Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1882-12-15
OH 9rGe press.
A DARK RECORD.
Murders ana Executions in vernon

Murders ana Executions In vermont
Tho recent discussion of the Meaker case
naturally directs attention 10 the subject OF
capital crime and its punishment in YER
mont 1t appears from the record that since
the State Prison was built lin 1S0S) "a per
sons have been received within its walls for
the crimes of manslaughtcr and murder. The
first person convicted Of manslaughter was
Jean u. Turnas, who was sentenced Dec -,
1921, To Imprisonment for life. lie was par
duned cut oct. 10, 1896. Daniel Palmer was
convicted in 1924, but was pardoned out IN
1929. In 1925 Charles Ball acccived life
sentence for mansaughter remaining there
until 1913, when he died, after a service
for the State Of Is yelrs In 1926 Ezekiel
Dale was sentenced for mansliughtcr, and
in 1872 pniduncd out The first con-
dcmncd murderer TO have his sentence
clmmu'ed to imprisonment for life was
llcnry Damon, sentenced in 1910 TO be
hanged and Commuted the same year, lie
was 30 years old when he entered the prison,
and for 80 years remained within its walls.
Damon died in 1915. This is the longest
term ever served by any convict in the pri-
son. The second person sent to the prison
for murder was Eugene Clifford. lie was
sentenced 10 he executed in 1913, but the
warrant for his execution was never issued
and he died natural death in lsii. Andrew
Rodgers, who received life sentence for
mans'Hughtcr in 1916 was pirdoncd out
Nov. ), 1853. Thomas Hall was sen, tD the
State Prison for life for the same crime in
1852, and after serving five years died. The
first condemned murderer who escaped the
gallOws by Communication, and subsequently
was released by being pardouc !, was Samuel
I Ip La a
1852 was committed to fifteen years mpii-
sonmcnt, and after serving tOur years, was
pardoned out Nov, 24 1851 Matthew llol-
lcrn received life sentence for murder in
1854, but was pardOncd in 1862, Sheldon
Pond, convicted of murder in 1s14 and SEN
fenced fer life, became insane in 1874 and was
sent to the Asy um, In 1855 Thomas Cook was
sentenced TO nfc Imprisonment for deadly as
sault, lie died in prison Nov. %, 1859.
Arial Martin was sentenced III lSj0 to he
hanged for murder. The same year his
sentence was committed, and the next year
he died natural death. Peter Mcdonald
convicted Of m0nslaughtcr in 1860, died in
1862 after two years imprisonment.
The first execution that ever occurred in
the prison was in January, 1864, when 4
double hanging took place. The victims
were William Barnet and Sandy kayanaugh,
both of whom were convicted of murder
October 1, 1862. In In 1863 John Burns
was sentenced to be hanged for murder, but
in 1864 lis nloncc was cOmmuted TO life
Imprisonment, ami for ~ years he has labor
ed for the State. Burns has served Il longer
term than any convict now in Windsor plis-
on. William Pvndolph, sentenced to be
hanged in 1861, received cummua';on Tho
same year, aud was sent to til Insane asy
lum two years later Paul VI. Burke rcceiv
cd life sentence for assault with intent tC
kill in 1868 He died in prison March D
1852. Horace Il. plumlcy was convicted Of
lpurLcr in 1863 and sentenced to be hanged
'crcivtd Communication the same year anc
is Sill in Prison Ziha plumlry, ccnvictct
of manslal.htcr at the sane time and sen
fenced iur lite, died Aug. 3. 1870.
The list Of murlcrcrs executed since lS6,
is long one. II is as follows: john Ward
March %, lsGs; Hiram Miller, June 2j
1869; Henry Welcome Jan. - ISL JOIN
T. phair April 10, 1879; Henry Gravclin
March 4, 1879 Asa Magoon, Nov. -, 1879
Edward 1utro, April ,, lSSi; Edwin C.
Hayden, Feb p, 1881; Royal :. Car, Apr
90, 1881.
In 1874 Jonas Jane, Snow was Sentenced
to Imprisonment ior life for murder in til
second degree, and in lS;, Scion :. Wooln.
received tie sam" sentence Tor tie sam
crime Thcst Two ConvicS, with Burns
Plumey and Almyn Mcak"r, are the onl.
prisoners now serving Il life sentence Il
Windsor.