Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-04-06
THE WEAKER MURDER.
The Story OF the DrcadraI Deed re
told,

murderer of little Alice Mcakcr, cXpiatcs
her dreadful crime upon the gallows at Wind
sor. The story of her deed is one of pccu-
liar cruelty and horror. In its deliberate
hcartlessness, and its iendish method of exc
cutiop, it stands among the most revolving
crimes on record Little Alice Mcaker, the
victim of the tragedy, was the daughter of
the brother of the murdcrer's husband. The
family lived in Charlotte; bua upon the death
of the father, Alice's mother married a man
named Germanc living in South Burlington,
and Alice and younger brother were thrown
upon the town for support. The overscer of
the poor placed the lad with the sisters of
Mercy in this city, and made arrangements
with 4. {. Mcaker of DuXbury, husband of
Emclinc, 10 take little Alice under his roof
and care for her until she was old enough to
earn her own living. The sum paid Mr..
Meaker for this purpose was S400. Alice
was taken to Duxbury in 1879, and put in
charge OF the Mcaker family which consist
cd of the father L. &. Meaker, his wife
Emcline, their son Louis Almon, about
nineteen years old, and II daughter, Nellie.
Alice was a timid, shrinking chlld-of just
that disposition which seems TO invite, and
is unable to resist pcrsecution-and from
inoerng woman, seemed to take delight in
abusing, and maltreating her. In the Spring
of 1850 the Meaker family moved to n house
near the line between Duxbury and Water
bury, and on the turnpike from the latter
village to Moretown. Here Mrs Meake :
continued TO abuse little Alice worse than
before, beating and scolding her almost cor
SANITY, and forcing her TO 10 far more house
hold drudgery than the child's slend' :
strength was equal to. Almon was more
gentle to her than the rest of the family but
he was poor weak-minded lad, completely
under the control Of his vicious mother, srd
dared not show much sympathy with little
Alice, for fear of the watcbful virago. The
neighbors were aware of the crueliies which
Alice suffered, but knowing that remon-
STRANGE would only serve to increase them,
and that nothing could be done fro the child
| So long MS she lived under the same roof with
| Mrs. Mcakcr, they fUrcbofe 10 interior .
| This STATE OF affairs continued for few
months longer, and then the fatal trag 7
occurred. On the night of Saturday, ;
2lst of April, 1880, after Mr.. Meaker had re-
tired, Mis-. Mcaker and Amon, whom she
had persuaded to be her accompiice in the
dreadful deed, stole up to the room where lit
tie Alice was in bed, seized the frightened
child, tied a sack over her head TO mutlie her
| ''''9 "Hu NVi' .SSu hNi '"'9iuS w " nv
cry team, which Amon, pursuant to his
mothers directions, had hired for the
purpose. They Grove rapidly along the road
for a little distance, until they came to a
| spilng OF water. Here Almon got ont, and
| taking some spring water IN a cup Which he
had brought with him, poured IN the strych-
nine, which by his mothers direction, he had
previously purchased at waterbury drug
store, and brought it to Mrs, Mealer She
took the sack from the chlds head and iorc-
cd her TO drink the mixture. They then
drove on in the direction OF stowe, intending
as Almon says, to bury the body in large
sand-bank in the vicinity. The poison,
however. began TO take effect sooner than
they had expected. The child screamed
with anguish, and went into commissions
Driving under a covered bridge, they held Their
hands over Ahce's mouth to stine her
cries, and stayed there until the agonized
commissions ceased, and the little sufferer
was dead The bridge was near swamp
and when Allce ceased 10 breathe, the muir
dercls mlchcd Their team, took the BODY IN
10 the swamp, ana buried II under an up.
.urncd Tree. Inc tragedy was nnlshed, ana
the murderer and her accompllce returned
home. On the following day Sunday sus-
piclon was aroused among the nclghoors and
some igquirles were made ms TO the where
abouts Of litlle Alice. I1tsc questions not
beng satisfactorily answered, on Monday
Sherll Anterior OF Waterbury Went TO inc
Meakcr house, and had an interview with AL.
sion of the circumstances of the crime on the
part OF that youngman. heaid the part which
hehad taken in the murder entirely to the IN
sligalion oil bis mother, and claimed That sht
alone was responsible Tor the deed. INC
sheriff took Almon in charge, and together
they drove 10 the swamp where Alice was
buried uncovered the body, and brought u
back to the house. On the following day
Almon relracted his confession So lar as his
mother was concerned, alleging that th'
crime was bis own, aud that Mrs. Meaker hae
nothing to do with it. Undoubtedly, this re
| traction ON Almon's part was due to the threats
or enireaiies OF his unnatural mother, who
now saw no means to escape except by las
) tenlng the crime upon her weak accomplice
Almon adhered to his assertion with devoted
persistency, thus preventing the State iron
mother. They were both arrested, and, af
l ter preliminary examination at Waterbury
few days subsequent TO the arrest, wer
/ bound over for trial at the coming term o
Washington county court. The grand jur,
found indictment against both Almon an'
his mother for the murder OF Alice Meaker
States Attorney Frank Plumley OF North
!, field conducted the prosecution, assisted
by Hon; William 7. Dillingham; o
, Waterbury, and Mrs. Meaker stool
~ ,Iial' apy uelehueu py r. r. runner
Il Waterbury and Mcssrs. Heath and Carleton
Il of Montpelier. The trial lasted ten days
!, and, after thorough sitting of testimony
e Mrs. Meaker and Almon were convicted O
u murder in the FIRST degree. The prisoner.
~ ~ -, go ~ snu w. w sien' =
y the court upon the following grounds
v appears thai mother and son were Jointly IL
-. dcted, and that onrappeariug for trial eac
i, demanded separate trial, on the groun
j. that Jury might he lmpaneled satistactor
il to one but Objectionable 70 the olhor, III