The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1828-07-09
INTELLIGENCE.
From the National Standard.
IMPORTANT TRIAL.

Stdte % Vermont,
William Blake. slaughter.
Counsel for the Prosecution-Geo. Chip
man, States Attorneys. s. Phelps.
For the Prisoner-C. P. Van Ness, R.
B. Bates, E. N: Briggs, C. Linsley.
The States Attorney opened the case by
brief statement Of the facts relied upon bv
the prosecution.
Mark r. Weeks sworn, says-that at a
spelling school few days before the death
of Seymour Howard, Mr.. Blake put a word
to Marcus Howard, which he spelt wrong
twlce-Mr. B. then ordered him to spell It
right which he did-Mr. B. then called
Marcus out to punish him, whilst he was
looking for a rule Marcus left the school
house-and did not come to school apain
till Monday, when Mr.. b. again called him
out and was about to punish him-Seymour
Howard rose in his seat and said his father
had directed him to tell Mr.. Blake that il
the large scholars thought Marcus ought
to be punished to punish hin-if not send
him home. Upon this Mr.. B. ordered him
to sit down which he refused to do. Mr.. B.
then lookup stick of wood but threw ii
down again and stepped to the other side
Of the school house and took crutch and
returned towards Seymour. Mr.. B. then
ordered Seymour again to sit down-Sev-
mour replied, "I'll be damn'd if | Wilt
will not see Marcus punished" Mr.. B. then
struck at him with the crutch-holding it in
both hands--the blow hit his arm. After Sew
mour rose and before Mr.. B. struck at him
he had advanced about four feet towards
b. and when the blow was given Seymour
stood in spaceway between the two writ
ing desks-Seymour Immediately seized the
crutch and violent scuffle ensued-wheu
B. wrested the crutch from Seymour. he
lSeymour) fell backwards rather upon his
LETT side-his head falling near the corners
OF two benches and a platform-while S.
was down, and as witness thinks in the ACT
OF rising, Il. again struck with the crutcb
but witness did not see where the blow hit
Blake during the ARRAY struck only the two
blows mentioned before-witness saw tie
head OF the crutch fly off when B. struck the
last blow-B. then threw down the crutch
and proceeded to punish Marcus, during
which younger brother, Rollin Howard.
took up the crutch and struck r. several
tlmes-B. then took thescrutch awav from
him, and ordered Seymour to get IN and
take his seat, which he did. After SITTING
about hall an hour, witness at request Of
seymour, asked leave to go home with him.
which was granted-Seynour said very lit,
tie on his way home-witness recolIects
that after the ARRAY Mr.. Blake said that he
= would have better regulations in school or
he would make bloody work"
Seymour was in his 18th year-Marcus
about Ia, and Rollin about H. They were
IN the habit of scufiing. When the first
blow was struck Seymour and Mr.. b. were
standing face to face.
Martha WeekS, sworn--saw the second
blow and thinks it hit Seymour on the head.
as he was lying on the floor with his head
between bench and the platform on which
the masters table stood.
.4tmOn Allen, sworn-says he was At the
school and saw scuffle between Rollin and
Marcus on Monday morning before school
commenced about broom. Marcus took
he broom away from Roliin and out il in
The stove--the master interfered and stop-
bed the quarrel.-When Mr.. b. called m
Marcus he called Rollin also for misconduct
n the morning--was about to punish Them
when Seymour rose.-Thinks he told Sew
nour to sit down three times before he
truck him--Seymour declared each time
re would not see Marcus punished-witness
lid not see whether second blow hit on the
'!atform or Seymour,