Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1896-02-27
ANGUS D.. GILBERT HUNG.
PAYS PENALTY OF ONE OF THE
WORST GRIMES IN HISTORY.
Every Legal Point Tested In the Effort to
Save Him, hut Justice Mt Last Has its
Rights History of His Crime
and Career.

the night, said he did not once stir; and
when he awolke at 6:25, he was in u cheer
full mood. He donned a new suit of
clothes, provided for him by Sheriff
O'Brien and after completing his toilet
was given II shave. lie ate heartily of
breakfast of dropped eggs on toast and
n cup of strong tea lie read the morning
papers as usual and appeared much in
terested in articles published In reference
to himself.
About S:4j his sister Jennie, who has
been his constant visitor since his incar-
caration, arrived and remained with the
condemned man for some time. At $3.50
Gilbert was taken to the sheriff's parlors,
where the religious service lasting nearly
an hour. was held, thosepresent being Gil
bert's sister, Revs. Warneld and Clarke
and a few Jail officials. The prisoner and
his sister sat together during the service
and the latter was much affected, espec-
tally at taking farewell OF her brother
lie. however, retained his nerve through
out.
When all was ready the death marcn
was begun and as Gilbert entered the
rotunda of the jail where the scaffold was
he bowed in recognition TO one of the Jail
officers near by. lie walked unfalteringly
and unassisted up the stairs leading to
the platform and trap. lie sat down In
the chair that was placed on the ;rap
in u most unconcerned manner and while
the straps were being adjusted by the
deputies, Sheriff O'Brien read the death
warrant Gilbert apparently never moved
Il muscle though bis face was slightly
pallid.
The black cap was placed over his head
and all was completed ana at 1919 the
sheriff pressed his foot on the spring.
Gilbert had paid the penalty of his crime.
lie was pronounced dead 80 minutes after
the drop fell although there was no heart
beat after the 70 second limit. His neck
was broken and death was painless. The
execution was successful from beginning
to end and was witnessed by some $50
persons. Gilberts remains were turned
over to his sister this afternoon.
The crime for which Gilbert was convict
ed was. without doubt. one of the most
brutal ever committed in the State of Mas
sachusetts. 1t was for horribly outraging
and then numbering clght-year-old Alice
Sterling. a bright and loving child, the
sunshine of her parents home.
on April 10. 1895 little Alice disappeared
from her home very mysteriously. Mrs.
Sterling had been away for the afternoon,
but returned home in time TO prepare the
evening meal. AL! of the children were
present except Alice. Little was thought
of this, as 1t was thought that she might
possibly be at some of The neghbors.
When Alice had not returned by Z O'Clock
her parents became alarmed and visited
several of the neighbors where Alice was
in the habit of going to play. No one had
| seen her. however. They began a most
| thorough search of the surrounding coun-
! try, in which a great crowd assisted, and
strange to relate, Gilbert was one of the
most assiduous in looking for the little
| girl. From what TRANSFERRED later, Gil
bert's actions during the search were those
of one of the coolest men ever known.
The police were notified and a large de-
| tail was put to work on the case After
a days work by officers Of Station No. o
with practically no clue being found, de-
tectives from the central Office were put
on the case. They met with little success
for nearly two days Al last it became
necessary to make a house to house can
/ vass of the entire, district, and it was moi
until this was done that any clew was
found that gave even the slightest hope OF
ultimate success.
During this canvass over 1000 houses
were visited. Out of this lot one woman
was found who had seen Alice with Gil
bert, about . o'clock on the day she so mys
teriously disappeared. Then came som,
of the hardest work the Boston detectives
have ever done. 1t was hard for anyon,
to believe that Glbort had any connection
with the case. lie had been for some tint
assistant ticket agent at the little subur
ban station of Atlantic, and had Away
was what everybody in that part of thu
city thought.
The detectives investigated Gilbert Yer!
carefully. They were not long in hndinI
out that the young man for years ha,
been leading practically double life.
Gilbert lived with family about half
mile from the station and in return for hi
board did chores about the house. He ha'
a neat room htted up over the stable.
careful examination of this room wa
made, but it brought out no new facts.
! A search was started of the stable and /
was in the basement of this place that tn,
body of little Alice was found buried fac,
down, with but slight covering of he
clothes, they having been badly torn in he
struggle for life.
A Ratchet had been used in murdernl
the girl. her head and face being heater
into an unrecogniZable mass. The pos
mortem examination revealed the fac
that Alice had been most brutally out
ragged. the coroner's report stating facts o
the most outrageous character. a late
examination OF Gilbert's room disclosed
suit of underclothes stained with blood
this fastened the crime on him withou
any possible doubt
The police finally got partial comics
sion from Gilbert. He said that while go
ing down into the cellar he had STUMBLED
over the dead body. He said that he be
came frightened for fear that he Nigh
be accused of the murder ana had buried
her mutilated remains. For three whole
days after doing this Gilbert went ahou
his work as usual. lie was one of the fore
most in the search for little Alice, and be
ing close friend of the family gyas oftel
in consultation with both the father anC
mother In regard to the case. But h,
kept the terrible truth TO himself and hi.
| guilt did not seem to have any effect upor
him.
Gilbert's trial was long drawn out Iii,
| counsel tried to prove insanity. The Jury
took an hour and a quarter to find "A yer
diet of guilty of murder in the first degree
and on December II Gilbert was sentenced
/ to be hanged
During the trial Mrs. Sterling created d
scene in court which was unusual in thC
extreme. When taking the stand tn,
mother of the murdered girl had to pas!
close to the prisoner. She paused and in d
most dramatic style called for vengcanc,
upon the brutal murderer of her little
| darling" Gilbert's counsel made a strong
| fight before the Supreme Court for a now
| trial on the strength of her remarks tend.
ing to influence the jury and although
there had never been a precedent in tho
| Massachusetts, court the trial was denied
Attorney General Knowlton in the clos.
| ing argument to the jury said; "Whar
killed that girl, was RIGHTEOUSNESS and rum
and moral obliquity, which the human tri-
| Dunal by which you are sworn to admin.
lister the law do not recognize as an excuse
for crime"
| Gilbert showed no emotion whatever
when sentence was imposed December q.
| commission was apr ointed by the gov
| ernor to inquire into the mental condition
| OF Gilbert and that commission reported