News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1910-12-07

regularity that it is good guess that q
large majority of the members are for
leaving the present lawvery nearly intact.
ELRoY KENT
A bill to commute the sentence of Elroy
Kent for murder of Della Cingdonin Wal
lingford has been reported adversely by
the Judiciary Committee and splendid
fight developed in the House Of the ques-
ton Mr.. Stone of Wallingtord is the
leading opponent of The bill and he han
died the matter with exceptional skill.
Mr.. Stone is a good DICTATOR and, hav-
ing known the circumstances OF the crime
and all its horrible details 1t is safe to
say that his heart is in the cause. In
making the opening speech against the
communication of sentence, MIR. Stone re-
cited few of the facts i'll the case but
refrained from giving the CHASTITY details
of the crime wherein the murderer Grim
inally assaulted defenceless woman and
then to cover his crime added murder to
the assault 1t was crime that in many
sections of the country would never have
received the formalitles OF trial and the
wrong would have been righted in SO far
as possible by the red blooded citizens
themselves. Mr.. Stone, however, has not
made his fight by reason OF passion or
prejudice, but upon the constitutional
ground that the Legislature ought not to
interfere with the sentence OF the courts
unless it is charged that the trial was not
fair or that new evidence was discovered
after the trial which, had ii been heard
by the jury, would have changed their
verdict. Mr.. Stone is a lawyer familiar
with our theory OF government and thus
far has placed his claim upon the section
of the constitution which says "The Elk
ecutive. Legislative and Judiciary Depart
ments shall be kept separate and dis
tinct SO that neither perform the duties
properly belonging to the other" He is
supported by nearly every lawyer in the
House However, Mr.. Stone says that
if necessary he will review the evidence of
the trial. but Tor the sake OF the public he
hopes it will be unnecessary. This will
not be done, however, until after the bill
has been advanced to third reading.
If the House refuses the bill a third read
ing, it will be unnecessary and the law as
administered by the courts Will take its
course Mr.. Stone has been supported by
Mr. Fletcher of Cavendish, Peck of Bur
lington, Hunt of New Haven, Boyce OF
Waterbury, Gatchel OF Charleston, CARL
OF Canaan and Others. Kent finds cham
pions of his cause in Martin OF Brookline,
Howe OF Bennington Daniels OF Warren,
Webster OF Swanton and others The
bill is made a special order for Tuesday
and by the time this is published will
probably have been determined. There
is feeling that if the bill had been voted
upon last week the bill would have been
killed, but kent's friends mot friends. for
he has no triends) may be able to work
upon the passions and emotions OF
enough members to tip the scales III his
favor.
p. S.-Since the above was in type the
Legislature has by vote Of 1877 to II
refused to commute the death sentence of
Kent, Lamollle county voted solid
against committing.
A NORMAL SCHOOL BILL
The bill was INTRODUCED to-day provid-
ng for the location and maintenance of |
State normal school.