The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1830-07-28
WHOLE NO. 1901.
From the .Nsv York Commercial .qdvert;s.r.


lated In late Liverpool papers, in which two
innocent men were sentenced to death on
the testimony of perjured imposter, and
narrowly escaped from being executed. A
ry, 1899, tied to gate near WoIverhamfpatooan,
apparently bruised in the head, and having
his mouth gagged with brown paper Be-
J ing brought into the town, he represented
himself to be a joiner, native of Oswestrv,
and resident in London and said he had
been knocked down and robbed, specifying
the articles which had been taken from him.
J Some inconsistencies in his statement led to
the discovery that no such person was u ma
tive OF Oswestry, and that Fisher had played
the same tricks before at Bridgworth. Dur
ing the investigation, he decamped.
! AT the late Lancaster Asszes, two men
named Rigby and Grimes, and woman
named Mary Grimes, were convicted of a
highway robbery on a person calling himself
Robert Stanley. He was found lying on
the ground, apparently insensible, with his
hands fastened by wires to the bars of
gate. A quantity of wire was also twisted
round his neck. He said he was iistner,
Snd native of Oswestry, and mad been
robbed OF his money, Tatch, and two bum
dies OF clothes. At the trial he said it was
SO dark he ceIid not identify the persons
who had robbed him, but that they resem-
bled the prisoners at the bar. A mass of
clreumstantial testimony was introduced,
winch LETT no doubt on the minds of the
Judge and Jury of the guilt of the accused.
They protested their innocence but Jus
tee Park implored them to indulge no hopes
of mercy. The men were ordered for exc
cutlon, and the woman to be transported.
Tpn0rt of tho IN h.,
prints, and met the eyes of some respecta-
bic inhabitants of Oswestry, who immedi-
ately coniectured that, as no such person az
Robert Stanley, joiner, had ever lived in
their town, it was the imposter Fisher.
This was communicated to Justice Park,
who granted respite to the prisoners. A
police officer who knew Fishers person, inn
medlately set about an investigation. The
pretended Stanley had disappeared, but the
result OF the enquiry was a strong presump-
ton that the surmise as to his identity was
correct. On his appearing before the Mag
istrate who committed the prisoners, he was
asked Tor reference to some respectable
lnhahltant OF Oswestry; and Immediately
mentioned the name of the Rev. Mr.. Vena-
bles The Magistrate addressed letter
with that direction, and received very sat
lsfactoTy reply, bearing the Oswestrv post
mark. But it turned out that no such per-
son as the !, Rex ba NT nlace. thus these poor
prisoners were rescued from a shameful
| - rIl.--v.tror1c caution which should
be exercised in suffering no circumstances
to be overlooked in capital cases, is power
| fully enforced in this singular narrative. If
the prisoners had been duly taken care of
! by their counsel. the character of the prose-
cutor would have been the subject of exam
inatlon before the jury, and an ncquittai
would have been the result.
( A man calling himself Fisher, was sup
posed in England to have sailed for this
country. particular description of his
person is not given.
Another case of equal singularity has
| been the occasion of much excitement in
the District of Gore, ~. C.) About two
years ago, man named Masters was sup
| posed to have been murdered in that vicini-
| ty and at the last Assizes for the District,
( three men named Young were put upon
their trial, being charged with having COM
mitted the crime. The principal witness
was man named Sheeler, who before Civ
! ing his testimony, demanded his Najesty's
! pardon for having been participation in the
murder. The Judge told him he should
have made his demand sooner and it was
supposed that if be had been assured of a
pardon, he would haze declared that he
himself inflicted some of the blows which
were said to have occasioned the death of
| Masters. He swore that he was at short
distance from the spot where Masters was
slain; that the murder was effected with
an axe, and the body thrown on coal pit,
| by which it was consumed. The evidence
duplicating the prisoners was corroborated
! by several circumstances thought to he very
strong. Much to the surprize, and indeed
to the Indignation of those that attended
the trial, the jury rendered verdict of ac-
Iquittal. The Judge remarked that if the
prisoners wished TO remove the stigma OF
their guilt, they must search diligently after
Masters. The stigma attached as strongly
to them as if they had been convicted. In
the middle of June, Young received letter
from Masters himself! he was residing be-
tween Rochester and Lewiston, and heard
to his establishment that these men had been
tried for killing him. He was Immediately
sent for and identified beyond doubt; and
the YouDgs went in pursuit ofthe Infamous
Sheeler, who has been residing at the River
Credit. 1t is supposed that he must be now
in custody. The Jury in this case did their
duty conscientiously, exposing themselves
| by so doing to the censure Of the people.
In either Of these cases. If the perjury Of
the principal witness had been discovered
too late to save the lives Of the victims of
mistaken Justice, every good man who had
been empanneled would have had painful
recollection through life OF the judicial muir
, der to which, though unwittingly, he had
been an accessory.
SIoS OF A Corn WATER MAN. few even.
ngs since, member Of the Temperance Soci-
ETY. in W., passing along the street Of a village
near -, came in contact with a number OF
boys who were cursing and swearing most in
temperately; on reproving them for their pro-
family, one Of them exclaimed, guess you
belong to the cold water society"