Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-11-22
kENN|sON STILL IN S1UPOR
Son Says he Hit Father when lie In
tervened 20 Protect Ills Young
er Brother.

St Adams, Nov. 2i.-Herbert Kenni.
son OF Fairfax, who since Sunday night
has been in comatose condition as the
result. II is alleged. of injuries inflicted
by his son. Rodman, who Will be 20
years old December 25. was brought
to the St. Adams hospital this after.
noon. This morning he partially re-
covered consciousness for brief periods
OF time and for a second recognized
George Quinlan on whose farm he Is
employed. Whether II will be neces-
sary to operate has not been de-
termined yet. Mr.. Kennison was
brought here in NJ. l.. Hicks motor am
pulance c. c. Gillette, town poormas-
ter at Fairfax, accompanied Mr.. Hicks
Kodman kennison was brought to the
Franklin county Jail late last night by
Deputy Sheriff George Rooney Of Fair.
fax
This morning States Attorney w. r.
MeFeeters went to Fairfax to make
an investigation, but no secret inquest
was held. The matter will be held in
aoeyance pending the outcome of Mr..
kennison's injuries
Rodman Kennison, when seen at the
FRANKLIN county Jail this morning by
free Press representative, said that he
had worked at threshing at different
farms this fall but had been at home
OF and on for a couple Of weeks Last
Sunday they were making cider Rod
man. and his two brothers, Vernon, who
Is about 16 years old. and Leon, a lad Of ~
or IA years, and brother-in-law, Perley
r.. Tanner were engaged in the work.
Leon had in his hand a hardwood stick
| about two feet long and probably an
Inch thick which he was using to pound
the apples. According to the story told
by Rodman his father came out Of the
house to the engine. jumped over the belt
and said to Leon, Lets see that stick"
The boy handed the stick to his father,
| whereupon the latter took the boy by the
neck and pushed him back next to the big
| wheels of the engine. hitting him with the
stick all the time. Rodman says he took
his father by the shoulder and told him
he had better take the boy out of
doors II he was going to lick him and his
father. telling him he would show him
| he had better not interfere. hit Rodman
over the head four or five times with the
| stick. He says there was a lump on the
| right side of his head at the back from
| the blows but that 1t had disappeared now.
Unable to ward off the blows by putting
up his hand. Rodman says he hit his ia
| Their with his fist over the right eye He
| struck him several times. The father
| turned and went into the house and the
The trouble occurred between one and
| 1870 o'clock in the afternoon and it was
about 430 when the men went to the house
| to supper. The father ate supper with the
| family which consisted of his wife. the
three boys, Rodman. Vernon and Leon.
and the sister, Mrs. Perley E. Tanner, and
her husband. There was no complaint
from the father that he was not feeling
we'll and he ate supper and visited with
the family although he and Rodman said
nothing to each other.
| After supper Mr.. and Mrs. Tanner went
to their home and Rodman. Vernon and
Leon went to w. l.. Trombley's farm
which is carried on by Orton Fletcher.
| where Vernon worked. Rodman helped
about the nights work and then he and
Vernon went to the sisters home for the
night. Rodman was there Monday also
and it was some time during the forenoon
that Mrs Kennison telephoned her daugh-
ter that Mr.. Kennson was unable to
speak or open his eyes.
| Rodman and his sister went to Fairfax
early Monday afternoon to get some grist.
Tuesday, Rodman said, he went home to
get his clothes as he was going to work
for his brother-in-law, cutting sugar wood.
| He went to his room and got his clothes
and ne also went into the room where his
| father lay, but unconscious. The mother
| did not say that a doctor had been called.
Tuesday afternoon she teephoned her
| daughter again that Mr.. Kennison was no
better and about nine O'Clock in the eve
ming Rodman took his sister home to stay
with the mother that night.
When they reached the Kennison homo
they found Deputy Sheriff Rooney. who
said he had come to arrest Rodman. Mrs.
Kennison asked who entered the COM
plant and Deputy Rooney replied that he
did not know With Mr. Rooney at the
house were Selectman Cleon D. orion
and r. A. Southland. a garage owner, who
had taken the men there by automobile
and who brought Mr.. Rooney with his
prisoner to the jail. They left Fairfax
about ten o'clock.
Rodman said that he and his father had
often Quarreled before. but that this was
the first time blows had been struck. He
said the father and the other boys had
quarreled Also The brother Vernon, quit
work for Mr.. Fletcher Sunday night and
went there Tuesday to get his clothes.