Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1870-11-23
The Case of tie Murderer Henry
Welcome.

One of the most solemn and able debates
in the Senate the present session was that on
the bill to commute the sentence of Henry
Welcome, the murderer of Mr. Russell Of
Hinesburgh, from death by hanging to i'm
prisonment for life. We give below brief
and imperfect sketch Of that debate as fur
nished by the Senate reporters. The bill
had been passed by the House, and came up
in the Senate Friday afternoon, as a special
order, when the following debate and action
was had thereon
Special order.-H. ia, to commute the
sentence Of Henry Welcome
Mr.. Benedict moved that it be ordered to
lie, as he thought another bill involving the
general principle Of capital punishment
should first be considered.
Opposed by Mr.. Carpenter, and Mr.. Ben
edict withdrew his motion.
Upon the third reading Mr.. Gardner de-
manded the yeas and nays.
Mr.. Carpenter called for a statement Of
facts from the committee. Responded to by
Mr.. Hartshorn, that the only thing that ap.
peared before the committee was nearly
repetition Of the argument made before the
House by Mr.. Ballard.
Mr.. Gardner stated further in behalf of
the committee, giving in substance the cir
cumstanccs Of the confession upon which
Welcome was convicted, without which con
fession no conviction could have been pro-
cured.
Mr. Camp stated briefly the reason that
would govern his vote in this case. 1t is a
peculiar and an important case. lie related
his personal knowledge of the boy and be-
Iieved him to be as shrewd and smart and
cunning as any boy he ever knew. lie
thought he would cut a mans throat for ten
dollars as soon as for a thousand. For that
and other reasons, he should vote to let the
law take it's course.
Mr.. Eddy said the question is, shall the
sentence be committed? The punishment
Of imprisonment for life is one Of great Sc
verify and considered by many more severe
than death itself.
May-it not be true that this young man is
destitute of the mental power that renders
him morally responsible. Inquiries relative
to his after and present appearance had led
him at least to give colorlng of doubt to
mental condition that evidenced responsible
ity. lie should be called upon with the
light he hal now before him to vote yes up.
on this bill.
Mr.. Bailey said they had nothing before
the committee, there was nothing before
this body, that would have the slightest
8
not legally convicted of murder. Without
the slightest testimony before us, we are
asked to commute his sentence Are we
to presume upon rumOrs that he was not
legally convicted, provided we put it upon
that ground? The argument that he would
not have been convicted had it not been for
his confession, loses its force in the fact that
the Supreme Court decided that he was le-
gally convicted. lie apprehended that he
was mentally capable to commit the deed,
and the fact of his doing it in the manner
in which he did, was sufficient answer to
the extenuatlng argument of age.
1t he is mentally or morally deficient, we
should have some evidence besides mere ru-
mors before we commute his sentence.
Mr.. Gardner favored his Communication for
the very reason that his moral status was
such that he would have murdered a man 70.
dollar from his youth up, as has been
stated. The statement that was made by
the Hon. Senator from Lamoille was enough
to satisfy him that there was something
morally or mentally wrong about that boy.
lie thought a medical examination should
have been instituted to aid in determining
his responsibility Other reasons were urg-
ed in favor of Communication.
Mr.. Eddy continued the argument in favor
of Communication, referring to the effort which
he made to appear as an honest boy, by 90
ing abroad and committing murder to pro-
cure money to pay his attorney, as he had
agreed. He thought this was additional ey
idence of his insanity, or mental obtuseness.
Mr.. Dickerman was one of those that
thought he ought to pay some attention to
his duties to the State as well as individuals
From all that he had been able to learn