The native American., 1838-12-01
Fro5a the Nc,v Bedford Mercury.
HORRIBLE EFFECTS OF lNTEMPERANCE.
MURDER or AN OFFIcFR's AID

4 HORRIBLE EXPECTS OF IN lfsMfERANCE.
/ MURDER or AN OFrIcFR's AID!
| 1t becomes extremely painful to record another
murder from the effects of acohol-a murder al.
most unparalleled in the history OF that insatiate
cneny-hat fell destroyer Of Human happiness
| II occurred on the road leading from New Bedford
to Assonct village, in the notorious Slab Bridge,
once rendezvous for prostitutes and once place
of resort for the vicious and abandoned OF neigh
horing towns, but now, or before this late unhap-
Ipy occurrence, the abode Of many respectable and
worthy citizens, through whose mstrnmcntality
the place had become i'll part renovated.
We visited the scene of this horrd transaction
with officers Staples and others Yesterday, and
have gained the following particulars from those
WHO Witnessed the melancholy atfray which has
resulted in the death Of Asa Clark, a Young man
about tventy-,hree Years OF age by one Benjamin
Cummings. It appears, from the report Of indi-
Viduals that the officer, Mr. Asa Clark, Gather Of
the deceased), having a precept against Cum
mngs, ha, been for some months on the alert for
him, but from C.'s being sccretcd, III had no op-
portnnity Of ;rrcsling him till the fatal nigh, OF
the 23l. About 10 O'Clock in the evening, AIR.
Clark was informed by friend that some injury
! was intended to him, and was advised to use cv-
cry precaution to protect himself from the dagger
Of the assassin, and his buildings from the torch
Of the incendiary. This warning came from the
wife of Cummings, who, well knowing the dspo-
sition of her husband, while under the influence
Of Intoxicating liquor, suggested the propriety Of
guarding Clark's house, as her husband Cum
mngs), she said, was determined to injure him;
but not having resolution strong enough to com
nit murderous deed, had repaired to an infamous
grog-shop somewhere in the vicinitv-lilerc to
strengthen his resolution, and there TO nerve his
arm for deadly blow. A guard Of Ave was ac-
lcordingly stationed in and about the house. The
lights were extngushed, and all was hushed to
silence, save the dscordant sounds of the reckless
drunkard in a distant shantee: 1t was now !
o'clock, but no attack had been. made, and the i'm
patient though reluctant watch were about to re.
tire, when two persons were distinctly seen slow.
Ily moving towards the house, armed with bludge.
ons. Stones in large numbers were rapidly
thrown upon the roof and against the windows
At this crisis it was thought advisable to rush up
on the assailants and secure them. The officer
and his aid accordingly rushed towards them, anc
on their running, they closely pursued them
Cummings now stopped. Mr.. Clark told him he
had precept against him, and requested Cum
mngs to surrender; but swinging his club in de-
fance, he refused. Mr.. Clark then ordered his
pied with and threw him.. The struggle being Sc
vere the deceased called for assistance, but before
his friends could come to the rescue, he was stab
bed! He arose-staggered, and fell exclaiming-
"He has killed me-pm dead man!-Im deat
man!!" Cummings, en-, as if not satisfied il
his bloody career, sprung for the father; but vel
directed blow, given by one of the aids, feled hin
| to the ground, and the father escaped unframed
The young man was Immediately carried tc
his fathers house, and although surgical aid was
soon obtained, he died in the greatest agony, be-
fore sunrise the next morning He was stabbed
somewhere in the region of the abdomen, and the
incision was upwards Of four inches in length.
The murderer fled to the woods for refuge, but
we are happy to hear that sheriff Porter, Of raun-
ton, has succeeded in securing him in Taunton
Jail, where he awaits his trial.
Through the influence Of alcohol, wife and
child without home or shelter, besides numerous
other relatives and friends, are left to mourn the
loss of kind-hearted associate and neghbor-
and the friends of temperance and good order are
again loudly called upon, in view of this recent
outrage, for renewed eXertion and activity in fer
reting out and dragging to Justice that base often
der-that hardened wretch who filled Cummings
bottle, thereby preparing him for his awful deed.
When @ when, will they be reused to a feeling
sense Of their danger, from this inveterate foe to
man? When will they, instead of wishing to re-
peal our present license laws, make them still
stronger and more consistent, inasmuch as no men
can hold the cup of woe to his neighbors' lips
without incurring the same penalty affixed to
other crimes of the highest magnitude! Surely
something mustb be done, and we feel assured some
thing will be done to stay the progress of intem-
perance, and ultimately destroy traffic SO ruin
Gus in its consequences.
Assonet Village, Oct. 20, 1898. ..
".Hand and DeErcr," were the words ad-
dressed to tailor traveller on foot, by highway
man, whose brace of pistols looked rather dam
gerous than otherwise.