Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1880-05-21

spasm in the frog, and soon after another
rap 0ccasi0ncd intense contraction Of the
muscles of the animals legs. These spasms
are the direct result of the presence of
The application of certain
10 the residuum of the stomach, if
strychnnc We're present. would produce
violet color. Judged by these two tests the
presence of strychninc in the stomach of the
girl was conclusvely proven: the
quantity the Professor could not tell
MRS. MEAKEE's ADMISSIONS.
Deputy Sheriff F. H. Anterior testified
that having pressed Mrs. Meakcr for truth
full explanation of the disappearance of the
girl, she stated that Alice went to bed the
evening of Friday, the 23d, at seven O'Clock.
The next morning, Alice not appearing, she
sent the little brother to call her, who, quick
~ returning, said Alice was not there. She
then went TO the bedroom. which is on the
ground floor, and is entered only through the
bedroom occupied by herself. She found
the bed looking as if the little girl had left it
in the night. Her clothes were gone, and
she supposed She had got up in the night,
climbed out of the window and ran away.
This, she said, was all she knew about it.
This conversation took place about half-pas
nine O'Clock ir the evening. Later in the
night, when the chain of circumstances was
Tightening around them Mrs. Mcakcr called
Mr.. AthcrtOn into the parlor. She there told
him that the child was in Canada, and she
would go next day and bring her back, if he
would let her. But she could not tell where
in Canada, and Mr.. Athcrton expressed his
fears that there had been foul play, and told
her she would feel better to tell the whole
truth, and il the child was dead to bring her
back and give her decent burial. Here
Aiss Ms.-l.~. L.si.s down, .....i ia great ..ait.A
ton said, Il can't tell the whole truth You
don't know what they would do with me if
did" She then opened the door and left
the room. From this time, about
half past ten O'clock, till midnight,
Mr.. Athcrton, in connection with Mr.
lluntley and Mr.. Palmer, was en-
gagged in efforts TO ascertain the fate of the
child, by inquiries addressed TO Almon
Meakcr. While MIR. Atherton was receiving
Almon's confession in Mr.. IIunley's kitchen,
at midnight, Mrs. Mcaker came in and Al
mon stopped talking. Mrs. NIeaker exhibit
cd every symptom of great distress. She
was asked by Mr.. Anterior to go out, which
she did, and as she left the room said to AL
mon, ''Iou had better keep still ; if You have
anything TO say, say it on the stand" AL
mon, having completed his confession. prom
ised to go with Mr.. Anterior and find the
body, and at half-past twelve O'Clock they
returned together to Mr.. Makers house to
get Almon's overcoat for their night ride.
Mrs. Meaker with loud cries and groans that
coulti be heard in the road. wanted to know
If Mr. Atherton was going TO take AlmOn
away. Almon answered, Il am going with
Mr. Athcrton." Mrs Meaker exclaimed
'-Almpn can't 20. / an tie guilty one, take
me She expressed her fear that Mr.
Atherton would not bring her son back, and
she would never see him again. Mr.. Ather-
ton assured her that he would bring Almon
safely back, and her husband anu daughter
endeavored TO pacify her. AlmOn told his
mother that he had told Mr.. Atherton the
whole truth, he had kept nothing back, and
there was not a lie in his mouth" The bal
ance Of Mr. AthertOn's testimony related to
the ''thrice told tale" of the finding of the
body, the easily return ride to Meaker's
house, the painful scenes following the re-
turn of all that was left of the forsaken child
to the presence of the iiend that had crushed
her young life out.
MIS-. MEiKEE's CRUELTY To LITTLE ALICE.
Charles Arlington testified that he lived
till last October in Il house owned 10y Meaker,
about one fourth of mile from the house
occupied by the Aleaker family On one
occasion while passing the house Mrs.
Mcakcr was whppin. Alice severely in the
kitchen. Stopped and looked in. Heard
Mrs. Meaker tell the child she would whip
her TO death if she didn't mind; heard
the child beg her not to whip her any more
would do anything il she would not whip
her any more. On another occasion called
one evening at Makers house. The little
girl was knitting; Mrs. Meaker took the
knitting out of her hand saying, Don't you
know better how to knit than that = Slapped
her on the side of her head and said, IN
whip you 10 death and won't leave you
alive" On third occasion, returning home
at night, the old lady had the girl out in the
shed whipping heT over the head and
shoulders with single or narrow strip OF
board. The child begged for mercy; said she
would do anything She told her to. The old
lady threatened to whip her to death if she
did not do as she wanted her TO do. Have
heard noises there; have heard her whip
that child, and heard the blows and cries al
my house. On one of these occasions saw
Mr.. Meakcr upon the hillside with the little
boy at work. Think she worked the little
girl very hard. Sent her out to work early
in the morning picking off potato bugs be-
fore going to school; at night after schoo
she was out again picking bugs. Have seen
her out picking stones from the fields, carry.
Ing them down the hill in tin pan, across
the road and throwing them into the river.
She has worked early in the morning and late
in the evening.
Richard Thurndike testified: lives across
the river from where they were living one
day last Fall heard Mrs Meaker say to the
girl, You little damned bitch, | will kill
you" was pounding her with a broom
handle and heard the child's cries; after.
wards myself and wife, standing in our gar
den, heard the blows given the child and af.
forwards spoke to Mr. Anterior about it.
Harvey Il. Henry had seen Mrs. Meakei
whip the child with Il stick; had seen her
catch the child by the hair with one hand
and whip her with the other; had seen her
follow the child up into field with a barrel
stavc in her hand. Child once ran out when
he went near the house; Mrs. Nleak-
er grabbed her by the back of the neck and
showed her Violently back into the house.
Last Fall, while harvesting grain, the boy
and girl ran out of the house together. the
girl fell and the old lady seized her by the
ear and lifted her up, dragging her several
feet, saying, IN learn You to run ont every
time team drives up" Again, the child ran
up the hill back of the house, the old lady
after her: she could not catch her, but
screamed on; To Mr. Mcaker, what in hell
did yor ever bling that thing here for TO tor
mcnt me-"
Mrs +. ". llGntlry corroboIatcd the re-
ports of the cherries life led 10y the Young
ouicist: hail often invited little Alice to
come OVER and play with her daughter, but
the only response was sickly smile on the
sail face OF the child.
Mary Germanc, the mother of the muir
drred girl, testified that Alice would have
been ten Years old the 2Jlh of next August.