Litchfield enquirer., 1831-10-27
ISABELLA GRAPES.


 the slip, and about the size of quill, that have borne this year 25OO buuches of fruit, as near as they can be computed from counting the produce of several branches, and averaging the whole. This inestima- ble variety of grapes, in our opinion, has never been over-rated. If they are only suffered to remain on the vines tiU fulIv ripe, they are delicious. They should not be gathered in New England till about the first of October, and if they have had two or three frosts, so much the better. As they have fine appearance, and seem to be ripe early in September, they are then frequently gathered, are extremely sour, with a hard pulp, and of course have thus acquired with many a doubtful character. But for vigor of growth and abundant yield, it certainly excels any other vine cultivated in this country. trequires no protection in the winter. Gen. Swift has raised from a single vine eight bushels for several suc- cessive seasons. Four vines set out in Bristol, R. I.in 1923, produced in 1926, five bushels of fruit. In some instances larger products have been known, and ma ny vines are now to be met with in vari- ous parts of the country, producing aston ishing crops. The fruit may be dried as raisins and to our own knowledge they have been kept in good order till January in dry saw dust. When this wholesome, pleasant fruit can be raised with such facil- ity, every farmer should feel it a duty to plant out one of the vines, as the expense would not exceed fifty cents.
 s1Ae Robbery 9 fthe City Bank.-Since the arrest of all the parties that were con cerned, directly or indirectly, in the rob- bery of this institution in April last, full confession has been obtained by the Police Magistrates, of all the circumstances con- nected with that unprecedented transac- ton.
 It appears that the principal agents in the scheme were Smith and Murray. Their first intention was to rob the Phe- nix Bank the outer door of which Murray entered three times. The scheme was frustrated by his discovering the last time he entered, that person had been station- ed within for the purpose of keeping watch. They then resolved to attempt the robbe- ry of the City Bank. The keys used were made by Murray in Smiths shop, from a wax impression of each key hole, which he had obtained. They entered the Bank on Sunday afternoon before the watch was set, and did not leave it until after day light on Monday morning, when the watch was discharged. Each of them was pro- vided with large cloak. by which they were enabled to escape observation with their booty. The money was taken to Murray's house, and afterwards, by Smith, to MT. Bangs, as appeared in the course of his trial. On Thursday night succeeding the event, Smith carried to the house of Parkinson about 500 doubloons and a quantity of the stolen notes, amounting in all to about $37,OOO. Parkinson states that Smith requested him to take care of it for him, but said nothing about the manner by which he had obtained it, though he, knowing of the robbery, had no doubt that it was portion of the Bank money. He therefore concealed it first under the bricks in the fire place, and afterwards in the old plane in which it was recently found. Mrs. Smith was acquainted with the fact of his having the money, and received of him, for various purposes, at different times, about two thousand dollars.
 It is also ascertained, that Smith and Murray were notorious rogues in Eng land, and that they became acquainted at Botany Bay. The real name of Smith is James Honeyman. He at one time pas sed by the name of James Vim, and car- ried on the business of leather draper, in London. He subsequently opened public house in Blackfriar's Road, which became a general rendezvous for thieves and pickpockets. in 1926, he was appre- hended upon a charge of felony, and be- ing found guilty. was sentenced to be trans ported to Botany Bay, for the term of his natural life. He succeeded in making his escape in about year, and returned to London. In November, 1929, he and Parkinson came to this country, Parkinson having previously become bankrupt.
 There was another individual to whom it was intended by Smith and Murray to give certain share of the profits of the enterprise. He, however, was so unfor- tunate as to be arrested and sentenced to the State Prison, on the day before the robbery was committed. On Monday morning, while he was on board the Steam boat, bound for Sing-Sing, he recognised Murray among crowd of persons on the wharf, and held up his closed hand to him. He was answered by Murray's holding up both hands open, which we understand to mean. that he Murray was willing to give