Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-01-14
F A|Rf|ELO YOUTH
SHOT RODDY IN
FIT Of ANGER
According to Story of Assault
AS Told by Witnesses--Had
Been Reprimanded by
Employer.

St Adams Jan, Estates Attorney
G. f.. Badd arrived here this morning
from Richford and, with Sheriff George
c. Holmes, Assistant Judge r. w. F'os-
ter and Miss Elizabeth Walker, stenog-
rapher, went early this afternoon to
Fairfield to conduct an inquest into the
trouble in that town Wednesday even
ing in which Leon Roddy was shot in
the head and his wife In the neck and
one shoulder.
Robert Morrison. who was brought to
the Franklin county Jail in this city
early this morning. is held on the charge
of assault on the Roddys with dan
gerous weapon.
II vas learned tonight that Morrison
was about the barn yesterday afternoon.
helped do work at the barn and ate sup
per with the Roddys. After supper he
followed Roddy to the shop in the shed
whore the latter was doing some work
and picked up a Ratchet and began to
hammer on a bolt on the anvil Roddy
asked him not to use the Ratchet for
pounding this was a gift which he
valued. Morrison became angry and
went to the house. Roddy took lantern
and went to the barn to attend sick
horse. He was leaning on one knee, bath
ing tho injured animal, when Morrison
entered the barn. came to the foot of
the stall ana fred. The ball entered Mr..
Roddy's forehead.
Morrison then hit Roddv with the butt
Of the gun and as they got to the door
way. smashed the lantern over his head.
Mrs. Roddy and Mrs. Howrlran, whose
farm the Roddys carry on, Mrs. Howri-
gan living upstairs. met them outside
the house They got Roddy to the pan
try and Morrison went to the kitchen,
looked into the pantry md Erred again,
the bullet hitting Mrs Roddy. Mrs.
Howrigan, who is an elderly woman,
threw the gun into n back hall and the
RoddYs got Morrison out Of doors. Mrs.
Roddy fired tho gun four times from
two windows upstairs to arouse neigh
. bors
FIRED TO SUMMON HELP.
/ It is said that Morrison. who went
/ to Joseph Bovat's house, finally admitted
that he had shot Roddy The condition
Of Mrs. Roddy is favorable. Doctors
say Mr. Roddy's chances for recovery
are about oven. Morrison told the off
GERS he was an orphan, but 1t Is learned
that last summer he had an insurance
policy made payable to his mother, Mrs.
Minnie Morrison Of Bristol. He went to
Fairfield from Sheldon, whore he had
worked on different farms there in recent
Years.
Morrison will be 20 years old next
March. He was uon-commttal when
questioned at the jail regarding the hap
penings at the Roddy home, which is over
mile from the village of Fairfield. We'd
nesdav evening. but admitted that he
went hunting that dav, saying thai ne did
not secure any game. II says he has
been working for Mr.. Roddy about
month ana halt The young man is
about five feet nine inches tall weighs
about 10 pounds with light complexion.
According to the story told by Joseph
Bovat, who lives about three miles from
Fairfield village Morrison called at his
home late Wednesday evening and got
Permission to sleep in the barn. Bovat.
thinking all might not be right at the
Rodly home, went there and found Mi
and Mrs RoddY In a serious condition, but
Mr. ROddy was n bout the house trying 10
attend to Mrs. Roddy's injuries and his
own. Mr. Bovat gave the alarm and
Morrison was found at the barn and taken
into custody.