The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1825-12-01

Assembly, in the place Of Asher Robbins,
Esq. resigned.
II was voted and resolved, that watch
be Immediately set for the ensuing winter,
and that the number and compensation Of
the watehmen be referred to the Town
Council.
A series of resolutions providing for
better organization of the Fire Depart
ment, and embracing many important inn
proyements therein, which will be found in
another column Of our paper, were moved
by Mr George Engs, and adopted without
opposition. tF
Upon closing the polls at 10 O'clock P.
NJ. the votes for member Of Congress pre-
sented the following result For ID. ].
pearce 36I--J. Durfee 80. Majority 305
whole number AZ.
---eSe-.-
FIRE--A boat builders shop, on the Long
wharf in this town, occupied by Mr.. William
southwick, was entirely consumed by fire on
Thursday last, between and 5 o'clock, A. NJ.
The flames were rapidly communicated to the
adjoining house of MIR. Jonathan Southwick,
and notwithstanding the active exertions of
the freInen, and the abundance of water in
that neighborhood, the building was nearly
ruined before the fire could be extinsuished
An active and generous emulation was as
usual manifested by our Townsrnen in aid of
the sufferers, but we were particularly pleased
with the public spirit of Mr. Jolin Williams.
who in generous manner supplied, at his
own cost, liberal allowance Of liquor to every
one that called for it.
--sAe~-
SUICIDE AND MURDER.-An in
stance almost incredible ofthe perpctration
of both ofthese crimes took place at Ports
mouth, on this Island, on "Wednesday last,
ofwhich the following are the particulars {:
Mrs. Ann l.awton, the wife of John Lawton.
formerly a house carpenter in Newport, was
removed to Portsmouth some time since,
by the overseers ofthe poor, and lived at the
poor house in that place, with her daughter
aged l3 and an orphan niece about 5years
old. On Wednesday last under the pre-
tence of making visit to Prudence, she
enticed the children to the neighboring
shore, 4 miles distant,an there alone, with
her own unassisted strength, is supposed
to have perpctrated this horrible act. The
bodies were found in the afternoon Of the
Odd ult. by Mr.. Arnold Pearse, while set
ting his boat along shore, and an inquest
wass Don after held by the coroner BY the
evidence exhibited to the Jury, as stated in
a letter to the Providence American, it ap-
peared "that the deceased had beenin the
water about one hour when discovered, that
they were tracked to the waters edge, that
their outside garments were dry on the
shore, and that there were evident marks
ofa struggle on the spot opposite to which
they were found. On account Of the posi-
ton in which they were discovered and
other circumstances, the Jury had doub
that the two girls were drowned by the
woman, who afterwards drowned herself"
The only rational manner of accounting
for this unheard of criminality, is to suppose
a temporary arrangement of mind in this
miserable being, whose extreme poverty
and the cruel desertion of her husband, hat
probably reduced her to thi, melancholy
state.
-..t Ne..-
CONGRESS From the movements o
the members of Congress, mentioned in al
most every paper we open, a quorum of boil
Houses may be expected 70 convene u
Washington on Monday next. Mt Adams
message will of course be delivered on Tues
day-and from the great reputation Of tn,
President, and the intrinsic consequence Of tn
principal topics of our annual state paper, it i
looked for with an unusual degree Of anxiety
The Speakers Chair being vacant al this ses
sion--an animated contest is expected to tax,
place for the honor of filling it. Mr.. Taylor
! of New-York, Mr.. Nc Lane, of Delaware, ant
Mr. Webster, Of Massachusetts,, are the pro
minent candidates. Either of these gentle
men would do credit to inc STATEN, though OF
political considerations, and from his early anS
decided attachment to the cause of Mr.. Adams
we should be gratifed if the choice were tC
fall on Mr.. Taylor.
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