The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1828-06-25
WORCESTER:
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25. 1928.
COURT OF COMMON PLEAS.

ed except disposing of the criminal docket.
The following is list of the principal criminal
actions
George W'iiiams-found guilty by confession
ofpeddling in.Brookfeld. Fined $40.
John Watcrs-guiIty, by verdict, on two in
dictments for larceny in New Braintree. Sem
fenced to months confinement to hard labor
in the House of Correction.
Le'ois Emcry-an accomplice of the above
also guilty, by verdict, on two indictments, and
sentenced months 10 the House of Correction
on each
CLARK FulIer-guilty, by verdict of larceny
in Western. He is said to have been a preach
er-of what denomination VIC did not learn
The Court, being of opinion that his prac-
tice did not accord with his preaching, sentenc-
ed him to the House of Correction for one year,
whore he will have time TO mend his morals
Henry .Hi1ter-guilty, by confession, of lar
ceny in Worcester. Sentenced to 10 days i'm
prisonment in the common Jail in Worcester.
Peter BrOson-guilty, by confession, of an
aggravated assault on canal contractor, for
whom he was at work. Sentenced to the
House of Correction months
Commonwealth vs.. Alexander Patterson.
This was a case in which the question Of per-
sonal identity was involved and created a very
considerable interest. The defendant was charg-
cd with having stolen and carried away from
the brewery in this town, rife gun, on the
9th Of May, now last past, being the day pre-,
vous to the annual election. From the testi-
mony, it appeared that, few weeks since, Da-
vid Newton, who is employed in the brewery,
went to New Salcm leaving his rifle in dark
room back of the mailing kiln in said brewery.
On his return, the 23d of May, the rifle was
missing and he has not seen it since. John
3 Brewer, ir., lad who is also employed in the
brewery, testified that about 3 o'clock on the
eth of May, as he was fishing on the long pond
bridge, about % miles from the village, man
passed over the bridge having a rifle gun mark
ed S. Allen, ir. No. Z )" that, from his knowl-
edge of Newton's rifle, he believes it to have
been his, and that he has no doubt that the per-
son who had it was Patterson. He lad seen
Patterson twice before at the brewery Henry
jackson "a black many testified that, on the
same day, he was at work by the road side be-
tween the village and the bridge; that person.
whom he has no doubt was Patterson, passed
him and went over the bridge, and in about
three-quarters Of an hour afterwards, returned
without the rifle. He described the dress, &c
with very uncommon minuteness and nicely
Two other witnesses, a man and boy, testi-
fed, that, on the Monday or Tuesdas before
election, they saw man passing from Mechan-
ic-street into an adjoining lane with gun in
his hands, and that they have no doubt it was
Patterson. 1t was also proved that Patterson
was absent from his usual place of work, from
till about clock, on the 9th.
On the other hand, John Bixby, keeper of
the tol-ga near the bridge, and his son, testi-
fed that the person who passed with rife
stopp%l and held conversation with them; that
he had no foreign accent, whereas Patterson,
who is Scotchman, speaks the Scottish dia-
lect so strongly, that no person could hear him
speak without noticing it. From their obsor-
walton, they are fully satisfied it was not Pat
terson Immediately after he went down to
the bridge, Brewer came up and said that the
rifle he had was Newtons, and inquired if they,
knew who the man was They did not see him
return, and think that, if be had returned, they
should have noticed it.. 1t was further proved
that after Patterson left his work, lie bought n
quarter of veal to carry home to his family, and
when he returned he brought lapstone, which,
ho said, he found over the hill on the west side
Of the village, where he had been directed to
look for one by another person in the same
shop. THIS Is IN direction opposite to that
10here he 9cdS said to haze been seen acith the
gun. In confirmation of this account, several
witnesses testified that they saw person on
the west side of the hill about three o'clock on
that day, looking around as if he was in search
Of something lost. Two of them noticed him
particularly, and swore to their belief that it
was Patterson, and one of them identified him
as the same person, several days afterwards. A
paper was introduced, signed by the Solectmen
and several other respectable inhabitants eff
Hopkinton, certifying that Patterson had sus-
tanned an irroproacEablo moral character dur.
ing residence of three years in that place
His employer, during that time, also testified
to his trust-worthiness and integrity.
Evidence was introduced on behalf of the de-
PENDANT, to prove that Jacksons reputation for
truth was bad, and that his testimony was not
to be relied on. 1t was also proved that Brew
er had been twice to the shop where Patterson
worked, to see if he was the person whom he
saw with the gun. The first time, after leav
ing the shop, he said that no could not tell
whether it was the same person or not from
his appearance, as he sat at his work, he should
think it was not. but he had rnther 500 hin,