Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-04-26
CHAMBEr sBuRe. pa. April %,

When the Western Stage Telegraph arrived
here on Wednesday evening last. the boot was
found to br cut open and robbed Of TWO trunks
belonging to passengers. Between 9 and 10 o.
clock on the same evening. two men. carrying
large bundles. were ob.er.ed walking down the
middle of the main street. whose appearance
and manner excited suspicion They we're tot.
lowed at distance and watched, by three OF our
citizens until ihey entered an alley pear the end
of the town, when they went up to them and ac-
costed them. Their answers to the questions
put to Them, beins such as To confirm previous
suspicion, they we're told that they must stop and
give az account Of themselves, when one
them drew a p"cket pistol and declared his de-
terninaIon to shout any one VINO would attempt
to arrest them Mr.. Benjamin Winters, one of
the three who fnloa ed them, instantly spraUg up
on the william aud pinioued him up against afence
so that he could not make use OF the pistol
Whilst th. was taking place, the other ran, and
thossh pursued by the other two, the night being
dark, got OF.
In the mean time, the fence against which the
first va, pressed gave way. aud he and Mr. w.
were tumbicd into a cellar, hole, MIR. w for.
Jtunately fal Ing uppermost. Here a desperate
struggle rnsued The robber succeeded in chang.
ing the pistol from one hand 10 the other. SD as
TO bring the muzZle 10 contact with the body OF
Mr. Winters, but at the moment he cooked il,
Mr.. w. with great presence o. mind and exer-
ton, succeeded in turning il in direction which
would have proved fatal to the desperate had he
pulled the trlyger-and 10 that situation held him
un,,I the return Of hi- companions. On examln.
inc his bundle at the Justices various articles OF
clothing taken from the trunks, were recOgn lied
bv the owners. He is now in Jail for trial The
next day the trunks were found abput three miles
from town, riHed OF their contents.
4 Hoac.-At court Of sessions which closed
few DAY. since at Hackensack, N ]. hoax
was PLAYED off, which for its singular audacity
and success. deserves to be recorded. The per-
petrator had beer long tine in prison, at Hack.
ensack, awaiting his trial up"n charge Of per-
jury The evidence against him establishing the
offence was known to b. OF SO conclusive
character that nobody doubted for a moment.
that the proceedings against hin would terminate
by his imprisonment ~ the state prison. A liv-
ing dog, how ever, IL better than dead lion, as
was shown by the issue Of this mans case 1t
appears that few days prior To the time appoin-
ted for trial, when every expedient which his
fruitful mind was capable Of devisiug seemed to
be exhausted, in the vain hupe Of an escape from
So perilous situation. he had a severe paraytlc
stroke by which one entire side was rendered
In this feeble aud helpless condition
insisting upon his trial, he was conveyed upon
bed from the prison to the court room. The
spectacle of an infirm and afflicted fellow being,
On the verge of the grave being on trial for per.
jury, had powerful effect on the sympathies Of
the Jury. They, nevertheless. felt themselves
bound under the weight Of evidence. reluctantly
to return against him verdict ofgulty. While
the trial was in progress, the prisoner became SO
faint that the court was under the necessity Of
granting recess, to enable him to be reconveyed
to his apartment in the prison for revival. On
this occas ion he was againremoved upon his bed
and 30 strong an appeal was made by this dis.
tresslns exhibition Of the helpless prisoner,
that the prosecuting Attorney. Mr.. Camp
bell, and his associate. Mr.. Todd, benevo.