Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-09-20
HIS WIFE
AND THEN HIMSELF

st. Adams, Sept. 1s.-Mrs. Grant L..
Prentiss was found by a boarder to-
night unconscious at her supper table
from a bullet wound in her head, while
her husband was in a similar condition
in his bedroom on the floor above.
Both died a short time later, Mr.. Prem
tiss dying at the st. Adams hospital.
1t is said Mr.. Prentiss had been drink
ing heavily of late.
Fred w. Watson, the boarder, said
that as he left the house Prentiss and
his wife were quarreling. Watson
went on an errand. he said. and on his
return found both the man and woman
wounded. A revolver with two shells
exploded vas found under the bed in
Prentiss' room.
Mrs. Prentiss was shot in the back,
the bullet going through one cheek.
She would have been IS years old in
November. Mr.. Prentiss was Al last
January.
The call to go to the Prentiss home
came before the verdict had been given
In the murder trial which has been in
progress in Franklin county court the
past week, the sheriff office getting
the call about 7:15 o'clock.
Sheriff G.. c. Holmes was at his home
on North Main street hen he received
the call. He 'phoned DR.. w. ]. Upton
Of ank street. started out In his car.
met DR.. Upton at the corner Of Brainerd
and Messenger streets. n on their way
picked up Deputy Sheriff l.. p. Martin
and Policeman Patrick Fitzgerald.
The officers found Mrs. Prentiss at The
table, her head and one arm, In a pool
Of blood. As soon as the doctor found
the bullet hole, he called for another
doctor. A phone message was sent to
DR.. Arthur Martin and the city health
oficer. DR.. w. B. Arnold, was also sum-
moned.
The officers then questioned Fred w.
Watson. boarder In the house, and he
told the following story.
II went to a neighbours after milk.
leaving Prentiss. his wife and little girl
In the house. When I returned I walked
through the front hall to the kitchen, fed
| the cat as usual. and put away the
milk. I then went into the dining-room.
where / found Mrs. Prentiss at the table.
as you saw her when you arrived. ]
went Immediately to the telephone at a
neighbor's house and called the sheriff"
It was at this point that Sheriff Holmes
directed Deputy Martin to look the house
over. Taking a lamp, Mr.. Martin went
upstairs and Immediately called for a doc
tor.
DR.. Upton founda bullet hole through the
mans head. but no indication that the
razor that lay beside him had been used
Later. a 3s-calibre revolver was discov-
cred under the edge of the bed. Appar-
emily. Mr.. Prentiss had sat on the side OF
the bed and shot himself.
The little girl, Katharine. was found al
the home of William Prentiss. at 26 Mes
senger street. She said that as she was
going there she met her father going
home. The two Prentiss families are not
related. but once lived in the same
house n were good friends.
Mr.. Prentiss, is said. was a former rail
road man. having worked for both thu
Boston & Maine and the Central Vermont
To-day. 1t Is understood, he had beer
working for William Wry unloading beer
1t 10 also aid that some time during thu
day he went to Burlington. and coult
have returned only just before tn
tragedy.
States Attorney w. r. McFeeters hello
a partial Inquest at the house and in
structed Watson to vacate the house ant
ordered 1t closed. He gave permission Il
Undertaken w. A. McKennon to remove
the body OF Mrs. Prentiss to his under
taking rooms and ordered the same dis.
position a Of the body Of Mr.. Prsntiss