The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1827-08-01
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JOHN BRIGGS.

This notorious offender, who recently escap-
ed from the House of Correction in this town
has not been re-takcn. The Providence Amer.
lean, after copying our notice of his escape
gives the following particulars relating to him
The John Briggs, named above, is a
rogue of no ordinary atrocity, and we are
sorry to learn he is once more at liberty to
commit depredations on society. He is
well known in the calendar of crimes, in
this State, and is a native of West Green
witch, and not East Greenwich, as stated
by the Worcester Spy. About three years
since he was apprehended at West Green
witch after a desperate resistance to the
officer, Mr.. Benjamin Holden, who display
ed decision and fearlessness on the occa-
sion that have never deserted him in the
execution of his duty Mr.. Holden was in
pursuit of some individual other than
Briggs, suspected of having in his posses
sion counterfeit money. The person was
supposed to be at a house or hut, situated
in the woods, in place not much frequent
ed. AS he approached the house, he dis
covered Briggs (who had not been seen in
the State for more than a year previous
running, and recollecting he had in his pos
sion Warrant for his apprehension upon a
charge of having committed some petty
offence, he Immediately gave pursuit.
Briggs ran some distance, but discovering
that the officer gained upon him, he sud-
denly turned, being prepared with a large
knife to defend himself Holden, to whom
the apprehension of personal danger was a
=. stranger, though entirely Unarmed, unhes-
itatingly grappled with the fugitive from
justice, who received him with a thrust in
the side that must have instantanoously
proved mortal, but for the intervention of q
thick pocket-book. Through this, totally
regardless Of the numerous prccepts it con-
tanned, emanating from their high might
nesscs, Judges and Justices of the Peace.
the knife penetrated, and inflicted slight
wound in the skin, Some other thrusts
were given, which partially wounded the
officer, but by this time Briggs was nearly
overpowered, and an assistant of the officer
coming up and tapping the fellow on the
head with pine knot, he was Frustrated,
delicately trussed with cords, and borne in
triumph to a magistrate. On his appre-
hension, there were found concealed in his
Nat very pretty capital to begin the world
upon, being about $4,000 in handsome
counterfeit bills. Briggs was soon after
tried at the Court in Kent, found guilty,
and sentence passed upon the lower por-
ton of his ears, which were duly sliced off,
and probably preserved in some of our Ar
chives, as the Indians preserve their scalps,
a trophy of the valor of our cropping and
branding law-givers: not but that the fell
low deserved to lose his ears, though we
would willingly have dispensed with the
honor of adding them to the Rhode Island
coat of arms. In addition to this part of
the sentence, Briggs was put to idleness in
the County Jail for some months, but not
having the decency to wait even for the
mere ceremony of sending a convict's pc
tition to that amiable body, the General
Assembly, he took an unceremonious leave
of lodgings so literally furnished him at the
expense of the State, and marched off to
Canada, or Whereabouts. Not long after,
he was on due examination, anatricuIGted at
some jail in Vermont, where, however, he
did not remain long enough to go through
the first class, but suddenly made his bow
and exit. He was next heard of in Wor-
cester, where he was committed to the
Mouse of Correction on conviction of some
tRrtt, and from which he has recently es-
capped. He is stout formed, athletic man,
ana one of the most dangerous and des-
pirate fellows that can be let loose upon
society.