Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-03-31

Execution of Mrs. Emmeiine Meaker
at Windsor. VT.
HER Last Words-She Protests Her
Innocence to the Last.
The First Woman Ever Hanged in
Vermont.
WINDSOR, Vt, Mar 80.

WINDSOR, VT, Mar 80.
Mrs Enmeline Meaker. who murdered
the child Alice Meaker in 1880, was hanged
at l So o'clock this afternoon. She PERSISTED
in declaring her innocence 10 the end
Mrs. Meaker passed quiet plight and upon
rising this morning partook of hearty break
fast. Accompanied BY the sheriff she visited
the gallDws and closely inspected it. inquir-
ing into the details of its construction and
operation. Upon returning to her quarters
she was visited bv the chaplain, but he was
received with great Indifference. In a inter-
view with Director TEACHER and Sheriff
Anterior, she asserted her innocence and al
luded TO Almon's confession as a lie. She
made inquiries for her husband and appeared
self-pOssessed.
The drop fell at half-past one. After hang
ing thirty minutes the body was taken down
dead She died without scarcely struggle
and Will be buried in the prison cemetery
this afternoon. 1t was the most quiet hang
ing ever in Vermont
Mrs. Meaker ate hearty dinner of two
boiled eggs, two slices of toast, potato and
one cup Of coffee with a relish. Her son
Almon was left in his cell. The spectators
were admitted at one. The gallows were
placed in the northeast corner of the west
wing. Mrs. Meakers arms were pinioned
before she left the cell, and the procession
moved to the gallows where she was seated
in her chair, and evidently did not like the
crowd Alter prayer by the chaplain, Sheriff
Atherton handed her paper, with these
words: '.Emmeline Meaker, If you have
anything to lay why the execution Of sem
tence should not take place. you have now
an opportunity" She was calm and pale,
and sat with closed eyes. Goodbye. Mr..
Hall I bava nothing only
forgive you for hanging of me. Her legs
were then tied, she standing all the while.
She showed no signs of trembling, and said,
.'May God forgive you all"
The Meaker family resided in the town of
Duxbury, and consisted of a father, mother
son and daughter, and little girl Alice. a
half-sister of Mr.. Meaker The little girl
was taken from the poor house at eight years
and had resided III the family about a year
before the murder. The town was to pay for
her care 800, and she va. to remain with
them until she was of age. Mrs. Meaker
seemed to dislike the child from the first
often beating and whipping her in most
brutal and inhuman manner for no adequate
re son. Alice was a very precocious child,
and was very useful and handy about the
house.
Friday morning, April 23, 1880, it was
missing, and suspicion was aroused that all
was not right. The authorities were notified
and Almon Meaker and his mother were
questioned in relation to her wherea bouts,
but they both stoutlv denied any knowledge of
| the girl, giving contradictory stories as to
where she had gone At last the son, Almon,
told the sheriff he would tell him all about the
matter if he would not disclose. He said
that he and his mother took her to swamp
and buried her; that the day before he had
purchased some strychnine, BY his mother )
direction, to poison Alice with. He then
said
The next day l went to the livery stable
and got team and went over home and put
the team back of the barn. Mother had put
Alice to bed with her clothes on. and mother
took her out of the window telling her we
were going to ride. MY father WAS in bed.
Mother and Alice walked a short way up the
hill through the field, and came to the road
where | had the team. They got in and [
drove through the street and gave the poison
on Henry Hill" below the street, which we
put in some sweetened water and gave it to
her. We drove and in about twenty min
utes the poison took effect and she went into
commissions My mother held her hand over
her mouth to prevent her making a noise.
We started for a sandbank towards Stowe,
and took a shovel to bury her with, but she
died so soon we stopped at a swamp, where
the body was thrown into hole where they
had taken muck from, and then l stamped
upon the body to prevent its being seen.
The mother and son were Immediately ar
rested and arragned. when Almon pleaded
not guilty, as did also his mother. The trial
lasted some ten days, and both were brought
in guilty of murder in the first degree, and
81. cal IA no hap rod r,E .h-
ruary, 1888. but his sentence was commuted
to Imprisonment for life by the last legisat
ure. Exceptions being taken in the case of
Mrs. Meaker, she was not sentenced until
the December after.
Mrs. Meaker stoutly denied all knowledge
of the matter from the first and said that her
son would repent on his dying bed for the
deed he has done in duplicating her. She
has been in Windsor State prison since June.
1880. and until a week since, feigned insanity,
making the walls resound with her fearful
screams and yells. She would attack her
attendants and threaten them with fearful
vengeance if they did not let her out. Being
a strong, muscular woman, quick of move
ment, her actual attacks were not easy to
resist BY her conduct she lost the sympathy
of those who were once her friends, and her
husband and daughter refused to visit her,
and denied her last request to have her re
mains taken home for burial. She was mar
ried at the age of Is. to f. c. Meaker, who,
with his daughter, still resides at Duxbury.
For several weeks she has seemed to com
prehend that her insanity dodge was useless,
and that she mnst stare death in the face, and
a watch has been placed over her night and
day. Being the first woman ever executed
in Vermont, much interest was manifested
in the case.
L
occurrence in New England. 1t is said the
last was that of Ruth Blay of Southampton.
who was executed at portsmouth, Dec. 30,
l-eS