davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1880-12-03
Mrs. Meeker Convicted of Murder.

The case Of Mrs. Meeker, on trial for
the murder of her daughter, Alice, was
given to the jury at Montpelier last
evening, and in two hours they came in
with verdict of guilty of murder in
the first degree. The respondent was
completely broken down, when advised
of the verdict, and gave vent to her
feelings in loud crying and wailing.
The case will go to the supreme court
on exceptions and Almon Meeker who
is jointly indicted with his mother and
pleaded guilty, was to have been SEN
fenced Wednesday. The case has ex-
cited intense interest and the court
room has been crowded during the tri-
al. While Mrs. Meeker, was in court.
the Jailer found letter to her daugh-
ter Nellie, which read as follows: 'Nel-
lie, you get me some powder and throw
it upon the shed where can reach out
stick. Don't you fail in doing it.
Help me in some way. Get me some
matches, too. If I had an iron bar, L
could get out of here" Quite a guam
tity of matches were also found.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1880-12-03
Death of Congressman Farr.

Congressman Evarts w. Farr of the
Sd district died at his home in Littleton
Tuesday of pneumonia. He was born
at Littleton in 1910, and after studying
in the common school entered Dart
mouth college, which he left to join
the army. He rose from the ranks to
Major, and after leaving the army
studied law, which he since practiced.
He was an assessor of internal revenue
from 1870 to 1873, prosecuting attorney
for Grafton county, member of the ex-
ecutive council in 1876, was elected to
the last Congress as q republican in
1873, and bad just been reelected.
His death leaves a vacancy in the pres
ent as well as the next Congress. The
democrats will undoubtedly renominate
Mr.. Bingham, and for the short term the
republicans will probably select a can
didate from Sullivan county, either Mr..
Pike of Cornish or Mr.. Barton of New
port, and for the long term candidate
from Coos county, who will probably
be Ossian Ray of Lancaster, If he can
be induced to accept. The Democrats
claim that there is a serious question
involved in this matter, inasmuch as
the governor and council have no right
under the law to count votes for con-
gressmen at the present time, as il
stipulates that they shall be counted at
the same time and in the same manner
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1880-12-03
Judges and Justices.

A good degree of interest is felt in
the state on the subject of reducing the
number of Supreme Judges. Might it
not be better to begin to lop off from
the other end of those authorized to try
the number of Justices
to say about the number of post offices
in the state, which is very near 500.
With that number, Justices would feel
some responsibility; men would then
be selected with special reference to
taste and ability for that duty; causes
would be decided more intelligently /;
both parties would have good reason to
believe their cause had been well tried (;
consequently the number of cases APP
pealed would be greatly lessened. If
this theory should prove true the time
might come when even three Supreme
Judges, we'll aided with good number
of Assistant Judges, could do all the
business the interests of the state might
demand. DIAL.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1880-12-03
Death of DIR. Phelps.

Edward E. Phelps, NJ. D., Ii. D.,
who has practiced medicine in Wind
sor for over so years, died Friday morn
ing, aged a years. DR.. Phelps gradu-
ated at Yale in the class with n. P.
Willis, and at Dartmouth medical de-
partment, of which institution he was
chosen professor of medical jurispru-
dence and pathological anatomy, which
office he held for over 30 years. For
two years QS35-37) he was professor of
anatomy and surgery in the medical de-
partment of U. V. NJ, and received the
honorary degree of A. NJ. in 1885 from
the University. He was brigade sur
geon in the war of the rebellion during
the four years. He was physician of
wide and extended practice, his reputa-
ton extending throughout the states of
New Hampshire and Vermont. He
leaves a wife and one daughter.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1880-12-03
The Indians Again.

1t seems there is no end or limit to
the perple1ities of this question. If
anything, the matter is more compll-
Gated to-day than ever. All we care to
notice at this time is one point, which
we still believe is the chief one of all
these Indian troubles and that is, the
bad faith kept by our own Government.
The Boston AdUertiSer, by the way one
of the most able and sensible of our ex-
changes, in a recent number says some
pretty plain things regarding the vIo-
lated rights of the Ponca tribe, and the
secret and underhanded work practiced
by certain Government officials. OF the
cruel removal of this tribe from their
own land and homes-a tribe fast COM
ing under the influences of civilization,
the Advertiser says, that for more than
three years it has "been forced to live
a living DEATH" 1t says that hardly
one half of the tribe could remain on
their new reservation, the soil was so
Door and the climate so unhealthy, and
which in fact belonged to another tribe,
and the better part of the other half
were either dead OF fugitives at large.
In speaking of the responsibility of this
injustice, the, Advertiser says: sit was
begun under this administration, and
has been prosecuted by it with inge-
NOUS defiance of every effort to bring
the aggrieved parties before tribunal
where their piteous appeal for justice
could at least be heard" 1t says that
the true knowledge of the interests and
rights of this tribe "have been cruelty
concealed from them" 1t speaks of the
Indian commissioner as "the creature of
an hour" and of his late report as ian
impertinent report"
Evidently the Advertiser is voicing
the true spirit of this matter, and it is
also evident that the people are gradu-
ally getting their eyes open to the enor-
nifty of this Indian Ring business, which
will sooner or later be condemned by
everybody as infamous. 1t is sincerely
to be hoped that our Government may
vet surmOunt these difficulties, and live
up to its agreements with the Indians
as it would with other people.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1880-12-03

erings the other day, in the course of
which some jesting declaration that
Forbes had been asked to deliver a SER
mon, but had declined. On this he
solemnly indites disclaimer, published
in all the papers, Indignantly denying
that he had ever been asked to deliver
this alleged sermon, and could not have
refused the application, and he cannot
understand why these young men from
Yale should take such a liberty with
him or his name. The culprit was
Chauncey Depew, a very young and
fresh man in all conscience, and the
Herald, in a spasm of newspaper mirth,
very pertinently recalls Sydney Smiths
famous dictum, that it requires screw
driver to drive a joke into Scotchman's
head. Of course Archie is Scot
guide luck befa' him. RADIx.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1880-12-03
Our Coast Defences.

The leading papers of the country are
discussing with much seriousness and
spirit the necessity of making better
provision for our coast defences. In
this argument there seems to be great
unanimity of sentiment, and many
strong, irrevocable points are brought
forth. Personally, we are against war,
aud the war spirit, because we believe
it is high time that intelligent people,
especially Christian people, were labor
ing more to develop the faculties of the
spirit, and less the brutal instincts that
make war possible. All can see that
there is no danger whatever but the
animal propensities will always be well
provided for, but there is danger that a
good spiritual manhood may suffer.
But as all things have their two sides,
and we know that the world is what 1T
is, and that the millennium is yet in
the far distant future, we cannot con-
slider it good sense to ignore plain facts
for the sake of supporting any private
sentiments or theories, however good
they may appear.
Undoubtedly our coast defences are
dilapidated and weak. Our navy is
comparatively nothing. Should any
foreign power become our open enemy,
as it is one of the possibilities, they
could give US the most serious trouble
before we could lift finger Probably
the necessary expense now, great as il
might be, of putting our defences in
proper condition, would be the cheap
est and wisest thing that could be done
Putting lock upon the stable door at
ter the horse is stolen, is not very
cunning operation. And waiting unit
the enemy has bombarded, destroyed
and pillaged Boston, New York, Phila
delpbia and Washington, is calculation
upon the same principle. The expense
for protection after an attack, must b'
much greater than when the provision
is made beforehand. We expect tina
Washington was about right when ht
said, SIN peace prepare for war;" Ant
If the proper preparation for war will
act as preventive, or make it less Sc
rious when it does come, we would sa,
by all means let the preparations com
mence.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1880-12-03
Another Presidential Accident.

1t is now claimed that the electoral
vote of Indiana stands fourteen for Gar
field and one for Hancock. By a mis-
take in printing the electoral tickets
the name of one republican elector was
omitted in several counties. The dem
ecratic elector consequently received
the entire vote in those counties and
was of course elected. 1t will be re-
membered that one Hancock elector in
California was defeated because of his
appropriately. Such things as these in
dictate that direct vote for President
would be safer.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1880-12-03
General News.

John 1. Davenport, it is understood,
has unearthed gigantic Democratic nat
uralization frauds perpetrated prior to
the last campaign.
Charles A. Hill, st. Louis lawyer,
was found guilty of having counterfeit
coin in his possession, and was sent to
jail for one year.
1t is rumored that Senator Blaine has
been rendered by Gen. Garfield the
choice between Secretary of State and
Secretary of the Treasury, both of
which he declined. On the other hand
it is said Grafield will not decide on
any of his cabinet until February.
The useful dog: Mary Dolley, of
Rondout, N. Y, l6 years old, was ter
ribly mangled by her fathers dog Mon
day. The calf of one leg was literally
torn off. Another: A large dog at
tackled William Jeffrey's IL years old
daughter at Long Branch, n. j.,
Thanksgiving day, bit piece out of
her arm, and, throwing her to the
ground, tore a cash three inches long
in her abdomen. The girls screams
then brought assistance, but her condi-
ton is critical. The brute was shot.
A most daring highway robbery was
committed in Boston, corner of Cam
bridge and Grove streets, Saturday
evening about $50 o'clock A Miss
Otis of Medford had just left a horse
car when she was seized by two men,
who, in spite of her cries of "police,
robbed her of her wallet containing
sos. She says that there were men
'On the street, but that they paid no
attention to her.
There are eight towns in the state
with population of less than 100, the
smallest being Avery's Gore, with I6.
1t is remarked that ex-President
Grant, President Hayes and President
elect Garfield have each three sons and
a daughter. Garfeld's gill, Mollie, is
at school at Cleveland this winter.
Miss Mabel May, a young English
lady of rare accomplishments and last
year n teacher in Dayton f0.) semina-
ry, will be the companion and assistant
of Mrs. Garfield in the White House.
Wise men know little. THEIRS said
in 1885 after investigating the railroads
laid two years before, "that railroads
offer some advantage for transportation
of travellers, so far as the use of them is
limited to very short lines terminating
in great cities like Paris"
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1880-12-03
Vermont News.


The Boston train for Burlington had
a narrow escape near the latter place
Tuesday night, Il cattle guard having
caught fire and most of the supporters
being consumed as the train dashed
over it.
Gustavus A. Austin, of Burlington,
died i'll New York Monday, at the age
of 81 years. Mr.. Austin was a man of
large wealth, and like most wealthy
men, was not a philanthropist He
leaves five children four daughters and
one son.
DR.. L. j. Dixon of Milton was thrown
from his carriage by his horse running
away Friday and probably fatally in
jured.
ORANGE COUNTY.
The house occupied by Eben West,
but owned by II. H. Miller, has been
burned at West Fairlee loss $500.
Mrs. West came near losing her life
in endeavoring to save some of the
things. She was snatched from the
flames and found her head and arms
very badly burned, but she is now
comfortable as can be expected.
F. B. Galisburg's steam saw mill and
furniture mandatory in West Ram
dOlph, was burned, with its valuable
machinery and contents, the 25th
This property originally cost over $40,-
600, and was worth over $4,000. The
burning of these buildings is great
loss to this town and the whole valley.
Some thirty or forty men are thrown
out of employment by this fire, the orr
gin of which is unknown. Insurance
small.
The wife of w. U. Bailey of New
bury, died of heart disease. She had
before her death.
ORLEANS COUNTY.
Levi Gotta of Salem recently lost a
good horse from the effects of eating
glass which got into his food by acct
dent.
Charles Emery of Westfeld slipped
from log while at work in the woods
recently and broke two of his ribs.
Orleans Pomona Grange meets at
Barton Landing Wednesday, Dec. LIST
at 10 a. M, meeting to be held in Meth
odist church vestry.
RUTLAND COUNTY.
One Bucat was killed in marble
quarry at West Rutland Friday by the
falling of large chain.
1t is said that more new houses have
been erected in Rutland the past year
than in Burlington, st. Adams, Ben
nington and st. JOhnsbury combined.
Let Rutland tell the story and it would
be the largest place in the United
States.
Rutland county will celebrate its
centennial February %, and Henry Hall
will deliver an grafton.
Artemus P. Warner, of Sutherland
Falls, went out cunning Friday, and
started up three foxes which ran under
rock. A hot fight ensued, resulting
in shooting two of them and the dog
killing the third.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1880-12-03
Melancholy Suicide.

A peculiarly melancholy suicide was
that, the intelligence of which shocked
the people of Burlington Sunday after
noon, of Mrs. William c. Crippen, wife
of the well-known principal of the state
normal school at johnson. The cir
cumstances of the sad affair are as fol-
lows: Mrs. Crippen had long been
suffering from ill-health and some
months since went to Burlington for
the purpose of receiving medical treat
ment, DR.. Walter Carpenter being her
physician, and lived in the family of
Mr.. Willard Greene. On Sunday morn
ing, after the family had gone to church
and she was alone in the house, Mrs.
Crippen took a small cord and inter-
laced with it a piece of braid, to in
crease its strength, and with this went
into the front hall and hung herself
from the baluster. The moose was
double or treble the size of her neck
and hung so low that the unfortunate
woman's weight partly rested on the
floor. Before committing the dreadful
deed she locked all the doors, leaving
on the outside note to Mrs. Greene,
asking her not to enter the house alone.
Reading the note Mrs. Greene summon
ed assistance and entering the house,
the awful sight described above pre-
scented itself. Mrs. Crippen left, I'M
sealed, four letters-two to lady friends,
one to her sister and one (most affec-
tionate in tone) to her husband. She
gave no reason for the dreadful deed
she was about to commit, but asked
her relatives and friends not to mourn
for her. The letters were penciled and
were evidently written without ire
NOR. The only attributable cause for
the suicide was long continued i'll
health and despair of recovery. Mrs
Crippen had been married for six OIL
seven years, was about thirty-five years
of age and leaves no children.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1880-12-03

as the votes for senator, and the latter
are not required to he returned to the
secretary of state till 30 days or less
before the assembling of the Legisla-
ture; that when they shall be counted
by the executive body at the proper
time it will appear that the votes for
Farr should not be counted, as he is not
living, and that Bingham will have a
sufficient number to elect him. There
is probably precedent for the action
of the governor and council, and they
will probably proceed at once in the
manner indicated.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1880-12-03
The Omce-Seekers.

Dispatches from Washington say that
the place-hunters have already COM
meneed operations. At present the mat
ter wears rather a ludicrous aspect.
They seeem to think that first come,
first served" and so they are rushing
to headquarters as boys rush to a ticket
cart. There are good many RepubIi-
Can Democrats just now, and Gen. Gar
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1880-12-03

field is really considerable of chap.
Even one Southern man has left word
that he would like to be cabinet Off
GER! Unless we are mistaken, Gen. Gar
field has seen just such works before,
and he will not be likely to be taken in
much now. The Boston Journal says,
she is better acquainted with the pub
lie men of the country than most of our
and when he wants a man
he will probably send for him."
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1880-12-03
WASHINGTON COUNTY

Erastus w. Stone of Worcester, who
has been in the Washington county
Jail since last February for the nom
payment of a tax of $3.50, has been re-
leased, the town having abated the tax
and paid its own costs.
Hon. John w. Rowell, supreme court
reporter, having resigned, the supreme
court last week appointed Edwin F.
Palmer, Esq, of Waterbury to the
place thus made vacant. Mr.. Palmer
is a graduate of Dartmouth, class of
1862, and is an earnest student in both
the law and general literature. The
appointment is a good one and meets
with the approval of the bar.
A lady at Berlin while feeding a
horse with apples the other day lost
the end of one finger on her right hand
down to the first joint, having it bitten
clean off, and has not seen it since she
saw it In the horses mouth. She is do
ing as we'll as could be expected.
WINDSOR COUNTY.
Frederick Billings, of Woodstock,
distributed 60 Thanksgiving turkeys on
Monday.
A man, supposed to he one Hatch, of
Norwich, was found frozen to death in
a barn at Tunbridge, Tuesday.
A correspondent writes that the doz-
en- men who are awaiting trial in
Woodstock Jail had regular tOrch-light
procession when they heard of Judge
Barrett's defeat. and that, while it is
not true that all who wished for Bar
rett's removal are thieves or pettifog-
gers, it is true that all thieves and pet
tifoggers wished for Barrett's removal.
Thomas Burns, breakman on the
Central Vermont railroad, fell from a
car near Windsor and was killed. He
lived at White River Junction, where
he leaves a wife and two children. He
had been on the road seven or eight
years.
On Monday morning as Dana Torrey
of Bethel, was crossing the Central
Vermont Railroad near Finley bridge
in Bethel, with two horse lumber
wagon loaded with meal, he was struck
by the down express, completely demol-
lshlng his wagon, scattering the frag-
ments in all directions. By good for
tune Mr.. Torrey was thrown to the side
of the track and escaped without injury,
as did the horses.
BENNINGTON COUNTY.
Edison Waller, who was assaulted by
Henry Whitman in Hartwellsville, We'd
nesday, died of his injuries early Sun
day morning. Witham, who was in
custody, has eluded the local constable
and is at present at large.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1880-12-03
81, cyuhnsburp Galeduniarr.
st.John.bury, VT, Friday, Dee. 8, 1880.

II The Vermont electoral college
met at Montpelier Dec. 1, and cast a
unanimous vote for Garfield and Ar
thur. There was much strife as to who
should be selected to carry the vote to
Washington, and after 81 ballots David
H. Beattie of Maidstone was chosen.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1880-12-03
The Real Cause of Judge Barrett's
Defeat.

Judge Barrett's way of treating a
criminal, in the way the law directs, is
the real cause of the opposition. A
nicely dressed liquor seller dislikes to
be used as a criminal, but Judge Bar
rett had habit of sentencing rumsell-
ers, burglars, horse-thieves, ETC., ac-
cording to the tenor of the law, ire
spective of fine clothes, and naturally
the rum interest did not like it. Per-
haps "the farmers" in the Legislature,
who think themselves so smart on most
other matters in which they have little
interest, have been Overreached by the
liquor interest Bennington Banner.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1880-12-03

The Union Pacific company has re-
duced the rate from Omaha to Ogden,
1893 miles, from S77.50 to $62, or from
n cents to 6 cents per mile. In the
settled portions of Nebraska, where
local travel is considerable, a general
reduction to cents per mile has been
made.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1880-12-03

F The old and reliable house of Da-
ma & Co., Portland, advertise fish and
salt in this paper. This house has earn
ed reputation during an established
business of three-quarters of a century
that any house might envy.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1880-12-03

e That charming magazine for the
little folks-The Nursery-is advertised
elsewhere. 1t is dubbed with the Gale
DOMAIN. See terms on fourth page.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1880-12-03

A lot of banished Communists from
France arrived in New York Monday.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1880-12-03
Ranges for Wood or Goa

Paris Range; Silver Sheen, and Paris
Royal Range.
Remember these Ranges are made with Reser.
voir on Left Hand Side and they say they do work
spendidly. Ask John Mccormick, Cook and vii.
ley, Rev. j. A. BoissOnnaut, Hon. W. p Smith
and others. Also, the Bussey and Gold Medal
Ranges, each made in 10 different styles
The splendid Acorn Range, Ivanhoe, Empress
Eclipse, Surety, Cabinet and Minerva Range
with Reservoir on left hand sidel
The celebrated Atlantic Range Delight Pacific
Superb, Parole, Etc.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1880-12-03
ParIor Wood Stoves.

Nv IIH IIVIHg TIUt.T
Gold Coin, Waverly, Acorn, Forest corn,
Sharon, Etc.
Direct Draft: Raven, Waverly, Emerald Lin
wood, Forest, Garnet, Laurel Franklin,
Cottage Oven LSoapstone, Etc
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1880-12-03
BENNINGTON COUNTY.

Edison Waller, who was assaulted by
Henry Whitman in Hartwellsville, We'd
nesday, died of his injuries early Sun
day morning. William, who was in
custody, has eluded the local constable
and is at present at large.
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1880-12-03
ParIor Coal Stoves.
Surface Burners.

If William, Paris Parlor, Garland Astral, New
Superb Light House, Lively Times, New Su-
perb with oven, Etc.