Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-12-13
A Dark Record.

The recent discussion of the Meaker
case naturally directs attention to the
subject of capital crime and its punishment
in Vermont. 1t appears from the record
that since the state prison was built I'm
lS0s) 81 persons havo been received
within its walls for the crimes of man
slaughter and murder. The first person
convicted of manslaugbter was jean Is.
Turnas, who was sentenced Dec. 30, 1871,
to imprisonment for life. He was pardon
ed ont Oct. IS, 1926 Daniel Palmer was
convicted in 1921, but was pardoned out
in 1929. In 1925 Charles Ball received a
life sentence for manslaughter, remaining
there until 1913, when he died, after a
service for the state of Is years. In 1926
Ezekiel Dale was sentenced for manslaugh
ter, and in 1882 pirdoned out. The first
condemned murderer TO have his sentence
commuted to Imprisonment for life was
Henry Damon, sentenced in 1919 to be
hanged, and committed the same year.
He was sc years old when he entered the
prison and for So years remained within
its walls. Damon died in 1875. This is
the longest term ever served by any con-
Wet in the prison. The second person
sent to prison for murder was Eugene
Clifford. He was sentenced to be executed
in 1913, but the warrant for his execution
was never issued and he died n natural
death in 1S47. Andrew Rodgers, who
received life sentence for manslaughter
in 1876, was pardoned out Nov. 3,
1855. Thomas Hall was sent to state
prison for life for the same crime in 1862,
and after serving five years died. The first
lon, ,1a,,,nol hn nod tho
galows by Communication, and subsequently
was released by being pardoned,' was
Samuel Lathe. lie was sentenced 10 be
hanged in 1852; was commuted to fifteen
years Imprisonment, and after serving four
years, was pardoned out Nov. 81, 1851.
Matt hew Holerin received life sentence
for murder tn 1854 but was pardoned in
1862 Sheldon Pond, convicted OF murder
in 1854 and sentenced for life, became
insane in 1874 and was sent TO the asylum.
In 1855 Thomas Cook was sentenced to
| life Imprisonment for deadly assault. He
died in prison Nov. %, 1859. Arial
Martin was sentenced iii 1859 to be hanged
for murder. The same yeur his sentence
was commuted, and next year he died a
natural death. Peter Mcdonald convicted
of manslaughlcr in 1860, died in 1862
after two years imprisonment.
| The first execution that ever occurred in
the prison was in January, 1864, when a
double hanging took place. The victims
were William Barnet and Sandy Kava
naugh, both of whom were convicted OF
murder Oct. 4,1S62. In 1868 John Burns
was sentenced to be hanged for murder,
but in 1864 his sentence was committed TO
life Imprisonment, and for 10 years he has
abored for the state. Burns has served a
longer term than any convict now in
Windsor prison. William Pendolph, SEN
fenced to be hanged in 1867, received
Communication the same year, and was sent
to the insane asylum two years later.
Paul NJ Burke received life sentence for
assault with intent to kill in 1868. He
died in prison March 5, 1882 Horace r.
Plumley was convicted of murder in 1853
and sentenced to be hanged. He received
Communication the same year and is still in
prison. Ziba Plumley, convicted of man.
slaughter at the same time and sentenced
for life, died Aug. 3, 1875.
The list of murderers executed since
1867 is long one. 1t is as follows
John Ward, March 20, 1868; Hiram
Miller, June %, 1869; Henry Welcome
Jan. 20 1871; John P, Phair, April 10
1879; Henry Graveln, March 4 1879
Asa Magoon, Nov. %, 1879; Edward
Tatro, April 2, 1880; Edwin g. Hayden
Feb. 25, 1881; Boyal $. Cur, April 20
1881.
In 1871 Jonas James Snow was sen
fenced to imprisonment for life for murder
in the socon degree, and in 1877 Solor
S. Woolay received the same sentence fol
the same crime. These two convicts, will
Burns, Plumley and Almon Meaker, ar,
the only prisoners now serving n lif'
sentence Mt Windsor.