The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1883-07-04

Of murder and sentenced for life as insane an
inmate OF the insane asylum for seven years;
Lewis Amon Meaker Of Waterbury, convicted
OF murder December a. 1880, sentenced to be
hung and committed. The personnel " Of the
workshop embraces many noted criminals and
desperadoes besides those named, among whom
the Barre bank robber, George Miles, is quite
prominent. lie is to be seen busily engaged
at the pegging machine, wears spectacles and
n contented countenance, takes life phlosoph-
ically and bdes his time. He was sentenced
March 81, 1876, for fourteen years, so his con-
hnement Is more than half over. His conduct
Is OF the best and he will doubtless reap the
convict reward for good behaviour, which is
hve days deducted out of every month and the
payment of one dollar for every month of good
conduct. Miles has been famed for his desper-
ATE deeds and for the versatility he has shown
IN their execution; when the Northampton
Dank ROBBERY occurred he remarked to one Of
the prson-keepers he "guessed he could prove
an abb on that" Then there is John Ham
mond, otherwise known as " California Jack"
who was convicted at Woodstock of burglary
sentenced for ten years, served one year and
was given new trial. At the new trial an
other charge was brought against him and he
Is now serving a term of nineteen years-nine
years for a new trial ANTHONY Fubar of
Woodstock has been here five different times
Is now serving ont q ten years sentence for
horse stealing; George Buchanan of Burlipg-
ton, convicted of manslaughter for killing his
brother William, is serving ten years term
which will expire October 9, 1884. George
lived at Barre when boy; his father was a
Scotchman. Josiah Seaver OF Washington
county is serving term of twenty-five years
for arson-the longest term of all except the
"lifers"
We took look at the cells, and noticed
many of them neatly furnished by the good
taste of their occupants. They are built in
three tiers, one above the other, and look i'm
pervious to the devices of man. On the second
tier shown four pplla foUatlar uhinh
were occupied at one time by Phair, Hayden,
Gravelin and Tatro. All were waiting for
new trial each one was confident he himself
would be successful and that the others would
fail. The corridors, where the gallows is
erected when necessary, are gloomy passages;
the instrument of death was not there, but
could easily be imagined. The officials in and
about the prison seem to understand their bust
ness thoroughly. The deputy who showed us
about the place, Mr. d. L. Spauldng has been
here in the capacity of keeper and deputy for
fifteen years or more, and his "reminiscences of
the prison and the prisoners would fill an in
terestiDg volume The present superintend-
emit Mr. Edwin W. Cakes was appointed May
10th last, on the resignation of Mr., W. p Rice
who removed to the West
The present directors of the state prison,
elected by the last legislature, are Hon. W.
II. H. Bingham OF Stowe, Hon Chas Thatcher
of Bennington, and John W. Cramton, ESQ, Of
Rutland Messrs. Bingham and Thatcher were
three takes personal interest in the affairs of
the institution and in everything that pertains
to its proper government and the welfare and
safe-keeping of its inmates. They visit the
prison frequently, and were in session there
during our visit.
One of the desiderata Of a thriving village
is good hotel. This Windsor possesses in
THE WINDSOR HOUSE.
Formerly the travelling public made it rule to
a = ar o. N lap n IN
Bellows Falls or the Junction TO stay over night.
Now they flock to Windsor, and the register of
the Windsor House tells the story better than
we can. Travellers know where they are well
| used-they don't need to be told. And when
Captain Rob. Coffey came to Windsor and took
control of the Windsor House change was
effected to the good of the public and the fair
fame of Windsor. He has been there but a
year or two but his fame as a landlord had not
/ only preceded him, it stands by him. Every :
body speaks well of the house and its manage
ment we hear of it all along the line and have
tested it, too All it needs is an extra addition
to accommodate the travelling public who pat
ronze it more and more, and that it is liable to
have from necessity alone.
Meeting Captain Rob. recalls the time when
he was landlord of the old Pavilion at Mont
pelier, ten years ago. What memories cluster
around that " haven of rest" We are carried
back to the time wnen Colonel Boutwell, Ieigned
| supreme as the Jolly host, with, Rashe Palmer
behind the desk, his bald, white head glisten-
ing in the freight that shone from the old
fashioned fireplace, his mouth puckered up for
a whistle or funny story, while the Colonel 4
roaring, hearty laugh echoed all around the
place. That old wUod-box beside the fire, on
which Col Rolla Gleason sat enthroned after
dinner for thirty years or more, and where one
could learn the public affairs of the state-past
present, and to come-from the lips of such
men as he and Hugh Henry-the elder Hugh
az they stood just as Charles Barrett Of Grafton
penciled them. Sol.