Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Mass.) 1828-1830, 1828-06-24
MISCELLANEOUS.

MISCELLANEOUS.
! CAPITAL TRIAL. Yesterday came on
for trial in the circuit Court of the United
States held in this town by Judges Story
and Davis, the indictment against Alexan-
der Drew for murder. The homicide for
which this indictment was brought, was
committed on board the whale ship John
Jay, of Nantucket, of which Drew was
master, off the coast Of Peru, on the list
of September last. The deceased, named
Clark, was second mate of the vessel. and
was stabbed, by the prisoner, with knife,
in the breast. 1t was proved by the testi-
Imony of Mr.. Coffin, first mate of the John
Jay, that Capt. Drew had been for long
time in the habit of intoxication, until he
| 1.-THE mate) had stove the barrels contain
ing all the rum on board. For some weeks
after this he was well, until he spoke
ship from which he obtained key of rum.
This he placed in his state room, and he
kept himself in state of intoxication for
several. days. He then called the cabin
boy, and ordered him to pour out mug
full, and thow the keg overheard, which
was done, and the captain took the mug
and drank the most of its contents, and
threw the remainder on the floor. He
was entirely Supplied through the night,
but was pretty well the next day. The
third day he showed symptoms, which
were very clearly described by the mate,
and by a seaman named Galway, and
which were most clearly Characteristic of
delirium tremens. He was in this state
on the morning of the fourth day after the
rum was thrown overheard, when as the
second mate, Clark, and other officers,
went into the cabin to breakfast, he stab
bed Clark in the breast with knife. He
lived seventeen days, and died suddenly.
Drew was put into irons by the mate, who
took the ship into Valparaiso, where he
delivered it, and the prisoner, up to the
u S. Consul. After Coffin and Galway
had gone thro' with their testimony, the
Judge asked the Dist. Attorney if he ex-
pected to change the aspect of the facts
by any new evidence, and being answered
in the negative, he said that he considered
the law to be clear, that where there was
insanity which was not the immediate re-
suit of fit of intoxication, the individual
could not be held responsible to human
tribunal, however improper the conduct
by which that insanity was produced. AZ
ter a little discussion by the counsel on
both sides, they acquiesced in this decision
without argument, and the court directed
the jury to find verdict of acquittal, which
they did without leaving the box. The
Judge then gave the prisoner very So
lemn admonition on the effects of intem-
perence, reminding him that although not
held responsible by law to human trbu-
nal, he would be to one infinitely higher,
at the last day, and ordered him to be dis
charged. The defence of the prisoner was
conducted by Solicitor General Davis, and
Mr.. Bassett.-B. d. Ador. of June 10.
To INCREASE THE ODoUR OF Roses.
A German horticultural writer recon-
mends large onion TO be planted by the
side of the rose tree, in such manner
that it shall touch the foot of the latter.
The roses which will be produced will
have an odour much stronger and more
agreeable than such as have not been thus
treated ; and the water distilled from these
roses is superior to that prepared by means
of ordinary rose-leaves.
SINGULAR MARRIAGE. On Thursday
were married at Mylor church, Mr.. An
thony Rowe and Miss Mary Richard, of
that parish the bridegroom, who was one
of the crew of the Rinaldo packet, unfor-
tunately had both his arms shot off above
the elbows at Halifax, last July, on the
anniversary the Kings coronation. lie
was indebted to the help of the carpenter
for pair of wooden hands, encased In
pair of gloves, having a spring at the fore
finger, which enabled him to put on the
ring.
A TOUCH ABOVE THE VULGAR. A late
Buffalo Emporium had an advertisement,
which concluded with a notice that =" two
or three GENTEEL persons Of colour"
could be accommodated with boarding and
lodging. We suppose somebody as gen
teel as Sambo described to Cuffy, would
suit the advertiser. Cafy. Well, Sambo,
how you cum on at de ball, last night ?
Sam5o. Oh, berry bad: / ask Miss Dinah
!. to dance and Miss Dinah she SO berry
geateel, she---fainted away in minute.
The season of courtship is generally
season of twilight, in which every object is
beautiful, but none are clearly distinguished.