Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-12-01

the Meaker place from his back window,
about one hundred and ten rods; used to
walk down the track to work; one morn
ing saw Mrs. Meaker whip the little girl
severely with a broom, he called il; she
used one hand at first. then took both;
used the handle Of the broom to whip her
with; said she wanted the girl to mind her;
his wife saw the same thing, and he
called Mr.. Thorndyke up to see il; had
seen the girl crying before; this affair took
place year ago last fall.
MRS. FLORA DRUGG
said she was the wife of Clifford Drugg;
one morning her husband was going chop
ping, and he called her up on the track
with the Thorndykes to see Mrs. Meaker
whip the little girl; she whipped her hard
and called her Ii little bitch; saw her
strike Just once over the head she thought
never had seen the woman or child before
that day.
FHANK II ATHERTON,
re called, and examined by Mr.. Plumley.
Was at the Meaker pl zee yesterday. with
Z mas Watts; saw Clifford Drugg over on
the railroad track; had conversation with
him; there was no trouble tn hear or make
hun hear; held up broom and hoe and
h. told what they were. | don't know
hat Drugg knew that was going there.
| also examined the windows In the house;
two open from towards the road into the
kitchen; went on the lower side of the
rnal, Just below the house; the house
above the level of the road is eight feet
and eleven inches; from where | stood in
the road to the front window Just forty
feet; to the shed door forty-eight and a
| half feet; Mr.. Watts went into the kitch-
en-. and stood in the road, and could see
down to his hips, perhaps, when he stood
at ne place, and lower when ut others;
not lar from one hundred rods from the
Meaker house to Drugs; about ifty-six
rods to the Armington house; from one
corner of the house the Meaker house can
be seen; the road up the Little river when
| went up with Almon was not in very
good condition.
Characterization by Mr.. Heath.-Was
there twice yesterday-once with Mr..
Watts and once with Mr.. Dillingham;;
nv house is about half mile from the
M"tker house; my meadow comes to
within perhaps twenty five rods of the
Me ker house; was never there but once
or twice, | think ssed 10 be working in
sight Of the house, but never saw any ill.,
usage of the little girl that know of;
have known Charles Arlington for per
hnps ten years; in the estimation of the
com munity his character for truth and
yer city is not above par; wouldn't want
TO place too much reliance on his word.
ZENAs WATTS
resides in Waterbury village. He corrob
GRATED Mr.. Atherton's testimony; said
they measured rs straight as they could
owing to a bend in the river; had known
Clifford Drugg for years; supposed he
stood rather below par for truth and We
racty in Waterbury.
CHARLES THOMPSON
was recalled In the afternoon. He said
that he had stopped at Mr.. Straw 5 on his
way home the night of the 23d of April :;
soon alter Sam Mansfield went past with a
span ut bny horses; Anterior came to him
tuesday or "Wednesday after this, because
he had heard he knew something about
The case.
NATHAN sOMERvILLE,
re called said that he kneV Nelly Meaker
) did not see her on the Friday and Saturday
OF the disappearance, at the house; Alice
always called MS Mraker mother.
HILEY MEAKER
took the stand. and said he was eight years
old and was he brother of Alice. The re-
sponient's counsel objected to his testif,
ing on the ground thai he was too young
to understand the nature of an oath. Judge
Redfeld then called the boy to HIM and
! t,lk tuit h him, snil that H.
he was convinced that the boy would tell
the truth, he advised that he should not be
used in case of such Importance
The remaining witnesses for the prose.
cution were Mr.. and Mrs. Eber Z. Huntlev,
Sheriff Dudley, the keeper of the Jail, and
Mary Holt, his servant girl. Mr. Dudley
and Miss Holt testified to the setting fire
to the Jail by Mrs Meak, r. and to letters
she wrote tending to show her guilt.
THE DEFENCE
consisted mainly of the testimony of wit
nesses to the lifelong good character of
the respondent and of the testimony of
Mrs Meaker herself and of her daughter,
Nellie. Mrs. Meaker denied all the stories
of ill-usage of Alice; denied all knowl-
edge of the murder, and said that Almon
went to dance on the Friday night of the
murder and did not return till morning
She said that the last she ever saw of
Alice alone was in the sitting room. while
Alice was on her way to bed She swore
that she herself stayed at home that night
and did not know that Alice had disap-
peared until the next morning, when she
failed to come to breakfast that Hiley in
formed her, having been sent to her room.
that she was gone. She denied making
any confession whatever to Sheriff Ather.
ton. Her daughter Nellie, on the other
hand. confirms Mr.. Athcrton's testimony
in many important respects. The res.
pondent's case was much weaker when her
evidence was all in, than when the gov
eminent rested The state in rebuttal
completely riddled her claim to good
character and good temper. The argu-
ments were begun on Monday forenoon at
half past eleven and lasted until Tuesday
afternoon at four. Messrs. Dillingham;
and Plumley argued in behalf of the state,
and Messrs. Palmer and Heath for the de-
fence, Judge Redfield charged the jury
in the able and impartial manner charac
teristic of him. The jury went out ut six
O'Clock, and at eight O'Clock came in and
rendered verdict of guilty. The jury
only balloted once, and agreed without
any discussion.