Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1891-11-20
FRANK G, ALMY WILL HANG.
He Is Tried, Convicted and Sentenced
IN THE GRAFTON COUNTY, N. H.,
COURT, THIS WEEK.
lie WIN he Hung in December, 1904.

lie VIII Be huhS III Uecchper' hoON'
Frank c. Amy, the murderer of Christie
Warden has this week been tried for his
,,rimc convicted, and sentenced to be hung
In December, 1892, the law of New Hamp-
Shire recurring condemned murderer to
Inc imprisoned one full year before his exc
rution. Amy finally elected to plead
,uiltv. thus practically throwing himself
mon the mercy of the court for decision
as to the degree of the murder. This be-
inc the case the services of a jury were not
required and the hearing was before the
chief iustice and an associate justice. The
course of the hearing, the evidence pre-
,entcd. Almy's own statement, and the ar
1mcuts of the counsel are herewith brief
" outlined.
Report of the Trial.
,lmv was taken from the Jail at Manchester in
charge Of the sheriff and three deputies. about
.,.lncb Monday morning, carried to the railroad
station. and placed in "A special car in which he
,y.,. taken to Plymouth The public had not eX
,,,,.t.l his removal at that hour and a crowd was
inns avoided ON arrival at Plymouth about
- NJ the prisoner with his broken leg still in
.plmts and bandages, was placed in the bottom
of a two-seated carriage and carried directly to
the court house. many people thus getting
glimpse of him in this way. The same train
and whitebearCled Judge w. II. H. Allen of Glare
mont before whom the trial was held. Almy's
counsel were Hon. Alvin Burleigh and Col. Joseph
C. story of Plymouth. Attorney General Bar,
nard of Franklin and County Solicitor Mitchell of
Iittpton conducted the case for the state.
At O'Clock the court was opened and after the
flrnality of calling the docket Judge Allen or
derel the prisoner brought in. \ moment after
the door opened and Almy hobbled in on crutches,
deputy on either side He was helped to chair
and he drew up his wounded leg and placed 1t in
uir bpfp Folding hands
the murderer began to work his fingers neryOusly,
while his white face gave every evidence of terri
bile mental disturbance. He stared at the Judges
in a sort of dazed way till he was reused by the
voice of the clerk. who in a loud tone called,
Prank c. Amy you were arraigned upon IN
dictment for wiful and premeditated murder
found against you by the grand jury OF Grafton
county, and in answer to this indictment you
plead not guilty. Do you wish to change your
iIna - 81 do - was his answer given i'm pasSa-
bly firm tone of voice. what do you now plead:
was the next formal interrogatory of the clerk,
and ut this AbbOtt's nervous agitation seemed To
reach a elimination. The pallor in his face
changed to an ashen hue. such "a is seen upon
the faces of men upon the gallows HIS race
twitched convulsively, in way that promised an
outburst of tears. but by great effort he pulled
himself together and after pause of 10 or II
seconds he answered in a trembling voice,
Guilty" The Judge then stated that the special
Jury could be excused from attendance, as the
court would find the degree of murder OF when
the accused was guilty. This closed the first Jay
proceedings and Almy was removed from court.
At dayhreak on Tuesday morning there was
disclosed to the view of Almy, as vel as 70 tle
crowd in front of the courthouse, an effigy dang
ling from pole directly in front of the prisoner $
window, bearing the suggestive legend: 1ompll-
ments of friends of Christie Warden; we II hang
the original next" The device erected some
time during the night and was taken down by the
officers about O'Clock.
At O'Clock the actual work of the trial began
The court room packed to suffocation ana on
~ a small portion of those who wished could gam
entrance. The first proceeding was tne opening
statement and outline of the prosecution made
by Solicitor Mitchell. who traced Almy history,
identified him as Geo. II. Abbott, the escaped
criminal from the Windsor prison. recounted ms
connection with the Warden family as "A hired
man on the farm, his attempts to show attentions
to Christie Warden, his leaving the farm year
ago last April his life for few weeks at various
places in eastern Massachusetts,. his return TO
Hanover in June and finally his assault on Chris
tie Warden and her murder at a lonely spot when
on her way home from a grange meeting, and his
subsequent concealment and capture
Mrs Warden, the mother of Christie was the
first witness called In calm, self-possesSed way
she described Amy IS life in the family. She SAID
he showed a decided preference for Christie and
tried to win her approval but the mother denied
positively that Christie had ever encouraged his
suit Amy showed great interest in this part OF
Mrs. Warden's testimony, and as II progressed ne
finally broke down completely. sobbed so that he
was heard all over the court room, and SAID hrok
enly 'Oh, Mrs Warden, please tell it all. There
was a sensation when Mrs Warden described ma
ing the empty cans which led to Almys discovery
in the la IN.
Fanny Warden, sister of Christie, was the next
witness Her evidence was positive straighttor
ward and could not be shaken on cross eXamina
ton. She described Almys attentions to Chris
tie. saying that he always tried to win her ap
prevail liked her cooking best, and tried TO please
her in many ways. Christie was kind to him
made him little presents and received presents
from him, but there was nothing between them
looking toward courtship or marriage Christie
discouraged all such attentions both at home ano
in public She described with great clealness the
meeting with Almy ON the fatal night. When he
appeared and took hold of Christie, saying, I've
come thousand miles To see you Christie in
voluntarily seized Fannys arm, but Amy pulled
naaNf he hnU "a
same time pointing a revolver to Fanny and hel
mother and to the young woman who was VIII
them. When Fanny attempted TO- approach, Al
my said Go back or will shoot. but she KEEP
ON and then Amy shot at her a second bulle
came so her that she felt II whiz by her
Just after this Christie cried, Help Fan, he is
tearing my clothes off" Meantime the other
had run for help and young man named Mar
shall soon appeared on the scene While waiting
in this dreadful suspense Fanny repeatedly calet
TO Christie. asking What is he doing to you!
but got no answer. While being dragged ava!
Christie managed to keep on her feet. Aim,
fired three shots at Fanny, two az Marshall, wh'
came to their assistance and finally the two shot
into Chrstie's body. The testimony Of Mis-
GoOdel who was With the women, of Emmett
Marshall a MIR. Scott and of Others who.saw tn
body. was also taken.
The most damaging evidence was that given b,
Dr. c. C. Frost of the Dartmouth medical school
who examined the body, and OF DR., Bartlett, wh
assisted i'm the examination. Their evidence was
in brief, that the body of the murdered wOma
stripped almost naked Little more than tn
dress waist was left on her body. The sleeve wa
torn from one arm The skirt of her white dres
and her undersBrt were torn off. One stocking
in place but the other was pulled down. IN
body lay ON its back with its feet crossed. IN
drawers had been pulled up so as to cover IN
uakednesS. There was no doubt in DIR. FROST
mind of Almys felOnous purpose. The 6ulle
fired into the head near the temple proved rata
Ii was fired close to the head, and the skin wa
hlackened. A second bullet hole was found IN IN
back close to the hips. Investigation showed tina
this must have been the second shot and that
fired through the vagina, with the pistol mel
50 close that il backened the external parts. IN
evidence DR.. Bartlett corroborated tins A
this point Judge Doe stated that il would not
necessary for the prosecution to call more Wi
uesSes, and directed that those who remained o
that side he called by the defence. The hIst q
these was Andrew Warden, Christie fatheri 10
lowed by Myra Warden, a sister, John Fuller 2
Hanover, who had the interview with Almy IN "a
barn, Lottie Kellogg, whom Almy accosted on th
night of the murder, mistakng her FOR Chllst'
and several Others bun no new facts of importanc
We're developed.
on Wednesday the court house was packed
slffocatiOn. Lawyer Story for the defence GU
lined Almy side of the case, which was in briei
that Almy man of strong passions, he D.
infatuated with Christie she returned n
love but her parents objected. After he LETT tl
Warden farm year ago last April he intended
20 10 Texas and bought revolvers for that pu
pose, but his love for Christie drew him back
Hanover, and he remained about there waitln
for a chance TO see her On the night OF u
murder he went to the willows to wait for her as
last resort, and in the excitement when IOHoWt
he fired the fatal shot without realizing what !
was doing Several witnesses from Dorcheste
Peabody, Salem and Boston were examined
prove that Amy intended to 90 to Texas an
bought his TevOlvers with that purpose In VleN
\ cigar maker, a barber, and the woman VII
whom he boarded in Dorchester, were among u
witnesses called. He had showed them ms I
tn nj