Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-11-15
AImOn Meaker's Communication.

At half-pas two Thursday afternoon, H. AZ, the
bill to commute the death sentence OF Lewis Almon
Meaker, was taken up as the special order. 1t
will be remembered that six of the judiciary
committee Of the house voted against the commu-
tation and three, Messrs. Abel, Pumley aud
Burke, voted for 1t. The question was upon the
adoption of the majority report recommending
that the bill do notpsss.
Mr.. Burke Of Albany reviewed the history Of
Almon Meaker, and particularly the circum-
stances of the murder, and claimed that all he
knew of him went to show that he was intellec-
tually below par and in a singular manner under
the influence and control Of his savage mother.
He described the mother as woman Of mascu-
line force and OF fierce and impacable DISPOSE
ton. No motive had been shown for the COM
mission of the crime and no motive for the con-
fession which he made on the night of his arrest,
the Monday night after the murder on Friday
night. Afterwards, at the trial. he pleaded guilty
to save his mother, because she had made him
believe that II he took all the guilt upon himself
1t would save her. He never, as far AZ can be as
certained has had an adequate idea of the en-
ormity Of the crime. Soon after his arrest, he
tried to make an arrangement to be allowed to
go home and work on the farm during the ensu-
ing summer, saying to his counsel, :" must stay
at home this summer; they need me on the farm"
Think Of a person of ordinary intelligence, hav-
ing committed such an awful crime making re-
mark like that! He did not conceive the crime
and only participated therein under the imper-
GUS and dominating will Of his mother, whom he
had been accustomed to obey with unwayerng
and unquestioning fidelity.
MT Munson OF Manchester repeated in sub
stance the confession which Almon made in the
state prison few weeks ago, and argued that
that very confession told terribly against him.
He reviewed the testimony and statements made
before the legislative committee and said that,
anxiously as he had awaited the introduction OF
any mitigating circumstances, he was forced TO
reluctantly admit to himself that there were none
sufficient to justify communication. The very
strength with which, In his own statement, he
had resisted the opportunities OF his mother to
commit the crime evinced an Intellectual calibre
which forbade the idea of responsibility to any
great extent. He wished he could advocate
mercy but his duty to the state would not suffer
him to do 80.
Mr. Childs Of Bennington said that but little
was asked Of the legislature-the highest court In
the state, the court Of last appeal--merely the
poor privilege.of being immured In living tomb
till death releases him from his misery He knew
not the magnitude Of the crimes he committed
He did not realize the magnitude of the sentence
he received. He smiled while he heard the aw.
full doom Of death, as II it was piece OF sport
| AS far rs the commission of the crime was con
cerned, he the merest tool In the hands OF hi,
mother. He was like the pistol In the hands Of
the murderer, which Is fired of and kills the vic