The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1830-11-17
From the Boston Palladium.
CONVICTION FOR ROBBERY.

A case of Juvenile depravity, has excited
some interest IN the county of Norfolk, and the
offender was tried on Thursday the 4th inst,
before the S. j. Court at Dedham.
The robbery complained OF, was committed
at Medheld, by Theron Cheney, upon Cyrus
partridge both of that place, on the night of
me oth September. Cheney was then less than
hiteen years old, and youthful in appearance
even within that age. He was born during the
memorable September gale in 1915 Had a
similar circumstance been connected with the
birth OF Napolean, it would have formed an of.
ten quoted portion of History.
me nrst witness called, was Cyrus PARTRIDGE
the boy assaulted and robbed, and who. though
himself youth, and sufferer by the act, gave
his evidence. very fairly. From his testimony
and the confession of Cheney, and also from
some other Information, not had on the trial, il
seems that Cheney carried into the act. de.
lioerate purpose of getting the property. bal
that he had no intent (excep the implied legal
one) Of taking life. 1t is certain that he had
no knowledge Of the legal penalty of the crime
The boys were neighbors in Medfield, and
had previously had some transactions in The
way OF business; some trade together, bv
which Cheney was indebted to the other in The
sum of two dollars.
Partridge testified that on Saturday evening
Sept. 4th, Cheney came in to borrow The axe for
the purpose, or under the pretence of cutting
rods; at the same time he invited P to trade
at their common Rialto, the barn. Partridge
promised TO go at nine, when he could do 50
without the knowledge Of the family. No
meeting however was held that nirht. On the
next which was Sunday, they were TO meet
and before the hour, Cheney went, lin the
evening" TO the others room. Partridge was
IN bed, and invited him to sleep there. but
cheney said " No the folks will not like !, -
tic asked Partridge TO sleep with him in the
barn, and to bring out his trunk and merchan.
dize for traffic, giving him at the same time
watch and poke. book, to be put in the trunk
ana promising to pay the two dollars Cheney
then retired, and, at nine, Partridge passed the
trunk to him through the window and got Out
OF 1t himself They went into tho loft and ga,
upon the hay, which was go high thai thew
could stand up only in one spot The Trunk
was opened, but all matters of business deferred
I'LL morning flute was taken out and PLAYED
upon by both boys, when the trunk was
locked and placed by Partridge on the beam
over his head, He then fell asleep, and was
reused by Cheney, who approached him and
asked where the trunk was placed Par,,;d,,o
soon Tell asleep again, and was The next ti,oe
reused by violent blow from heavy ns:ru.
ment on the back Of his head II derived him
OF the full exercise Of his Senses but his i,npres.
sIons were that some one was beating his head
with club, and cutting away" al his throat
with knife. He did not however fully com
pose himself till he had returned uhrougb The
Window led as by instinct, to tho refuge of his
fathers house There his cries and proons
alarmed the family, and he was found blee limo
and IN much pain. DR. Hewins was called in
and discovered six wounds in the head, one Of
which divided the scalp and laid open the SIX ull
IL was " o'clock at night when Parir,dge
alarmed tho family. The neighbors examined
!he parn put The trunk was not there, they found
Cheney, in the mean time MS apnears bv b;s
confession to those who took him, had carried
away the trunk, broke Il open with stone.
rihed Il OF the money and watch, and left il be-