Pastor's Shot Kills Drink-Crazed Man

Temple, NH - March 2, 1909

Reader Interest

Yesterday I posted a diary entry from James Roger mentioning a shooting in Temple, NH. Several readers posted links to newspaper accounts from 1909. I found this one in the New York Times:

Transcription

PASTOR'S SHOT KILLS DRINK-CRAZED MAN

Valet of Gen. James Miller of Temple, N.H., Had Threatened to Slay His Employer.

HELD TOWN POSSE AT BAY

Barricaded Himself in the House and Opened Fire on Them with Army Pistols.

Special to The New York Times.

TEMPLE, N. H., March 2, 1909

   George L. Marlotte, valet of Brig. Gen. James Miller, a retired officer of the United States Army, was shot dead to-day by the Rev. Harvey Eastman, pastor of the local Congregational Church. Marlotte was struck squarely in the forehead by a charge from shotgun. He had been running wild, carrying a pistol and threatening to kill Gen. Miller. A crowd pursued him and ran him down on the Miller estate.

   The Miller residence is on the road to Wilton, one and a half miles outside of Temple village. Gen. Miller, who retired from the army after forty years of service, is a grandson of Gen. James Miller, the hero of the battle of "Lundy's Lane,' in the War of 1812, and is a native of Salem, Mass. Except for his housekeeper, Mrs. Ealley, he lives alone on his estate.

   Marlotte had been drinking freely for a number of days, and shortly before 4 o'clock to-day he became uncontrollable. Gen. Miller and Mrs. Bailey were first apprised of their peril by the sound of a shot from an upstairs room. The valet had gone into the General's chamber and secured his old-fashioned army revolver, which had been through much severe campaigning in active warfare. Strapping about him a belt holding nearly 200 shells, he descended to the lower floor, firing at random into the ceiling of the hallway as he went.

   Glancing out into the lower hallway, Mrs. Bailey saw the valet approaching and cried a warning to Gen. Miller, who was in an adjoining apartment, and then she ran out the door and along the road to the house of a neighbor, where she knew there was a telephone. After the alarm had been telephoned to the village drug store, whence it spread rapidly. Mrs. Bailey stayed shuddering at the neighbor's, listening to the shots from the big pistol in the hands of the crazed valet and doubting not that her venerable employer had been murdered.

   Meanwhile Gen. Miller had evaded the valet by locking himself into one room and keeping away from the windows. Through the house went the raging Mariotte, now firing in volleys and then in more deliberately scattered shots.

   The village lost no time in getting together a rescuing squad. Up and down the main streets sped a messenger, and in short order eight men, well armed with shotguns and revolvers, and supplied with plenty of ammunition, were on the way down the Wilton highway toward the Miller homestead. As they neared the estate the reports of Mariotte's revolver grew louder and more frequent.

   The posse surrounded the house, but Marlotte had seen them coming, and had barricaded himself in the kitchen, from where he opened fire as they came within range. He fired score of bullets, while they were demanding his surrender, and while they were covering the door with cocked guns, he sprang out and rushed at the crowd emptying his gun as he ran. Then it was that Mr. Eastman raised his gun, called once to Mariotte to halt, and then fired. Marlotte dropped in his tracks. Death
was instantaneous.

   "No, I'm not sorry for what I did. I'm only sorry it was necessary," said Dr. Eastman, to-night.

   The authorities took no action, except to hold a formal inquest.
Marlotte was 35 years of age, and had been in the service of Gen. Miller three years. He was unmarried.

The Rev. Mr. Eastman is about 25 years old, and has been stationed in Temple three years.

James Roger diary entry

March 4, 1909 (Thursday) - Verdict: Justifiable Homicide

Snow showers wind N.E.  David choring round, spent afternoon with D. Maynard cleaning harness afternoon.  I have cold but went for mail.  Got letter from Alice and Hamish.  Mr. Eastman of Temple before authorities yesterday.  Verdict Justified Homicide.