Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-12-08

believed the death sentence snOuld pc
committed they would be hero to-day
without money and without price in
the interests OF their client. II we
refuse to commute this sentence wa
simply say we will let the law takc
Its course and that we will not In
terfere with It's execution.
Mr.. Fletcher of Cavendish believed
the House should not reverse the YER
dict Of the jury. II it does SO. on
what grounds Tho jury that tried
Kent would have been glad to give
him the benent Of any reasonable
doubt and he believed the law should
be allowed to take its course. An
other attempt was made at this point
to force the previous question, hu!
this was strenuously opposed by Mr.
Maun of St. Albnns, who believed
every man on the floor OF the Houss
should have a chance to say what ho
wanted on this question. no matter
how much time It took
KENT'S BROTHER AT HOSPITAL
Mr.. Cory Of Montpelier called the at
tention Of the House to the fact that i
brother Of Kent is now under indictment
IL
the State hospital at Waterbury for
observation.
Mr.. Bailey OF Randolph thought IT
strange that the question OF the con-
stitutionality OF the Legislature COM
muting death sentences had never before
been raised. He wondered II the Jury
that convicted Kent would have rem
dered the verdict they did IL the law
qualifying a verdict OF murder in the
first degree had then been in force
Mr. Wright OF Westminster spoke FOR
the defenseless women Of the State. and
against the bill. Mr.. Boyce Of Water
bury. who knew OF Kent when he was
confined In the State hospital at Water
bury. said there was no doubt in his
mind but what Kent Is sane He may be
beast. a rattlesnake. or a devil. or a
degenerate. but he is not insane.
Mr.. Daniels Of Warren said We were
not trying rsttlesnakes or devils, hut
that We had a human life in our hands
II Kent had committed tho crime Of
which he was convicted. would he have
left his autograph behind him, as he did.
devil is believed to be a spiritual
being. II Kent is a devil. he will still
exist in the world after we hang him.
Give him the benefit OF the doubt ms to
his mental responsibility.
CONTRADICTs THE STATEMENT.
Mr. Ives of Mount Holly said no man
in the town OF Wallingford could ever
| truthfully cay he saw Kent in that
town. In answer to that statement Mr..
| Stone Of Wsllinsford read positive evil
at he ri al 10
the statement made by Mr.. Ives.
Mr.. CARL OF Canaan believed Kent had
a fair trial and that bringing the pres
ent bill before the Legislature Is purely
a matter Of sentiment. The Legislature
is not competent to set Its Judgment
against tho judgment OF tho highest court
in the State. The responsibility OF hang
ing Kent rests upon the jury and the
court who knew every circumstance
brought out at the trial. and not with the
Legislature.
Speaker Howe Of Bennington called the
attention OF tho House to the fact that
Superintendent Lowell and Chaplain Ford
OF the State prison. who have had much
to do with Kent during the past year.
believe that no IL insane and should not
be hanged.
Mr.. Howard of Whiting. who was MAX
ing an argument In favor OF the bill. gave
way to Mr.. Billings Of Woodstock TO put
in his motion that the bill be ordered ia
| lie.
BUCKHAM MEMORIAL SERVICE.
The House did not go in until three
o'clock this afternoon. out Of respect
to the late President NJ. H. Buckham
and whom 1t convened, on motion OF
Mr.. Peck Of Burlington. q brief time
| was devoted to memorial service
for the dead president. Eulogies were
delivered by Mr.. Peck Of Burlington
Mr.. Billings Of Woodstock, Mr.. Amey
of Brighton, Mr.. Howard Of Whiting
Mr.. Thompson Of Proctor. Mr.. McCuer
OF Vergennss. Mr. Bryant of Ludlow
and Mr.. Dart OF Springfield. Repre-
sentative Peck said:
THE full value Of a great Eift can.
not at FIRST be appreciated or ever
grasped. The full measure OF a Erea,
loss cannot at first be understood o,
even felt. The life OF President Buck
ham was such a gift to the state and
In his death Vermont sustains loss
which will be increasingly felt as the
years pass.
president Buckham was an erudite
scholar, a master OF the purest die
ton. a man OF charming personality
and Christian gentleman. Endowed
with unusual mental powers he used
thcm :o- tn. good Of his fellJw mar
Called to the exalted position Of 9
teacher OF truth and to make his lifs
a. t.rnplar OF wish. 4 ana IT gtrcc
he was not disobedient to that call
In his life we see the earthly fruit.
age OF those moral and spiritual vir.
tues which the future life will unfold
TO our vision In their perfection.
TAUGHT LESSON OF SERVICE.
I'VE learn from Mo life Of Presidsn,
Buckham the lesson Of service. He had
tho highest conception Of service, name.
! ", that Of benefit to his follows. liz
would have been recreant to his owr
had he not cared for them. but at the
same time he labored for others good
His love for his chosen work was witt
him a compelling power and upon tn,
altar of education he laid the faithful
services Of a completed life.
The gentler virtues Of grace and
humility adorned and bsautified his life
No one who knew him could fail to so
that he was a man OF peace. yet In q
marked degree he was man Of positive