Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-11-01
SHOOTING AFFAIR
MYST|F|ES stowe
Mrs. Frank H. Wright Seriously
WOunded-FlOyd Benton
Turns Gun on Self.

stowe, Oct. 2s--Mrs. Frank H.
Wright was shot and seriously wound
ed last night by Floyd Benton, who
nfterward turned the gun upon him.
self. INJECTING two wounds. The cause
Of the shooting is unknown. as Mrs.
Wright refuses to give full details OF
the affair to tho authorities. Benton
was taken late this afternoon to IA hos
pital at Burlington.
Mr. Wright left yesterday morning
for eastern New York. and In the az
teruoon Benton. who has been the hircd
man in the family for nome time, nav
ing come with the Wrights from New
York few years ago, went to Norris
willie, where he is said to have secures.
a knife and shells for his revolver.
Late In the afternoon. Mrs. Wright
went to the barn to help with the
milking machine. According to her
story. or as H. uch Of 1t as she could be
induced to tell. Benton began shooting
the moment she appeared in the door
He fred twice. while standing so near
to her, that. IL his aim had been good.
either shot would have proved fatal.
with one child aged two. in her arms,
and leading another. aged four. by the arm.
she ran toward the house Benton fol-
lowed, shooting. This time he succeeded
in lifting her. the bullet lodging in the
muscles OF the back.
She Continued to tho houce. and slammed
and bolted the door. Rushing to the
phone she told central to summon help
Meanwhile Benton had broken in n vim
dow and began shooting again. Mrs.
Wright struggled with him. knocking the
revolver up so that the bullets went into
the ceiling. When Benton had empticd the
gun, Mrs. Wright escaped through Il
window.
Central. warned by Mrs. Wright, called
Fl. F. Matthews. neighbor of the
Wr!ghts. Looking out. seeing no IRE, ana
hearing the milking machine Running. he
believed everything all right, ard told con-
trail. Central. however. urged him to pro-
coed TO the house. and, getting others. he
went to the Wright barn.
Opening the barn door, they came upon
Benton OH his knees, about to shoot HIM
self He warned them to keep away or
he would turn the gun on them. One or
Benton's shots went through his ear. and
the other. which he intended to send
through his heart, inflicted what was be-
lieved to be only flesh wound.
Mrs. Wright, seeing help had arrived
returned. Sheriff c. l.. Burt. Constable
A. X. straw and DIR. A. &. Morgan were
summoned, and upon their arrival found
Benton lying by the roadside. He was
brought to the cell at the Akeley Memo
rial building and later in the night re-
moved to the county Jail at Hyde Park
His condition became worse to-day and
the authorities took him to Burlington
Mrs. Wright refused to reveal the cause
of the shooting to any one. saying she
would tell her husband on his return. He
was located this morning and returned to
the farm tonight, but no statement could
be obtained
Mrs. Wright is a woman about 40 years
of age. Benton is said to be a man Of
violent temper. IL crossed in any way.
That his act was deliberately planned Is
indicated by his trip to Morrisville to
secure the knife and shots. 1t was not
known that he had a revolver