Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-11-29
AlmOn Makers Case In the Senate.

The question of the Communication OF the death
sentence Of Louis Almon Meaker TO imprisoB-
ment for life was debated In the senate on We'd
nesday, In the presence OF an interested audi
enee which crowded the chamber to the utmost,
Col. Walker OF Rutland, the chairman Of the ju-
dietary committee, and one Of the four members
OF the committee who had reported against the
communication, gave the reasons which had actu-
ated them in coming to this decision. He re-
viewed the circumstances Of the murder; the
trials OF Almon and his mother, and said that
murder In the first degree had been proved
against them both Much as he had tried TO
hnd mitigating circumstances he had failed, and
1t seemed to him proper that the law should take
its course All the testimony showed that Al
mon at.the time of the murder was on a par with
his fellows. He had been to district and to Sab
bath school and had learned to appreciate the
distinction between good and evil. He had, for
all that could be ascertained, deliberately aided
his mother In the preparation of this most awful
crime. II such excuses rs were made for Almon
were admitted In mitigation then the doors of the
courts will be thrown wideopen and the full rigor Of
the law be visited upon none Senator Ide Of St.
Johnsbury said that he had listened to all the tes
timony before the committee Of the legislature,
and had carefully weighed it. He had come 10
legislature preiudiced against Communication, but
1t seemed to him, after weighing all the evidence,
that this was a case which called for commute
ton. The whole policy Of the English law had
been to give the criminal the benefit OF every
doubt In favor of mercy. The legislature was the
tribunal where the prerogative OF mercy was
lodged in Vermont; and this case should not be
tried as in court of law. There, even il all the
jury recommended mercy in case of conviction
OF murder the court cannot exercise 1t. 1t must
sentence to death The power OF Communication is
solely in the hands of the legislature. He con-
trasted this case with that of John Z. Phair and
particularly the fact that In the Phair case all
the court officials and all the people OF Rutland
were in favor of the carrying out of the
death penalty; while in this case Just the
opposite condition of things existed. All who
have been cognizant OF the circumstances and
have known Almon and his mother, even the
states attorney (Mr. Pumey) who prosecuted
them for the MURDER are in favor of commnta-
ton. Why was that 80? Even their lneighbors
at Duxbury were Of that opinion 1t could not
be doubted that Almon was tool under the i'm
perious and dominating will of his mother Such
a fact WAS conclusive In favor OF the criminal in
a court OF mercy, such as this was He described
the influence OF the parent over the child, which
in any case was 30 great that In early childhood
say at eight or nine-if he told his little girl to
hre revolver at another she would do 1t under
the influence of his will. OF course as the child
grew older this tendency TO implicit obedience
grew fainter; but in Almon's case who was
irresolute and whose mother was unusually saw
age and domineering the childlike docity had
continued much later In life than common. He
had been accustomed to yield 10 all his mothers
suggestions and at last, after some repusiop, he
yielded TO this. The two natures were as differ
ent as lambs from tigers. Their life 10 jail
and In the state prison had demonstrated That
she was a. fierce as a tiger, and he docile and
obedient TO his keepers. She had attempted in
cendiarism and deadly assaults, and he had been
one OF the gentlest prisoners ever known. He
repeated the statement that II committed, he
would soon be pardoned out and said that such
a thing had never been done In Vermont and
never would be. He concluded by making an
effective appeal for mercy Senator Howard OF
fairhayen opposed the Communication. He said