The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1916-09-18
VIII VA. u a! -!'!I' f5LLO MURDERED NEAR.
SOLDIERS HOME CROSSING
ATURDAY NIGHT
Three Bullets Fired Into Back of
Young Mans Head
County Officials Unable to Trace Perpetrator of
Ghastly Deed or Discover Motive for Shocking
Crime-Victim Was Not Quarrelsome and So
Far AS Known Had No Enemies

the fatal shot. The bullet was found
just back of the forehead and must
have traversed the whole brain in its
course.
Following the autopsy, DR.. Stone
and the states attorney visited :he
scene of the shooting and left late in
the afternoon for their homes at Bur
lington and Manchester.
During the afternoon one arrest
was made but the man who had been
at work on the George Davis truck
farm easily proved that he could have
had no connection with the case and
was released
If Costello was shot at $50 o'clock,
as the officials are firmly convinced
was the case, the victims movements
have been conclusively traced to
within 10, perhaps ten minutes, of the
instant that the crime was committed.
Between 8 o'clock and ten minutes
after 8 he called at the American
house bar and asked for matches,
The matches were given him by Rich.
ard McKale, the bar tender. Costello
inquired for Victor Young and was
told that he had just left the place.
Costello followed, caught up with
Young on River street and went with
him to the latters home on County
street Costello left the Young house
Immediately after his arrival. So
far as can be ascertained he was not
again seen alive. 1t is difficult to
figure time and account for Costello's
presence at the crossing at $50
O'Clock, the hour when the five shots
were fired. To leave the American
house after Q o'clock, make one stop
on the way and reach the spot where
he was killed seems almost impos-
sible The distance is all of half
mile. 1t is positively stated by per.
sons who saw Costello Saturday
night that he was not intoxicated.
Cars were running late over the
Bennington and Hoosick Falls line
Saturday night John Guidon, motor
man on the local, between this village
and North Bennington, left here 20
minutes behind his schedule on his
o'clock run which would bring him
at the crossing in the vicinity of 9.35
| He saw two men apparently intoXicat-
| ed at the crossing and so notified the
| car run by William Powers and Ber.
mis- Powers at the willow switch. The
crew of the east bound car saw moth.
ing OF the intoxicated men at the
crossing but when the local returned
from North Bennington Costello was
seen lying in the position in which
| his body was found Believing that
| the man was intoxicated, not an infre-
quent occurrence along the right Of
way on Saturday nights, the car was
not stopped and the mans presence
was not reported. II was close to the
hour OF IL when the crime was dis
| covered.
Were 1t possible to unearth some
motive for the crime. the officials
would not be so completely baflied In
their efforts to obtain some trace OF
] the murderer Costello was an inof.
fensive fellow without an enemy In
the world so far as can be learned
He had worked at the Holden. Leon
ard mill since he was a boy, probably
90 years. He had lived for some time
with his aunt, Mrs Michael Mahar
OF Mill street. He was a steady
worker, apt to drink more than was
good for him between quitting time
Saturday noon and Monday morning
but usually reporting for duty Will
the beginning of each week lie was
not particularly talkative. rather lone
~ in his habits, generous with his
friends and did not frequent the bust
ness section of the village to any great
extent. lie was more than usually
near sighted.
why n man of Costello's nature ant
habits should be deliberately murder
ed In cold blood is a problem that IL
difficult of solution. Until the officers
are able to obtain some motive Il Il
likely that they will make little pro
gress toward unraveling the mystery
The funeral will be held from ST
Francis de Sales church at . o'clocl
Tuesday morning.
A story that may help in runninl
down the criminal is reported to hav
been told this forenoon by kennetl
. Haswell. who lives on the North Ben
nngton road. MIR. Haswell and Mrs
llaswell were on their way home b.
team from the village Saturday even
ming between . and $40 o'clock and n
the crossing where Costello's bod
was found they experienced some di
iiculty In passing two men who wer
!. iostling each other in the highway
l The men were so taken up with thei
t argument that they did not make wa
a for the horse and buggy and crowde
I against the wheels in such a manne
i that Mr.. Haswell was in fear of an a,
$ cident He spoke sharpely to the me