The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1825-11-23
ITEMS.

ITEMS.
Riot in PoYtland.-A riot of a serious ma.
lure, because it proved fatal TO the life of one
Or more individuals, has occurred at Portland, |
making the third which has happened in that
place in about year. On Saturday night the
9Th inst. gang attacked two-story house
occupied by one Gray, coloured barber, who
had been convicted before two courts of keep
ing a house of i'll fame But the mob wishing
to lender more speedy justice than the law,
attacked his house, threw in stones, broke his
windows, and then for some reason desisted
and retired. On Monday evening they re-
newed their attacks with increased forces,
firing guns into the houses, &c. &c. Guns
were then also fred from the house upon the
mob, and Joseph Fuller, an Englishman, was
instantly killed in the street, and six or eight
others wounded, some severely.
TRIAL for .Arson.-At the term of the SUI
preme Judicial Court held in Middlesex, last
week, Experience Briggs was tried on the
capital charge of having set fire to the dwell
ling house of Col. JOSEPH VALENTINE, in
Hopkinton, the 18th Sept. last. The charge
was not brought home in any shape to the
prisoner, who was acquitted by the Jury
without leaving their seats.
We are told that the above unfortunate
woman is one of those who, from certain &C.
centricities of character, and their age, are
suspected by ignorance and folly as being fa-
miliar with evil spirits. and the consequence
has been that she has, although innocent,
suffered long confinement. 1t is but justice
to mention, that Col. VALENTINE had no
suspicion that she had any agency in the de-
struction of his property !; and it is highly
creditable to the reputation of the Massachu-
sets bar, that such able Advocatesas Messrs.
Webster and Hoar consented TO become her
counsel. Cent.
At the late term of the Superior Court OF
Judicature held in Keeue, ]. Young and J.
Allen, for breaking and entering the Bank,
were sentenced to hard labor in the State Pris-
on for the term OF five years each-J. Allen
for setting fire to the gaol was sentenced to
hard labor for 10 years.. Eastman for maim-
ing a.horse was sentenced to hard labor for 2
years.
We learn that Allen, the culpit sentenced at
Keene to the State Prison for fifteen years,
was shot By one of the guard on Saturday
Persisting in the declaration that he would es-
cape, he raised plank, mounted the prison
wall, and was fred upon by the guard, after
being duly warned he fell back to the
ground, and being requested by the Warden
TO discover his wound, refused. The Warden
proceeded to examine him, when the hardened
culprit clenched and resisted with blows. II
is supposed the wound is not fatal.
Important DecisiOn.--At the late term o.
the Supreme Court for the county OF Norfolk
the Court decided, after full argument that the
| laying out of turnpike, by authority of the
Legislature, over town road, is virtual
discontnuance of the tom road, and that all
the former liabilities of the town were thereby
devolved upon the turnpike corporation.
Fatal Recog1,ifion.--In 1899, two Span.
iards, brothers, who, although they had fol
long series ofyeaTs always sought each other,
were never able to meet, at last accidentally
came in contract at the siege of Brommel,
/ then the seat of war, where they served in two
| different companies. They were unknown to
each other at first, hut some little explanation
made their relationship known, when they
fell on each others neck. While they were
| thus locked in an affectionate embrace, a
cannon-ball took of both their heads, without
separating their bodies, which fell clasped
| together into the arms ofdeath.
| Patent Rights.--At the present term of the
Circuit Court of the u. States, held in this city
before the Hon. Judge Story, Judgment was
rendered in favour of WilliamsHovey of Wor.
cester, TO the amount of S75 and costs, for an
infringement of the patent right to the Broad
Shearing Machine 70. shearing broadcloth, in
consequence of the defendants having made
and sold one Of said machines, under the de.
nomination Of 'tSOifrs Shearing Machines. .
Boston Cent.
While two men were discharging the gun.
at the late celebration at Weedsport, n. Y.
not being cautious to swab the piece after
each discharge, it went off while they were in
the act Of putting in the charge, aud killed
both blowing them into the canal. One
died simultaneously, and the other in few
moments after the accident occurred.
a noble Bird.--A black Eagle was killed
near Belvidere, N. J. few days since, meas
uring seven feet three inches and half be.
tween the tips of his wings. He was fired al
as he was sitting on the ground, at the dis,
lance of forty or City yards, by person hunt
ing with double barrel gun, and being exas
perated by slight wound, came furiously
upon his assailant with beak and talons ex.
tended, with the apparent intention of max
ing desperate battle, but was intercepted BY
a second discharge, when within but few
J feet OF The astonshed and terrified sportsman