The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1916-09-23

North street near the Hogan barber
shop. Costello, who was posted
wanted Ketcham to get a bottle OF
liquor, but the latter refused and an
argument followed. Later the two
men met at the corner of North and
River streets and the argument was
renewed. For a third time the men
came together at the Columbian house
at the corner of River and Depot
streets the quarrel which was
becoming more heated was re-
newed. Ketcham says that the word
was passed which always means
fight and he invited Costello to go
outside the village where there would
be no interference and settle it, Cos
tello agreed and the two walked di-
rectly to the trolly road crossing
where the shooting took place.
During their journey to the crossing
Ketcham says that the quarrel was
suspended and that he gave Costello a
drink from half pint bottle. When
near the watering trough and at the
time the automobile in which the three
dughters of Mr.. and Mrs Frank Bron.
son were riding passed over
the road Ketcham fired his re-
volver in the air and one of the young
women screamed. Asked why he dis
charged the weapon, Ketcham replied
that he did it lust to frighten the
girls"
Before proceeding from the watering
trough Ketcham says that he threw
out two empty shells from the revol.
yer and filed the two chambers with
cartridges.
At the crossing, Ketcham says, the
wrangling was renewed, he drew the
revolver and began shooting Costello
From the first shot fired the bullet
must have been the one that struck
the victim in the side Of the neck
Costello screamed and threw his hadn
to the side of his face. The second
bullet probably struck Costello behind
| the ear, penetrated the brain and
caused his death. Costello fell and as
he lay upon the ground Ketcham says
that he emptied his revolver at the
head OF the PROSTATE man.
When shot Costello fell upon his
face and after emptying his weapon
into his victims head, Ketcham says
that he turned over the body so thai
the face from which the blood was
, flowing from the wound caused by the
| first bullet was revealed.
| According to ketchams story no
| over two minutes elapsed after thu
shooting before the o'clock car from
Bennington to North Bennington, q
minutes late out of this village came
in sight. In order to conceal thu
crime Ketcham says he laid down be
side the body so that persons on th'
car would be unable to see the blNoI
on Costello's face John Guidor
has all along insisted that there wei'
two men lying beside the track whei
the car passed. Ketcham's confession
thus corroborates one of the strang
features of the case that had beel
puzzling the officials ever since tn
crime was first discovered
Leaving the body lying beside tn
track. Ketcham made his way back 1
the village over the same route tray
ersed on his way to the scene OF tn
crime. He walked over Depot stree
| to River street where he turned tn
corner and walked toward Mort
street. In front of the open lot from
ing the Nicholas d. Cone livery stahl
he met Raymond Elwell who work
for and lives with Carl II. Mattisoi
the owner of farm just northwest Q
the village OF South SALISBURY. ke
cham had been working for Clarenc
Chandler recently and arranged wit
Elwell to take him home. Ketchai
said he would pay Elwel $3.50 for tn
transportation. He had only 90 cent
which he gave to Elwell but said tha
he would pay the balance out OF tn
next weeks wages.
From the livery stable they rode owe
Depot street to North, turned the co
ner of Main street and stopped at ].
Jensens tailor shop where Elwell ha
suit of clothes ketoham went int
the tailor shop and returned with th
suit which was placed In the bugg
The two then went to the home O
Park street OF Robert Hin, Elwell
stepfather. where Elwell went
leave rife. While Elwell was in Il
house Ketcham drove away with q
rie.
From Hill's home on Park stree
Ketcham said that he drove direct
to Chickencoop Inn on the road
Hooslck Falls. He stopped at the rog