The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1922-12-11
ERNEST ". WHITE
DIED At HOSPITAL
SUNDAY MORNING
Bullet Wound Inflicted By John
Fitzgerald Results Fatally
FULLY CONSCIOUS AT END
Funeral of YD Veteran Will be
Held from st. Peters Church
Tuesday Afternoon

Ernest w. White, who was shot
through the abdomen early Friday af-
ternoon by John Fitzgerald. fellow
employe at the cutting room Of the
h. Y. Waist company underwear mill
on Gage street. died about 3 o'clock
Sunday morning at Putnam hospital
where he was hurried Immediately
after the shooting and where an opcr-
alton was performed the same after
noon by Dr.. John Trotter OF Troy.
The patient came out Of the ether
quickly and remained conscious there
after until the instant he passed
away. Although suffering intense
agony, the big 44.calibre bullet hav-
ing passed through stomach, intcs-
tines and liver, he showed exception
al fortitude and cheerfdlness when.
ever any of his people were with him
Notwithstanding that he realized his
hours were numbered.
The young man was born on a farm
at West Bennington May Il, 1896,
and was therefore in his 9th year.
When n young hoy he attended the
Pleasant Valley school and later the
public schools in this village. A few
days after he became II years OF age
he enlisted in company of the First
Vermont regiment under Captain +.
W. Gibson and was with the company
and regiment until 1t was disorganiz-
ed at Camp Bartlett, Westfeld,
Mass.
At Camp Bartlett he was trars''
red to company f OF the i0lst ...n.
muntion train, horse section, ana
went overseas where he participated
In five major engagements: Chemin-
des-Dames sector, Feb 6 to March
81. 1918: Toul sector. April | 20 II,
Champagne Marine defensive. July 70
to is. Aisne. Marne offensive. July
Is to August G.; st. Mihiel offensive,
Sept u 10 Sept. %; Troyon sector.
Sept. II 70 Sept. 25 housekeeping
offensive, Sept 26 TO Nov. IL
During the war the ammunition
trains were divided into two section.
motor and horse. The motor vehi-
cles would carry forward the ammuu;-
ton as far az the condition of the
roads would permit and the shells
would then be loaded behind horses
and mules and rushed to the differ
ent batteries The horse section was
repeatedly subject to heavy shell fire
and the different ammunition train,
suffered heavy casualties
Two years ago last July Ernes;
White married Miss Irene Johnson.
daughter OF Richard J. Johnson, anc
at the time OF the shooting the couple
were living on Scott street. They
were members OF St Peters churcd.
The deceased was also member oi
Mount Anthony lodge, F. and, \. NJ.
of the American order OF United
Workman and Bennington post,
American Legion AT the time of his
enlistment he was member of Benn-
ington grange.
The body was take 10 the home o.
parents Mr.. and Mrs. Allie w. White,
on School street where a private
service for relatives will be held
Tuesday afternoon. The public
funeral will be held from st. Peters
church, the rector. Rev. j. Elmer
Mckee, officiating. and burial will be
at Hoosck Rural cemetery.
The tragedy has shocked the entire
community which joins as a unit IN
sympathy with the bereayed reia-
tives of the victim cut down in his
young manhood and this sympathy
is also extended to those near TO the
youth whose rash and almost mex
plainable act was responsible.
An inquest into the shooting was
begun before Municipal Judge Will
lam Meagher Saturday afternoon
and will probably be continued
today The Investigation was con
Quoted hv Attorney General Frank
c. Archibald and States Attorney
George A. Mathers and will be con
tinued by the latter as the attorney
general has been called TO Hyde Park
in his official capacity
1t is understood that a special sess'
ion of the grand Jury viii be held To
take up the case of Fitzgerald who
has been in the custody at the count
tv iail since he was arrested by
Officer William Cameron The time
OF calling the special Grand jary de-
pends upon other matters nov hofnr"
county court. II Is understood that
Judge Stanley c. Wilson, now prosld-
ing at the December term of county
court, may return here in February
and the case may be heard nj that
time.
II is understood that James Il. Bat.
chelder has been retained as counsel
for Fitzgerald In case an insanity
defense should be set up, the natural
course would be to send Fitzgerald
TO the asylum at Waterbury for ex-
animation and observation which
might mean the continuing of the
trial to the June term of court to be