Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-10-04

equivocatiou he acknowledged he might perhaps be
| able to procure some Of them. He ascertaned how
much we expected to find with him. and wanted to
know what would be the consequence If any OF tho
| bills we're wet and injured. told him that would
be oino consequence at all. He then wished to
know what would be done IL any ofthe bills had been
exchanged; lagrecd 20 receive other good money
in lieu Of them; and he finally agreed TO become ac-
| countable for the amount which had named to
| him. We then called in Col. Rogers, who went
| away with the man. and can state with what sue
cess. do not know that it would be improper 10
! name the man. 1t was Ben amin Briggs the son {
Malbone.
| Col. Rogers, again. Aner Judge SIN ith had cal.
led me into the room and stated the conversation
which he had with njamin Briggs he left me to
complete the business. ! went with Briggs in
cha i'e about three miles up the North River, when
we came to piece Of woods He said ifI would
stop he would try ifhc could find any bling, but did
not know that he could. In or minutes he said he
| was ready, and on my goiug to him, he showed M
three rolls of Exeter bills rock. They were yery
wet. We did not count them, but examined them at
his house and found $5l56-S235 short of the sum
supposed to be in his possesson-hc defc iency was
| made up in New York money. The bills were such
as we had not in circulation, and knew they must
have been taken out Of the vault when The Bank was
broken open. We had not $5GO-S2O bills out,
and here was 4000. Benjamin Briggs is a sort Of
grocer, broker and vctualler in New York.
The testimony on the part of the prosecution be.
ing closed Mr.. Bartlett, the part of the prisoners
asked some questions of some Of the Witnesses. Ho
said that they should pu, in evidence, and he did
not propose 10 argud the case. He said it was ap
parent that the money which the bank had recovered
could not have been proved but upon the
and by the direction OF the persons who ed the
offence, and knew more about it than the prisoners
at the bar They did not appear have any agency
~ the recovery OF The money. Until this mystery
had been explained, the Attorney General could
hardly expect to convict the prisoners.
The Chief Justice said that the prisoners had n
right to inquire OF the Witnesses in relation to this.
Mr.. bartlett said it was not necessary for them
to do this aud that f the case was not made out A.
galnst them, they must be acquitted.
The Forcmin OF the Jury said he should like 10
know how the money was discovered.
The Chief Justice said he had right to make the
inquiry ofJudge Smith, any other Of the witness
Judge Smith. 1t would CRAFTY me exceedingly to
satisfy the curiosity Of the twelve respectable men
before me and of this numerous audience, but the
court is aware that may have arrived to the
knowledge of certain facts in a manner which honor
would io bid us TO disclose to the injury of the per-
sons communicating them. l would not willingly
say any thing TO prejudice the prisoners. But If
they and their counsel insist upon it, must state
what know have said that we found the mon
ey-perhaps we found it by the aid Of coniuratiop,
perhaps by our superior skill in decypherng charac-
tiers. We mi ght indications Of the Newbury-
port Turnpike aud the moneyed ditch, in the coun-
tenances OF men or on paper where else would
look ior IT, do not feel at liberty to 60 into fur
ther explanation Of this business, unless required to
do so by the prisoners or their counsel.
Mr.. Bartlett asld he should argue the case un-
less further evidence wero offered. He required
nothing, and cared nothing about the grafcat ion Of
the curiosity ofthc audience. 1t was to him mat
tel of indifference whether the money was discover
ed by conjuror the superior knowledge Of tho
bank directors. 1t enough for HIM that the pris-
oners were not proved to bo guilty.
The Attorney General addressed the Jury in an
eloquent and argumentalive speech, after which the
Chief Justice summed up the evidence to the Jury,
who retired Ior about half hour, and returned with
averdlct of GUILTY against each Of the prisoners.
On Thursday, the Prisoners were brought into
Court to receive their sentence Lore was sentence
ed to three years confinement at hard labour in
the States Prison, and Kimball to two.