Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1880-12-03
VERMONT NEWS.
MRS. MEEKER CONVICTED OF MURDER.

The case OF Mrs. Meeker, on trial at
Montpelier, for the murder of little Alice
Meeker, was given TO the jury Tuesday even
ing, and in two hours they came in with
verdict of guilty of murder in the first de-
gree. Mrs. Moeker was completely broken
down when advised OF the verdict and gave
vent to her feelings in loud crying and vail
ing. The case will go to the supreme court
on exceptions. Almon Meeker, who is joint
ly indicted with his mother and pleaded
guilty, received his sentence Wednesday.
The case excited intense interest aud the
court room was crowded during the trial.
DEATH OF DIR. PHELPS.
Edward E. Phelps, NJ D., LII. D., who
has practiced medicine in Windsor for over
80 years, died Friday morning, aged Il years.
DR.. Phelps graduated at Yale College in the
class with N. 7. Willis, and at Dartmouth
Medical Department, of which inGtitution he
was chosen Professor of Medical Jurispru-
dence and Pathological Anatomy which Of
fee he held for over thirty years. For two
years (1S35-37) he was professor of Anatomy
and Surgery in the Medical department of
the U. V. NJ, and received the honorary de-
gree of A. NJ, in 1885 from the University
He was Brigade Surgeon in the war of the
rebellion during the four years. He was a
physician of wide and extended practice He
leaves wife and one daughter.
The post Office at WinhRll is to be discon-
tinued.
-Erastus w. Stone of Worcester, who has
been in the Washington county jail since last
February for the non payment of a tax of
$3.50, has been released, the town having
abated the tax and paid its own costs.
Burlington wants $50 600 and Swanton
$4,000 for the improvement of their har-
bors.
"A renewal of the old fight for the pos
session of the Vergennes post Office is in
progress. II. G. johnson, the present in
cumbent, has disposed of his paper, the
"Vermonter," and is now holding on to the
Office as his only means Of support, while an
insolvent merchant, an ex-mayor, a hardware
merchant, and the editor OF the local paper
join in the contest. Petitions to the presi-
dent are in circulation for signers, and the
city is in turmoil of excitement over the i'm
portant issue.
The house of Henry d. Chamberlin of
Jay, used also as post office, was burned last
week Thursday; loss $1,000.
F. b. Salisburys steam mill and furni-
ture mandatory, near the railroad track in
West Randolph village, was burned with its
valuable machinery on the morning of Thurs
day Nov. 2jth. The loss is total, amounting
to $4,000. This fire throws large number
of men out of employment and is besides a
great loss to the place. Small insurance.
The body of Thomas Burns, freight brake
man on the Central Vermont railroad was
found in the depot-yard at Windsor the other
night, and it is supposed that he slipped from
the train in endeavoring to board it. His age
was about 80 He leaves a wife and two
small children.
Mrs. William c. Crippin, wife of the
principal of the state normal school at John
son, committed suicide at Burlington on Sun
day by hanging, on account of long contin-
ued ill-health.
Not long since Waterville man thought
to cleanse kerosene barrel and fit it for q
cider barrel. He put in several pieces OF
Stacked lime, added water to it and then plug
ged the barrel tight. In short time pow
erful explosion followed and the head was
thrown over 80 feet,
At a meeting of the voters of Vergennes,
called at the request OF Representative Walter
Scranton, to ascertain their views on the bill
before the Legislature to appropriate $25, 00C
to build a new courthouse at Middlebury, a
resolution in opposition to the scheme was
adopted by a unanimous vote.