Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-05-16
FACING DEATH.
AImy Still Keeps Up His Re-
markabIe Courage.
Sheriff Arrives and Put Things in
Order for the Execution.
Sketch Of Afmy's Life and Crime Tor Which
He Must Die.

c. Almy, will expiate, on the galiows in the
New Hampshire state prison, the murder Of
Christie Warden, at Hanover, on the night
of July Il, 1891.
Few events in the criminal annals of New
England have created the intensity of in
terest which has been manifested in this
horrible crime and its sequences. The
identification Of Almy as Abbott makes the
| criminal one of the most remarkable mur-
derers ever known. New England was the
scene of all his crime. Within the past Is
years, a youth, reared in a law abiding
community, has gone out from its schools
and churches to enter upon ife that be-
gan with stealing, passed on TO burglary
and ended in murder.
Ten of the last 10 years have been spent
IN state prisons. and yet the prisoner was
not 35 wears old till January, 1892. The
murderer's father, Harris Abbott, went to
Salem, Mass, from Thetford, VT, He was
one of the Abbotts of Abbo,ts Mills, the
son of Eliphalet Abbott, "A wealthy. proud
and pompous manufacturer, better known
as Duke" Abbott than by his real name.
There were five sons and a daughter in
his family-Harris, Israel, Sylvester,
Walker, David and Julia. The convicted
murderer is equally well connected on his
mothers side His mother was Marcia W.
Wilmot one of a family Of children who
liven next to this Abbott homestead. Harris
and Marcia Wilmot were conceded to be
brightest and most promising members of
their respective families.
Miss Wilmot, following the thrifty Gus
tom of the good country families of forty
wears ago, found employment among the
&c rbiI IL,
youngAbbott turned his attention to Salem,
Mass, where he went into business for
himself year later they met at North
rhetford, and their earlier acquaintance
changed to love. They were married in
January 1856.
In January, 1857, was born the son,
George II. Abbott destined to bring lasting
sorrow to himself and all who became as
sociated with him. Three days after his
birth the mother died and her body was
sent to North Thetford for burial. Through
thus early deprived of mothers love,
George II. Abbott was not left to the tender
mercies of strangers. When II DAYS old
he was adopted by his uncle, Israel Abbott
George at ten was living in North Thet-
ford, Vt, where he attended school. He
was good scholar but spent much of his
time reading dime novels. He was caught
stealing from his school mates. At II he
stole jewelry and at II had fitted up cave
near the river where he took his plunder.
In 1874 he was sentenced to four years in
the New Hampshire state prison where he
appeared to reform. His sentence was for
breaking and entering.
A few years after his release and while
living on his uncles farm at Thetford he
began again his career as burglar, was
caught in mountain cave to which he had
fled, escaped after his capture md was
finally recaptured and sentenced IN 1881 to
Is years in the Vermont state prison.
On the evening of September 80, 1887,
the 7.ij signal sounded clear and sharp
from the engine room. A moment later
Abbott darted across the prison yard,
mounted the wall. and. hastily swinging
his ladder to the other side, descended to
the ground, and was no longer guest of
the state of Vermont. He undoubtedly
went South.
He gradually worked North under the
name of Frank Almy and working in al
most every kind of vocation. July II he
applied for work at the Warden farm in
Hanover His unsuccessful attempts to
win the regard of Christie Warden are fs-
miliar to the public. When his engage
ment at the farm expired he was not re-
engaged. Every thing connected with his
actions after he left the farm showed that
he was infatuated with the Warden girl as
much as it was possible for man Of his
character to be.
By June l4th 1891, he was back at Han
over hiding in the Warden stable.
Ii was about 10 O'Clock in the evening of
the 18th that he overlook Christie Warden
walking with her mother and sister Fannie
on lonely road, seized Christie, drove the
others away with his revolver and dragged
the helpless girl into the bushes where he
foully murdered her.
He then returned to the Warden barn
where he was not found for more than a
month Mrs. Warden found traces of
someone about the barn August 18th, and
on the evening of August 10Th, two men
who who were watching saw him come out
and go back to the barn. He withstood a
| seige of 10 hours in that barn before he
| surrendered. After his arrest he was un-
mistakably identified as George II. Abbott,
On August 25th he was committed to the
| jail at Manchester and on September Goth
was taken to Woodsville where he pleaded
not guilty. November l6, 1891, his trial
commenced at Plymouth. The claim of
his attorneys was that the crime was not
| premeditated. The second day a decision
was arrived at. sentence being pronounced
after the prisoner had left the court room.
and he was sentenced to he hanged on the
| first TUESDAY of December, 1892.
| The irregularity of his sentence, Will,
he was not present in court. cansed com
motion in legal circles. and in order to
quiet the apprehensions of the people leS'
| Almy would escape by legal methods. a
new trial was asked for BY his attornevs.
| In April, 1892, he was again taken to Ply
mouth, the case was re-opened, and q sch
ond time, but this time in open court,
Frank c. Almy was sentenced to be hanged
by the neck until dead. The judges for
mer error had given him six months lease
of life. and the date of his execution was
now placed at MAY IL, 1898.
Almy in prison has been quiet, reading
much and talking little, and giving his
guards no trouble. The desperation of the
criminal. however, aroused the appreheh-
sion of his keepers, and resulted in the
adoption of course unparalleled in New
Hampshire, as the last ten days of his lite
has been passed beneath the surveillance of a
death watch. Day and night he has bedn
guarded his cell was changed and he wa.
placed beyond the possibility of suicide IN
order ,ha, justice should have its own, and
that the expiation of today should be com
pleted.