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Minister Saves Town By Killing Crazed Gun Toting Valet of a Brigadier General

Near the turn of last century, a potential mass shooter was stopped dead in his tracks by an unlikely person

Andrew Martin
2 min read7 hours ago

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In small towns, community spirit often prevails and bonds people together in good times and bad. Neighbors look out for each other, even when times get incredibly bleak. That’s what happened more than a century ago when a young valet of a Brigadier General went insane, grabbing his boss’s gun and shooting at anyone he saw until he was stopped by the community’s preacher, who shot him dead.

In 1909, Brigadier General James Miller was retired and lived at his family home in Temple, New Hampshire. A former Navy officer, his father had also been a distinguished military man before him. One evening, his valet, 40-year-old George L. Marcotte snapped. It was determined he had been drinking heavily for several days before he finally went over the edge. Unfortunately, the butler drunkenly grabbed one of the General’s pistols and forced his boss and the housekeeper outside at gunpoint.

Taking command of the house, he began shooting at anyone who went by in his sights. Fortunately, he didn’t hit anyone. The General telephoned for help and before long an armed posse of eight men arrived and…

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Andrew Martin
Andrew Martin

Written by Andrew Martin

Dabbler in soccer, history, investing & writing. Master’s degree in baseball history. Passionate about history, diversity, culture, sports, film and investing .

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