Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-10-25
AImnn Menknr,s Case.

The judiciary committee sat In representatives
hall Thursday and heard the application for
the communication of the death sentence OF Lewis
Almon Meaker TO imprisonment In the state prison
for life The members of the senate committee
are Colonel Aldace +. Walker OF Rutland CHAIR
man, Wilder L. Burnap OF Burlington, w. d.
Crane Of Newport Henry c. lde OF st. Johnsbuty,
Charles Z. Hogan OF Sheldon, Nelson l.. BOyden
of Randolph Marcelus A. Bingham OF Essex
The members OF the house committee are Judge
L. II. Thompson of Irasburgh chairman, Love.
land Munson of Manchester, Rodney G. Abel Of
West Haven, Frank Plumey OF Mortified, GuyC
Noble of st. Adams, Robert Roberts Of Burling-
ton, Heman A. Carter of South Hardwick, +. A.
Bolles OF Bellows Falls, John c. Burke of Albany
The hall was well filed and large share Of the
members OF the legislature were present and lis
tened attentivey to the proceedings. Messrs
Heath and Carleton OF Montpelier and Mr. l.. Y.
Palmer OF Waterbury, who we're the counsel Of
Amon and his mother at their trials appeared In
his behalf, and Mr.. Clarence H. Pitkn Of Mont
pelier the states attorney OF Washington county
was present 10 guard the interests OF the govern
ment Mr.. Carleton made brief statement of
the grounds on which the application was based
that Almon Is weak-minded and irresolute
young man. easily influenced by his surround
ings that he has been devoted to his mother and
entirely dominated by her superior will that
there was no doubt that he shared in the crime on
account OF the fatal influence which she exercised
over him for bad. lie described the mother as a
woman OF strong passions and cruel nature, who
was absolutely supreme in her family; all, father,
son and daughter, bowed submissively to her will
The part which Amon took in the murder being
passive rather than active he believed that he
would be sufficiently punished by imprisonment
for life, and he hoped to convince the committees
that this was meritorious case for communication
Mr. Carleton read the following note from Judge
Redfield, who presided at the trials and who
would have come before the committee II an i'm
perative engagement had not forbidden:
COURT HOUSE,. Thursday Afternoon.
matter of Amon Meaker, under Of death
the crime OF murder with reference TO communication of his
put trial Jointly with his mother he pleaded guilty and
ne TIA thereafter proceeded against The moeT alone
crime Of marked arocy had no knowledge Of the par
veopnen Of the trial thoroughly impressed my mind that
the mother dominated the will and largely controlled the
victim and instrument in the hands OF another As
do not deem il proper 70 speSk Of he propfy Of mvTo
prety Of the legislature eS,mmung his sentence
yours sincerely TIMOTHY y. kEDflELD'
Statements were made by Mr.. w. H. H. Bing-
ham of stowe, who has known Almon for several
years, seen him frequently since he was in the
state prison, and to whom Almon recently made
the confession which was published in this paper
by Sheriff Frank Atherton, who arrested Amon
and his mother, to whom Almon made his first
confession, and who went with Almon to the
swamp and got the body of little Alice; by
Mr.. Eber W. Huntley the representative from
Duxbury, and the Hon Charles H. Heath. All
of these gentlemen agreed that Almon was an
easily influenced and inoff ensive boy, who would
not have committed murder If he had not been
dominated by another. The members Of the
committee asked great many questions tending
to elicit the truth as to Almon's mental and
moral temperament and a full discussion took
place between the above-named gentlemen and
the members OF the committee. Mr. d. W. Dud-
ley, the keeper of the Montpelier Jail, where AL
mon was confined between the murder and the
trial, and other gentlemen who are acquainted
with Almon, not being present, the further hear
ing was adjourned until next Friday evening.