Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-02-01
Murderer of Deputy Sheriff at
Monroe Bridge Meets His
Death Calmly.
CURRENT ON FOX 5 SECONDS
Sheriff Broke News Of Council s
Refusal to Commute Sen
tence Half Hour
after Vote.

Boston. Jan. 2S.-Sias y. Phelps. the
Monroe Bridge outlaw was electrocuted
at the Charlestown state prison this
morning for the killing Of Deputy Sher-
iff Emmett f. Elaskins at Monroe
Bridge on June l., 1910. The current
was turned on at 12l5:55 and the man is
pronounced dead BY the physicians at
l2:22:O5
Phelps met his death calmly. Preceded
by Chaplain Stebbns of the state prison,
he walked into the death chamber with
head erect and eyes straight In front
or him. He said nothing when placed
In the chair and his lips remained firm
~ closed when the electrodes were be-
ng strapped to HIM As he began his
last march from his cell to the death
room Phelps listened to the reading OK
the Scriptures by the Rev. Mr. Steb-
bcns. When the condemned man took
his seat in the chair the chaplain turned
to First Isaiah. the 18th verse, but Phelps
did not hear the verse concluded.
At 12:l5.55, 1900 volts of electricity
were turned on This current was
kept on for eight seconds. Then a les
ser current of 300 volts was shot
seconds. Later the current was raised
to 1900 and again reduced to 900 At
2:22 AZ he was pronounced dead.
Phelps was informed that the SEN
tcnce would be executed upon him half
IAN hour after the Governors council
refused Communication of sentence
Yesterday afternoon. He was writing a
letter at the time AS Sheriff Quinn
entered the cell Phelps looked up.
Writing letters?" asked the sheriff
Phelps nodded.
Then" continued the sheriff, kindly
'Derhaps you had better write another
letter home and any others that you may
wish. They may be the last
Phelps understood. His face paled and
he remained quiet and thoughtful for a
few moments. Then he asked for the
chaplain. who came and remained with
him until the last moment.
Phelps entered the office Of the Ramage
per company at Monroe Bridge June
1, 1910, and. following an argument with
Supt. William Penman OF the mill
about his work, was elected. Later as
Penman was walking home Phelps
stabbed him. inflicting a serious but not
dangerous wound. Deputy Sheriff Emmett
+. Haskins. accompanied by posse
went to Phelps5 home in Monroe Bridge
to arrest him.
They reached the place about daybreak
The deputy sheriff knocked on the door
and when there was no response the door
was battered down. With Tomas Sears
by his side, Deputy Haskins walked
across the Kitchen. At the foot of the
stairs which led to the upper floor of the
house, the two men were ordered to stop
by Phelps. The man stood at the head
of the stairs with Il shotgun and a rifle
In his hands and said: Il will shoot the
the first man who tries to come up the
stairs
Deputy Haskins made a move to climb
the stairs. and a shot rang out. The
deputy dropped dead The other MEM
bers Of the posse were unable TO move
| the body OF the sheriff from the house
and the posse retreated The outlaw
Phelps then escaped to the woods but
after two days OF suffering from thirst
and hunger. gave himself up.
| MRS. PHELPS NOT SURPRISED,
Monroe Bridge, Mass, Jan. a5.-Mrs.
Sias n. Phelps was no, surprised and
/
afternoon that the executive council had
voted against the Communication of the
sentence Of death to her husband.
at Ia just as I expected" said Mrs.
Phelps. II did what could. 1t would
have done no good to have gone to
Boston"
| Mrs. Phelps was reading morning
paper when the vote of the council was
\
were with her. She appeared worn and
detected.
Elmer Phelps. brother of the con
demned man. was unloading wood when
he was told the news. Il expected It,"
was all he said. Then he continued his
work.
The residents of Monroe Bridge. as
a whole. endorse the action Of the Gov
| errors council
FOSS PLEADS IN VAIN.
Boston, Jan. 25.--The fight to save
Sias n Phelps, the murderer Of De-
|puty Sheriff Emmett F.. Haskins, from
tho electric chair finally failed this
afternoon when the executive council
by vote Of to / refused to COM
mute the death sentence.
| Inc members or tne couhcii 'aihee
the matter over very carefully to-day
and listened to a long plea for life b,
Governor Foss. About 1880 1t was de-
cided to take formal vote on the
question. All but Councillor Winfield
S. Shuster Of Douglas were opposed tt
a further extension of time. AS sooI
as the vote was taken, Warden Bridges
was notified that he might proceed
with the execution.