The Bennington Evening Banner

SHOOTS BURLINGTON OFFICER
Joseph Ploof Then Attempted to Commit Suicide

Burlington, June 17 — Christopher A. Miles, a member of the Burlington police force, was shot yesterday morning by Joseph Ploof of 4s Ward street, and the officer is now in the Mary Fletcher hospital in a serious condition. Ploof turned the revolver on himself and fired two bullets into his own breast in the region of his heart. He is also in the Mary Fletcher hospital. Both men are in a serious condition, but Miles may recover if the bullet can be located by means of the X-Ray machine.

Ploof shot Miles in the back as the officer was walking down stairs ahead of him in the Ward street house. Miles had just read a warrant to Ploof charging him with breach of the peace and ordered Ploof to accompany him to the police station. Ploof rose from a couch on which he was lying and Miles started down the stairs ahead of him. Miles had taken only a few steps when Ploof pulled a revolver from his pocket and fired at the officer, the bullet striking him near the middle of the back in the region of the heart. Ploof then turned the revolver on himself and fired two shots into his own breast.

Miles staggered to the bottom of the stairs and fell into a chair. He did not lose consciousness, but was able to stand when the physicians arrived and pulled back his uniform to show them where the bullet struck him. As soon as possible a hack was called and Miles was hurried toward the hospital. He had only ridden a short distance however when he became weak and was taken into the home of Alderman Sullivan, a few doors from where the shooting occurred. It was thought he was dying and a priest was summoned but the ambulance had been called and Miles was rushed to the hospital and taken to the operating room.

The attending physicians began at once to probe for the bullet and Dr. McSweeney stated that unless complications set in Miles had a fair chance of recovery.

During the excitement of getting Miles to the hospital Ploof was left at the Ward street house and the ambulance ordered to return from the hospital for him. Through a misunderstanding the ambulance drivers overlooked the trip for Ploof and it was sometime later before the man was taken to the hospital. His condition is regarded as more serious than that of Miles but it is thought he may recover.

Ploof is an electrician by trade and has worked for a number of electrical firms in this city. It is claimed that he has been intoxicated for several days and was in an ugly mood today when Miles called at the house. Ploof was seen on the street in the morning about 8 o'clock and was said not to have appeared intoxicated then. The shooting occurred about 9 o'clock. Ploof is alleged to have threatened to kill his wife and it was in connection with this threat that the warrant charging breach of the peace was issued.

When asked why he did the shooting Ploof said he did not know but that he must have been crazy. He said he aimed at the officer's heart. Miles was only a few paces in advance of Ploof when the latter fired. Miles has been on the police force eight years and has a good record as an officer. Some months ago he injured his hand trying to save a young girl from being burned to death and had only been back on duty a few weeks. Miles had no opportunity to defend himself from Ploof's attack as he had no warning that the man intended to shoot.