The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1877-05-04
THE ADMINISTRATION OF CRIMINAL
JUSTICE IN RUTLAND COUNTY.

The reprieve of John p. Phair, and the
probability, almost certainty, that, even if
guilty, he will never suffer the full penalty
of tie law for the crime for which he was
convicted, recalls the fact that although
the taking of human life has not been IN
common in Rutland county, and that con-
victions and sentences therefor have been
reasonably prompt, yet that the sentence
has never, except in a single instance, been
carried into full effect, but that the legsla-
ture or the governor, or both, have been as
prompt in interfering to prevent the due
execution of the law, as courts and juries
have been in their endeavor to see them
duly executed.
Passing by the case of James Anthony,
convicted, in March, 1914, of the murder of
Joseph Green in Rutland on the fifteenth of
the previous February, but who "cheated
" the gallows" by taking his own lite on the
same morning appointed for his execution
foolish man, he might have been re-
proved, if he had waited only few hours!
| and we come to the case of Daniel Pal
mer of Dandy, convicted in February,
1924, of the murder of Ephraim Briggs, OF
Tfnmouth, in January of that year. 1t ap.
pesred that, both being of quarrelsome dis
positions, they met al the sold red tavern
in Dandy, got into dispute about glass
of gin, a challenge was given to fight, and
Palmer, upon reaching the door, being very
quick in his movements, struck Briggs il
the face, knocked him down, and jumping
with both feet on his breast literally stamped
him to death. He was sentenced to i'm
prisonment in the state prison for life, an(
upon receiving his sentence, thanked tn,
Judge that "the sentence was not for lon
"ger time" After remaining in prison
year or two, he was pardoned.
Henry Damon was convicted,in Septem
Der, 1880, of the murder of his wife, Sophi
Damon, at Rutland, October 4, 1888. Tn
murder was most brutal and revolving on
the trial disclosing a scene of crime, de
bauchery and infamy rarely equaled-an'
Damon was sentenced to be executed FEB
ruary 81, 1910, but his sentence was com
muted, by the legislature, to Imprisonment
in the state prison where he died from tn
result of an accident, August 81, 1876.
Orson Cone, blind man, was convicted
September, 1S41, of manslaughter for tn
killing of Martin Bebee, at Wells, the pre-
vious month, and was sentenced to tfteel
years imprisonment, but was pardoned b,
the governor before the expiration of hi
term.
!, The next case was that of Matthew Hal
loran, convicted September, 1854, of tn
murder of Michael Ryan, at Hydeville
the winter-St. Patrick's day, if we re
member aright-previous, and sentence
to death. His sentence was committed b.
the legislature, in 1866, to imprisonmer
: for life, and he was subsequently, pal
! doned in violation to the constitution.
/ In April, 1869, Horace r. Plumley wa
convicted of murder, and Ziba Plumle
and Frederick 2. Plumley of manslaughtel
for the shooting of John Gilman, jr., {
i Shrewsbury, August 10, 1868; Horace wf
sentenced to death, Zlba to life imprisoI
ment, and Frederick TO twenty years in
: prisonment in the state prison. The sci
9 tence of Horace was committed by I'll
: legislature, in 1869, to Imprisonment f
t life in the state prison Frederick Wi
d pardoned by Governor Converse in 1874
T and ziba died in prison, of apoplex!
1 August 8, 1875-and thus, in all huma
o probability, saved a pardon which, III
T doubleday, would have been granted lor
r before this.
One Loyal Moore was sentenced to sta
prison for life, in March, 1868, for an a
d legged murder committed in Mount BOIL
y the grand jury refusing to find bill of i
}, dictment on account of Moore's insanit
g He is now in the Vermont asylum for Il
v insane at Brattleboro, and as he has new
6 been convicted, or even indicted, there is
possibility that he will have lite impri
Q onment somewhere.
j. The last murder trial in Rutland coun
&c was at the last term of the county cou
l. and resulted, April 0, in the conviction
i John Patton of the crime Of manslaught
: for the killing OF Barney McCue at We