Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-10-28
SOLDIER SHOT BY SENTINEL
Working under Guard, He At.
tempts to Escape.
Joseph SucOfsky. n Private In Troop
G mt Fort Ethan Allen, lowering
between Life and Death Mt
Post Hospital.

Joseph Sucofsky, private OF Troop
G., Second United States cavalry, bta-
toned at Fort Ethan Allen. was shot and
very seriously, IL not fatally, wounded
early yesterday afternoon when he was
attempting to escape from the sentinel
a member OF l. Troop, who had him in
charge, working him on the road just
east of the reservation. He was operated
upon soon after being shot and v neither
or not he will live could not be stated
with any degree Of certainty at the post
hospital late last evening.
Sucofsky, who was placed in the guard
house at the post Tuesday night, was
put at work with two others on the road
under sentinel yesterday, working a
pick. Early in the afternoon he asked
permission to go to the rear, which was
granted by the sentinel who sent man
with him. After he had returned and
had been at work a short time he turned
to the guard with the question What
Guild you do II / should attempt to run
away?" 81 would stop you" was the
| reply. He turned back to his work for
| few minutes and then. throwing down
| his pick. he started to walk away. When
asked where he was going he made no
reply other than quickening his pace. The
guard Their ordered him to halt, but the
man kept on going toward the bank east
| of the electric car track. The guard who
| followed, again ordered the prisoner to
\ halt, with the result that the man jumped
over the BLUM and started for tho rail-
road track. The guard, who had ut that
time reached the top OF the bank. ordered
49,, for the third time, to come TO a
halt. but the man FASTENED his gait and
| started to run up the track. The shout
stop or will shoot" made no impression
| and the guard then shot into the ground
| in the direction of the running prisoner
as a warning and proceeded to chase him
up the track. The man had n good start.
however, and 1t was then that the sentinel
raised his rifle and shot to wound. the
| man being fully 20 yards away at the
time.
Tho prisoner crumpled up, the bullet
taking effect, and when he was reached
by the sentinel and others working in the
vicinity it was ut first thought he was
dead. The bullet had penetrated the back
of the head and come out at the front
Sucofsky was Immediately rushed to the
post hospital and an operation followed.
performed by Major Wallace Dewitt and
DR.. F. f. Clark of this city. a fractured
skull was found. The skull was lifted and
parts OF 1t and the blood clots removed.
Following the operation the patient APP
peared to rally slightly, but his condition
was very grave last evening and his
chances for recovery were considered to
be very slight.
1t IS considered that the sentinel gave
the man every possible chance before TAX
ing advantage of the last resort, and that
performance OF his duty. The sentinel Is
a recruit and it may have been in the
mind of Sucofsky that his guard would
not have the nerve required to shoot and
that even il he did he would be unable to
shoot to wound. The sentinel. as is the
custom in all such cases. was Immediately
placed under arrest and court martial
will follow after the injuries to Sucofsky
, have been ascertained
Sucofsky was placed in the guard house
Tuesday night after the officer Of the day
had found he had quit his post while doing
guard duty. 1t is said the officer came
upon the man off his post and that
Sucofsky did not challenge as he shout.
have done in the performance of his duty
He was relieved at that time and confined
In the guard house.
Sucofsky is 81 years Of age and enlisted
at Fort Slocum n. Y, on March q, 1915
He was detailed to the End cavalry ant
{ has been a member OF G. troop since May
2. His father, Louis Sucofsky. resides a
AIS East hist street in New York.