Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-11-29


cumstances, and In vain. Having stated this
much he then proceeded to make a very dra-
matte but exceedingly incorrect account Of the
case repeated his opening statement, argued
against domination" and said that the public
safety demanded that the hanging should 20 on.
Senator Bingham Of Essex Junction announced
himself to be In favor Of mercy. He narrated the
circumstances which led him to this belief He
rehearsed the testimony before the legislative
committee and said that great weight must be
given TO the opinion Of Judge Redield, OF the
grand jurors and petit jurors, of the prosecuting
attorney and court officials, that he should not be
punished by death With boy OF Almon's
weak mind who worshiped his mother, a boy
of good habits, pleasant disposition, the theory
OF the mothers domination was a sufficient ex-
cuse to alleviate the punishment from hanging
to imprisonment for life II no more had been
shown, at least a doubt In his favor had been
shown, and that doubt should influence the vote
OF every senator. Senator Martin who was
foreman OF the grand jury that indicted Almon,
said that the testimony before the grand jury
convinced him and he believed that Almon was
of simple mind, controlled by his mother He
was In favor OF capital punishment, but he be-
lieved that this was case for mercy Sen.
ator Jones, who was also one Of the grand iu-
rors, concided with Senator Martin Senator
Hogan of Sheldon alluded to the solemn nature Of
the responsibility which lay upon him and his fe-
low senator's. He said that Almon, lowly as he
was, without friends, deserted even by bis mother,
had constitutional right to come To the egisla-
fully considered. The strict rules Of law were
not the limitations OF this case The legislature
was court OF mercy and all the mitigating cir
cumstances should be taken into account, and
weighed In his favor II has seemed to him that
the majority OF the judiciary committee had been
too greatly circumscribed in their course by mere
legal rules. as II they were a court Of law and
Almon were on trial for the crime. That was an
erroneous view. He referred to the change of
ground when the opponents OF Communication had
made sure the application had been made to the
legislature. At first 1t was agreed that II the
mother dominated over the son, his sentence
should be committed. Now that had been
proved, and the opponents now claim that even
II he were, he should be hanged because he
could make a good trade. Mr. Hogan read
one of the letters which Almon wrote to his
mother when they were in Jail just before the
trial, in order to show Almons lack of education,
and his intense love of his mother. He said that
when he first read Almons confession made in
the state prison a few weeks ago, 1t preiudiced
him against Communication because he thought
that man who could use such good Eng
fish must be more intelligent than his friends
had claimed. He saw the letters and ascertained
what Almons intelligence really was-of low
grade. He read to the senate the minutes of the
testimony before the committee, which tended
strongly to show Almons feeble mind, from edu-
cation and subserviency to his mother He com.
mented on the terms Of Judge Redield's letter.
which in the strongest manner expressed his be-
lief that the mother dominated the will of Almon
ana sald tnat ne could not avoid the conviction
that while with his mother he was absolutely
under her control Her superior spirit cowed
him and he never dreamed of disobeying her.
The history of the boy proved that he had
nothing vicious about him; that his character was
innocent and weak, while the mother had
the disposition of a fiend and her hatred
OF little Alice was diabolical. One curious
phase of the history of the case that two years
ago 1t was agreed by all that Almon should be
committed If he would only make a confession
He refused in order hia motbpr and his
refusal was now urged against him. His very
refusal showed that he was under his mothers
domination. Had he not been, he would have
owned up and told the truth. Now, he was
away from her and weaned from her imperious
rule, he had confessed. Mr.. Hogan discussed
the age of the responsibility for crime, and said
that Almon had been described by Sheriff Ath-
erton to be, in will a child of five. Would any
one hang child of twelve? In regard to the
trade, alluded to by Senator Howard, with the
Somervies, he said that Almon would have
starved to death before the end of the year unless
the town had helped him. That trade was clear
evidence Of incapacity. The other trade alluded
to in the newspapers was broken up by friends
who discovered that he running himself
What was the end of human punishment Life
for life? Blood for blood No. 1t was for
terror to evil-doers to reform the criminal, to
prevent him from doing further harm. Would
not the public safety be assured IL Amon were
confined for life ? Certainly. The tendency of
our legislature had been against punishment by
death except for the most terrible crimes. The
list Of crimes punishable capitally has grown
smaller and smaller. until murder in the first de-
gree was all. lie did not believe that Amon's
crime was deserving of death and leaning on
the side of mercy, we who hope for mercy our
selves should vote for Communication. Senator
Crane of Newport said that az member Of the
judiciary committee, who had voted against the
bill 1t became him to give the reasons which had
irresstibly forced him to the conclusion that the
death sentence Of Almon Meaker should be exc
cuted. There had been no circumstance or fact
proved before the committee which showed that
Almon was below par, or had not the will and
resolution Of his years; had not the power to dis
tinguish between good or evil to know the right
path from the wrong path, to choose which he
should follow Mr. Crane read from the report
OF the murder in the Argus q Patriot, to show
that Almon was able to plan the murder, to carry
1t out and to lie about it afterwards. Senator
Crane took the same line of argument which was
adopted by Judge Thompson in the house and
followed him closely. He closed by saying that
his convictions were that the sentence should
not be committed and he should vote against it
Senator Burnap Of Burlington argued against
lie held that submission to
another was no excuse for the commission
Of a crime We should not forget the afro
city Of the crime nor the wretches who COM
mittedit it. Senator lde briefly reviewed the argu-
ments OF the friends Of hanging, and answered
them. The yeas and nays were called and the re-
suit was yeas II, nays IL and the bill was Or
dered to third reading.