Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1859-03-26
CRIME IN VERMONT.

The crime of murder has been so infrequent-
ly committed in this State that a case which
has ripcned into conviction may very properly
excite more than a passing notice. Elsewhere
we give very full report of the trial of ARIEL
MARTIN of Calais, for the murder Of two men
in that town on the 10th of July last. Upon n
careful examination Of the evidence it that he
was an ignorant, stupid and naturally mischiev-
GUS person, and no sufficient motive appears to
which to ascribe the commission Of these terri
bic homcides. There are not reasonable
grounds for believing his mental or moral con-
dition to be such as to relieve him from re-
sponsibility in the matter. Public opinion in
Washington county is, we UNDERSTAND, divided
in the matter, yet we think those who read the
evidence carefully will come to the conclusion
that his conviction was consonant with the law
and testimony. The penalty for this crime is,
we think, confinement in the State Prison one
year, and then death at such time as the execu-
tive shall designate
This is the first capital conviction that has
taken place in this State for nearly quarter of
a century. The last execution was, we are in
formed. in Manchester, m the year 1925 In
1885, Mrs. Peak of Randolph was tried at
Chelsea, for the murder of her son-in-aw by
administering arsenic in his food Two other
members of the family came near sharing the
same fate. She was convicted and sentenced to
be hung. Preparations were made for her ex-
ecution, but two weeks before the fatal day APP
pointed had arrived she somewhat mysteriously
died in Jail.
Among a rural population like that of Yer
--o-t thoro is vastly oss cr;,,o tha- IN oi,;as
and crowded towns. This condition of things
is partly due to the general intelligence and
morality of the people, and is in part to be
ascribed to other causes.
The indictments to crime are less. There is
in the country comparative absence of drink
ing, carousing and rowdyism, that is and al
ways will be prevalent where idle and licentious
persons can easily congregate, A very large
per centage of all the crimes committed are
perpetrated when the criminal is laboring under
the excitement produced by dssolute habits
In the country the inducements for the congre-
CATION of such persons and the means for the
qualification of their appetites is extremely
limited. From this cause, and without any alb
solute increase of virtue, crime must necessari-
ly be less in the country than in the city.
The aggregation of wealth affords occasion
for the preparation of crime. In some of the
principal streets in any one of our large cities
may be found wealth enough to purchase half
Of Vermont. This wealth is in form and of a
bulk that can be readily taken and secreted.-
In such places also there are correspond
ing opportunities for its secretion and chances
for escaping detection. Paradoxical as it may
seem person can live much more retired and
better secreted in large city than in the town
or country
But the great and controlling reason for the
comparative absence of crime in the country
is the universally of employment Useful and
honorable labor not only predisposes the mind
against crime but keeps person beyond the
reach of temptation. 1t is the greatest safe
guard against all practices and and associations,
next to moral principle, that can be provided.
And even fixed principles could be assailed in
no other way so powerfully as by idlcness. A
person that is taught to respect honest labor
and to believe all labor honest and respectable
that is useful, and is brought up in habits OF
industry and frugaity, will rarely fall into Grim
inal ways. On the other hand the proverb has
been repeatedly verified:
"Satan finds some mischief still
For idle hands to do"