Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1882-12-01

The question OF the communication OF the
death sentence of Louis Almond Meaker to
Imprisonment for life, was debated in the
Senate, yesterday afternoon, in the presence
Of an interested audience which crowded the
chamber 10 the utmost.
Col. walker
OF Rutland. the chairman of the judiciary
committee and one of the four members of
that committee who had reported against the
Communication, gave the reasons which had
actuated him in coming to the decision. He
reviewed the circumstances Of the murder I;
the trials of Almon and his mother, and
said that murder in the first degree had
been proved against them both. Much has
he had tried to find nit eating circumstances
he hal failed, and it seemed TO him proper
that the law sh) uld take its course. All the
testimony showed that Almun at the time
OF the murder was on par with his fellows.
lie had been to district and Sabbath school
AMI had learned to appreciate the distinction
between good aud evil. He had, for all
that could be asceitaincd deliberately aided
his mother in the preparation of this awful
crime. Ii such excuses as were made for
Almon were admitted to mitigation, then the
doors of the courts might us well he thrown
wide open and the full rights of the law he
visited upon none.
senator Idle
of st. Johnslury, said that lie had listened to
all the testimony before the committee
of the the Legislature and had carefully
weighed it, lie had come to the Legislature
prejudicei against cjmmutatiou. But it
seemed to him after weighing the evidence
that this was case which called for COM
mutation. The whole policy of the English
law had bccn TO give the criminal the benefit
of every doubt in favor of mercy. The Leg
islliurc was the tribunal where the preroga-
tive Of mercy was lodged in Vermont and
this case should not be tried as IN II court of
law. There, even if at all the jury recon-
mend mercy IN II case of conviction of muir
der the court can not exercise it. 1t must
sentence t. death The power eff commuta-
tion is srlly IN the hands of the Legislature.
He conras,cd this case with that OF John p.
Phair and particularly the fact that in the
Phuir case al the court officials and all The
peop'e of Rutland were in favor OF the caryr-
ing ont ut tue death penalty, while in this case
iust the opposite con mt OIL OF lhluus existed
all who have been cugniZ ut ui III; crcnm-
stance and have Known Am"m aud his
mother, evca the states attorney Mr. Plum
ley) who prosecuted them for the murder
are in favor OF cpmmutatiOn. Why was
that 50 !: Were tier neghbors at DuXbury
now of flat opinion. 1t could moi BE-
doubted thai AlnOu was tool under the i'm
perpus ant dominating will of his mother.
Such fact was conclusive in favor OF the
criminal in court Of mercy, such us this
was He de.crincd the iniucacc OF the
parent over lhe child, which in ANY case was
so great that in carly chil HOOD say at
eight or nine-if he told his Int" nirl to fire
Il revolver at another she would do it
under the Influence of his will OF
course as the child grew older this
tendency to implicit obedience grew fainter !;
but in Almon's cus,, who was irrcsolute and
whose moteor was unusually savage and
domincerng, the child-likc docity would
continue much later in life than common.
lie had been accustomed to yield to all his
mothers suggestions, and at last, after some
repulsion, he yielded to this. The two ma
lures were rs different as a lambs from a
tiger. Her life in jail and in the State prison
had demonstrated that she was as fierce as q
tiger, aud he docic and obcdicnt to his keep
ers. She had attempted inccndiarsm and
deadly assaults, and he had been one of the
gentlcst prisoners ever known. He refutcd
the statement that, If committed, he would
soon be pardJnci out and SAID that such a
thing never had been done in Vermont and
never would be. He concluded by making
an effective appeal Tor mercy.
Senator Howard
of Fairhavcn, opposed Communication. He
said that he had sought everywhere for miti-
eating circumstances. and in vain. Having
stated thus much, he then proceeded to make
very dramatic, but exceedingly incorrect,
account Of the case repeated his opening
statement agreed against domination,
and said that the public safety demanded
that the hanging should 60 on.
senator Bingham
of Essex junction, announced himself TO be
in favor Of mercy. lie nlrra'cd the cir
cumstanccs which led him TO this belief. lie
rchearsci the testimony before the Legislative
committee, AMI said that great weight might
be given to the opinion of Judge Rcdtield, OF
the grand jurors and petit jurors, of the pros
ccutiug attorney and court officials, that he
should not he punished by death. With {
boy OF AlmOns weak mind who worshipped
his mother, a boy of good habits, pleasant
disposition, the theory of the mothers domi
nation was a sufficient excuse to alleviate thu
punishment from hanging to Imprisonment
for life. If no more had been shown, at leas
doubt in his favor had been shown; ant
that doubt should influence the vote OF every
Senator.
senator Martin
who was foreman of the grand Jury that in
dicted Almon said that the testimony bcfor
the grand Jury convinced him and his fellow
that Almon was Of SIMPLE mind, controlled
by his Iother. lie was in favor of capita
punishment, hut he believed that this was
case for mercy. Senator Jorcs, who was ais
one Of the grand Jurors, conceded with Sen
ator Martin.
Senator Hogan OF Sheldon, alluded to TIN
solemn nature of the responsibility which la,
upon him and his fellow Senators. He sal,
that Almon, lonely as he was, withou
friends, deserted even by his mother, hal
constitutional right TO come TO the Legisa
turc and his case should be cunddly an,
merciully considered. The strict rules o
law were not the limitations OF this case
The Legislature was court of mercy aud IA
the militia ing circumstances should he take
into account aud WEIGHED In his favor.
hal S enc 1 To INN that the majority OF tn
juuiciry committee had been to gre IT.
crcuuscrbed IN their course by mere legi
rules, as ii they were II court OF law and a
mon were Oh trial Tor The crime. Tint vi
an erroneous view. lie referred 10 III
changc Of grouni which the opponents {
comma ion lad made since the applcutiu
had been made to the Lcgs stature, At first
was agreed tnut # the mother dominate
over the son, his sentence should be COMMIT
tel. NJN tnat had been proved, and I'll
opponents now claim that even II lie WEI,
he should be hanse j. hccaus; hc could NAL;
go1d trade Mr. Hogan read one OF IL
letters which Aimon wrote to his mothe
when they were in jail just before the trla
10 which he shows Almon's lack of educ
ton, aud his entire love of his mother. II
said that when he first read Almon's confe
sion made in tic Safe Prison few weel
ago it prejudiced hun against communication
because he thought that man who could u
ssch good Engli>h must be more ntclligei
than his friends had cllimed. He saw the
letters, and asCctlincd that Amon's intel
gence really was Of low grade. lie RET
to the Senate the minutes of the testimor
before the committee which tended stronu