed as house
keeper by Lambert Hastings of this
place. This afternoon Mrs. Brown
and daughter We're spending the day
in Concord.
Hatch came to st. Johnsbury a few
months ago from Danville and short
ly after purchased what was known
as the Cobb pool room. Brown had
heen employed short time by
Hatch
rerrz y s>trtgwr,u-. "a ~ --xs,~---..