The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1916-05-22
DORSET DEAF MUTE
FIRES 3 SHOTS
At DEPUTIES
Missed Officials But Puts Bullet
ThrOugh Horses Head
MERRITT CULVER IN JAIL
Shooting Follows Attempt of Authori
ties to Carry Que Provisions Of
Guardianship.

Deputy Sheriff James d. Purdy and
his hired man Walter Field were fired
upon and one of Purdys horses was
killed at eight o'clock this morning on
the Culver place at East Dorset when
Merritt Culver resented the presence
of Purdy and his man on the place and
attempted to drive them with an old
Springfield rife.
Culver, with his father and mother,
are under charge of court guardians,
Alvin Waters and Michael Casey OF
Manchester Center, and he held the
mistaken idea, officials say, that if he
could keep anyone from working his
place that he would be supported by
the court. Both guardians lately de-
cided that Culyer's threats about al
lowing anyone, even his guardians, on
the place had reached the point where
they should be afforded protection if
they were to continue to serve. Con
sequently Sheriff Purdy and his man
We're employed to make some Of the
fields ready for planting.
At eight o'clock this morning Field
drove on to the Culver place with
load OF manure and one OF the Culver
family saw him. Merritt Culver was
sent for where he was working in
lower lot He came to the house, pro.
cured his Springfield rifle and from
the inside of the kitchen shot at Field
as he was driving past. The first bul.
t.f vtHr raf hot I4A .,,l
wagon.
Sheriff Purdy was in the vicinity di-
recting the work. He sent for Deputy
Sheriff Charles Norcross who held
more influence with Culver, who is
both deaf and dumb Meanwhile Purdy
stayed around to see no further shoot
ing at his team occurred.
Meantime Purdy determined to see
what he could do alone. AS an alter
cation was plainly audible in the house
Purdy drew near, keeping close to the
side of the house to avoid being potted
ii Culver had not done shooting, Cul-
yer saw him coming and swung his
gun in Purdys direction yet at the
same time keeping within the protec.
tion the kitchen walls afforded. This
undoubtedly saved the deputy sheriff
from serious injury for Culver's in
ability to train the gun directly on the
sheriff on account OF the door casing,
resulted in the second shot passing
through the sheriff's coat.tails
Purdy's team had to pass by the
house again to get TO the road and out
Of danger Purdy shouted for his man
| to 90 ahead and tackle Culver in the
kitchen with a revolver. Before he
| could get his man, however, Culver had
| crossed to the rear of the kitchen and
sent ball through the head of one OF
the horses that Field was attempting
to drive around the back way.
The horse was instantly killed It,
value was about S25000.
Norcross arrived in time, however
to get Culver's attention and reason
with him. He persuaded Culver tt
give himself up, stating he would fl
Culver's bail Between the two Off
GERS Culver's gun was secured and h,
was quickly taken into custody, bundl
ed into Purdys automobile AM
brought to Bennington where he wa
locked up
Both Culver and his parents ar
mutes and the cause for the shootin
was the mistaken idea that the worl
ing of their farm by outsiders som,
how jeopardized the aid they wer
getting from the court