Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1883-04-04
Execution OF Mrs. Meaker.

At half-past one o'clock on Friday afternoon
the drop fell Mt Windsor, and there WAS an end Of
the tragedy the first scenes in which, three years
ago, were enacted in the town of Duxbury In the
valley OF the Winooski The history OF the crime
for which Mrs. Meaker died has been so fully set
forth In these columns, both in the report of the
examination OF the criminals before justices Lease
and Fullerton at Waterbury in May, 1880, and In
the reports OF the subsequent trial. that it will not
be deemed necessary at this time to review the
painfuly-familiar incidents OF the murder. During
the last days OF her confinement at Windsor she
dropped the role OF maniac, in which she had
sought in very crude fashion to lay the founda-
ton for a petition for pardon or Communication,
and prepared TO meet her fate. She talked freely
OF religious matters with the chaplain, Rev. Mr..
Hull. In her interviews with the reverend gen.
tleman she said she had made her peace with her
God but ston,ly denied all knowledge OF the muir
der of tile Alice, and repealed all efforts to lead
her to confession OF a crime brought home to
her door with fatal certainty On Monday she
received letter from her son Almon, now life
prisoner at Windsor for his part in the murder.
The following purpors to be an exact copy Of
this letter:
Dear MoiherI am sorry say that about to offer
that L. nv hest advice all know that there God OF
make most happy or mos wretchsd according to the
way leave this world therefore It Is advice To
told everything have maid his clear people
As lar IS and FEEL enough better to pay Tor the rain
win be better for You In the world beyond this you were
Clthn uIth OF ult hHtlI OF core you KNOW ny
this time that an'thng say viii neither help hurt
you and to speak plain and honestly mother yop know that
Is am q aiding you in putting sa crime INTO execution
would h.p you in the least but 1t will therefore
think you ought TO be willing take your shair the
viii not admit HE truth very sorry for You mother
a S s6 Hn avn SI' s @ M s p writ
would lay down my NE to-day TO ssveyou II could but
satisfaction words give. hope shall in tina,
better land beyond where there sadness
m In In lead lfa frusf ha in
rediness to meet your lord will close by wishing you
happiness for ever good by ALMos MEAKER.
The mother asked for an interview with her
son, and on Thursday morning her request was
granted. She charged the desperate strait in
which she found herself to her sons lies, denied
the truth OF the confession made by Almon last
fall, and intimated that she could ga tale I'M
fold respecting Amons conduct had she the
inclination. At this interview she first learned of
Almons col fessioD, and received its disclosures
with her customary nerve and met them with fiat
and ready contradiction With particular en-
phasis she denied that she had asked Almon to
take the child on to the mountain and let her
staIve. The interview lasted an hour and half
and during Its continuance Almon was frequently
moved to tears. His mother at first refused him
permission to kiss her at parting, but finally
granted the boon and wept when the boy was
gone. On this and on the occasion Of receiving
letter from Nellie telling of her illness and that
she could not come to see her mother, the steeled
heart softf ned to tears. She spent much OF her
time In knitting Al the fatal day drew nigh
brayado seemed to f5fsake her. She had loudly
asserted that she WAS ready to meet her God
" God won't be ashamed to have me In heaven
with him." was one Of her EXPLANATIONS. 81
would give dollar TO have some choroform be-
fore my death" expressed her wish to be rem
dered senseless before the execution. She asked
many questions about the method OF hanging
and Friday morning asked to be shown the gal
lows, Sheriff Amsden grati6ed her whm With
mistaken nerve she assembled the steps, and with
ont tremor stood upon the drop, replying to a
question that " 1t was not half rs bad as she
had thought it," Sheriff AtheI ton OF Waterbury
had short interview with her later In the fore
noon by him she tent kiss to her husband
and Nellie at Waterbury. Ia the morning she
was attired In a black cambria dress, made for
her by the matron OF the prison, and laughed at
some pleasantly concerning her youthful looks
She partook freely OF generous breakfast and
dinner, and when the time was at hand for her
To go TO the scaffold took her place In the dread
procession and walked with unfalterng step to
meet her fate. On thee catfold Sheriff Amsden
handed her printed slip containing In custom
| airy form the question II she had anything tn
| say why the sentence OF death should not be exc
cuted upon her. To this she replied MAY God
| forgive you all for hanging me, an innoetn Mt
woman. am as innocent as that man standing
| there" Indicating Deputy Sheriff Locke, who
| stood near her The work of piniOning her limbs
WAS then commenced while the miserable woman
moaned q Christ o Christi" With the custom
airy formula the sheriff announced that the
| moment Of her doom was upon her, drew the
black cap over the pallid culprlt's head. touched
the fatal spring, and Emelne Lucy Mesker had
expiated her great otfense In about fourteen
| minutes the last life beat was counted, and soon
after the body was taken down and carried to its
burial in the prison lot OF the Windsor cemetery.
About one hundred and twenty-five spectators
were present. The execution was OF an unusual
character and had attracted widespread inter
est The officials were besiegtd with applications
for tickets OF admission, still the proceedings
throughout we're conducted with the utmost de-
corum. Far distant be the day when the prison
precincts witness similar spectacle.