The Delaware register, or, Farmers', manufacturers' & mechanics' advocate. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1828-1829, 1829-06-06
From the Ontario Messenger Extra, of MAJ Is.

of the interesting character We have not had
time prepare full and elaborate statement, but shall do
and publish in the next Messenger, unless find
in of the neghborng papers, In the time, the
following abstract of the principal events will in
sure satisfy the intense curiosity of the public.
On Tuesday morning the 10th inst Mr. Whiting the Dis
trict Attorney and Mr. Spencer the Special Commissioner,
produced the opinion of the Supreme Court upon the
which had been reserved for their advice the trial of Eli
Bruce which the objections the jurisdiction of the Cen
ea Sessions of Ontario, overrued and that Court
advised render Judgment against the defendant. the
instance of of the counsel for the defendant the motion
for judgment suspended On Wednesday morning the
motion made The special commissioner stated to the
his desire produce witness in aggravaon of the
punishment of Bruce; and called
Hiram B. Hopkins, who being sworn, testified that in Sep
TENDER 1885, Eli Bruce Sheriff of the county of Niagara
that the witness his Deputy They both resided in
the Jail at Lockpor Some three weeks before the
abduction of Morgan he informed by Bruce and Others
that was in contemplation to Morgan from Batavia
where he then directly the country to lewiston
TO carry him to Fort Niagara and ultimately put him
board British man of war On particular night six or
eight days before Morgan carried from Batavia Canaan
dagua Bruce called the witness up from his bed and told
him that he expected Morgan immediately and that witness
must prepare cell in the Jail for his reception. cell was
pointed out for that purpose, which the most and
retired IN the JAIL and which did communicate with any
other The witness prepared this cell accordingly; but Nor
gan did not arrive
The witness the installation of the Chapter of Royal
Arch Masons Lewiston the 18th of September and was
then informed that Morgan had arrived and confined in
Fort Niagara; this was generally known among the
assembled there.
In crossnteogatores by the counsel for the
detenuan mad not disclosed the to
which he testified until recently, when he had commune
Gated them to Mr. Spencer Lockport That he had
sdered himself bound by his masonic obligations dis
close them, until his reflections had satisfied him that he
had right to withhold them That he had been unhappy
since the occurrence and found peace of mind until
he had revealed it.
The counsel for Bruce then requested delay pro-
nouncng the judgment of the enable them
and explain the testimony thus given; which request the
court acceded No testimony of any kind, however,
produced their part in explanations relation
subject or the Witness except what Eli Bruce himself
witness the trial of John Whitney and James Gils
by whom he Produced and which testimony hereafter
particularly detailed On Saturday night, after the trial of
Whitney and ellis concluded, the court proceeded
pass Judgment Eli Bruce. We should do Injustice to our
feelings and to the universal sentiment of a crowded
auditory if failed to characterize the remarks of Judge
Howell preceding the sentence of the happest
of dgned judicial eloquence, heard within the
walls of court house. He felt and spoke man, sym
pathsng with the suerngs of fellow beng whose cbarac-
ter in life had hitherto been respectable who had filed
most responsible office, and who had wife and helpless
family share his msortunes and his disgrace His former
character and the information derived from his neighbors he
said, induced the belief that Bruce a depraved man.
but who would revolt from the commission of what he
deemed any offence against the laws. His conduct
be accounted for ony the ground that he supposed him
self bound by the obligations he had entered nto with the
masonic fraternity commit the outrage he had perperated
Nothing said the judge could be faacious prnci
pie could be dangerous in any community having
organized government No Of men, be their number large
small, had right combine themselves together in any
association for purposes hostile the provisions of law No
had right TO withdraw his allegiance from his country
and its government while he lived under its projections no
citizen could by any of his into any obligation to do
any act forbidden by the law. His obligations obey
laws of his country others which he