The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1829-05-13
From the Canton China Register.

PARENTAL MURDER. A few months
ago, at the village Ckang- yeun, in the neigh
borhood of Canton, in the family of Leac,
there was an only son, 16 years of age, of
bad disposition, and given to thieving.
The neighbors often complained to his
parents for his petty thefts, and made them
ashamed. In consequence Of this, the faith
er and mother of this only child, conceiving
that it would be difficult to alter his DISPOSE
ton agreed to put him to death, that they
might not be disgraccG by him. According
ly, the same night on which they came to
this resolution, they passed a cord round
his neck, the father pulling one end, and
the mother the other, and strangled him.
The husband and wife next day carried him
beyond the precincts of the village and in
tered him on the common. The neighbors
all knew of the occurrence. Our native
correspondent, young man, writes -
Alas though the youth was vicious, per-
haps he might have reformed. There was
no necessity to move the murderons hand
and take his life. Where was the feeling
of their hearts!" But an old Chinese who
stood by and read the account, fully iusti-
fed the proceeding and affirmed that he
had grandson whom he apprehended he
must despatch in similar manner. The
power given by law to parents over disobe-
dient children is very great and in this
case, as there was none concerned to prose-
cute, the murderers remained undisturbed.
CANAL STEAM BOATS. Attempts have
frequently been made to navigate canals by
means OF steamboats,, but without success.
we believe an experiment of this kind was
once tried on the great Western Canal
but was found impracticable, on account of
the damage produced by the dashing of the
water against the banks. A steamer how
ever has been constructed for the Ohio
Canal, which on trial is found to answer
the desired purpose. 1t consists of two
lateral boats, so placed as to allow the dis
turbed water to pass through the space be-
tween, and off behind, without causing any
agitation by which the canal banks can be
injured. This steamer, which is called the
Enterprise, has already made a successful
passage from Cincinnati to Dayton, Ohio.
Boston Bulletin.
STEAM Boar FOR THE CANAL. Messrs.
Rogers g. CARAT, ingenious mechanics of
this village, have invented method of pro-
pelling boats ON the canal, by steam, which
P'o"i0No " op'loIC Tic pIlHClpdl ullllCulLleS
that have hitherto prevented the application
of this power to that purpose. The i'm
provement consists chiefly in causing the
paddles to move horizontally through the
water, instead of being attached to wheel.
The plan is ingenious. A company is form
ing to build boat upon their plan, with
view to test its utility.-Utica Sentinel.
CHANGING BAD Practice. We are
informed it has been the uniform custom, at
our courts, to break IN the new members of
every Grand Jury, by requiring of them to
pay what is called CoI's-taiL-or in other
words to treat. 1t was proposed at the last
session of the court in this town, to dispense
with the practice, and that the sums, usual
ly paid for liquor, should be contributed to
the funds of the Bible Society. Accord
ingy the sum of 81 was handed to the
Treasurer of that Society in this village;
and the Grand Jury, for aught we have
heard, discharged their duties quite as well
as under the former practice.
Bennington ~ Journal.
A lady advertses for sale, in Southern M
per, one Baboon, three Tabby Cats and Par