The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1842-05-27
PIER Nv.

circuit court were held and which, for the sake Of
A name, we will call CMrs,ille, contained about
fifty or sixty houses, most of them constructed OF
logs There was an open space in the midst OF II
termed the public square, IN which stood build
ing answering the double purpose OF court house
during The sessions, and Of meeting house, when
IN occasional missionary passed through that part
Of the country. II ironted on the public road
The Jail occupied corner of the same place. 1t
was small, one story edice, about Twelve feet
square, and, like ,he courthouse, built of large
hewn logs, fastened together with IRON bolts at the
corners. Its single apartment contained but one
door and window, both secured by strong bolts
and bars. A large brick house, tho only one in the
town, was situated on the rear Of the square, and
was occupied us hotel, as the traveller was IN
formed by huge sigu suspended roma post at the
road side, where was ccnsplcuously written IN
great yellow lette $, under bnresque likeness OF
Gen Washington, entertainment Tor man and
horse A little further up the road, or main street
as it was called, though there was but one IN the
village on the opposite side, was another tavern ol
more humble appearance than the first II was
around these two places of public entertainment,
that numerous asscmbIage oipersons collected ON
the morning when the important trail WAS to take
place, all eagerly cOnversng on the crime OF which
the prisoner was supposed 10 be guilty; and many
of them utterlng no very moderate analhe'nas IL
gainst the yankees; whom they pretended to con-
slider, en- muSse, as rogues and cheats, and who at
least, were coming into the country 10 break mp
their old manners and customs. The women who
were penrruIy sprinkled among them, seemed
very willing to Join in the general clamor.
'They'r re monsrous fdgGty people, say the
least Of them observed the large rIt wife Ola fur
mcr, and her sleepy eyes and unmeanlng face as
sumed something like angry vvacIty as she spoke.
They want Il heap of watn on; and you don I
get no thanks after all. Now there was an old
Wentworth he tarrled with us, You know, Car
lock on account ofhs da tar, when he first came out
here. Good coffee wasn't good enough for en-;
they must have tea to be sure. So sent john
nv down TO the Settlement to get some;and took
heap Of pains to cook the truck ;and what do Won
think! they wouldn', ca, bit ont Afer ALL dont
much wonder neither, for twas bitter nasty trash,
Ms ever I'd wish to taste But its always the way
with 'em; they make trouble Just for nnlhia..'
The remarks of The indignant woman were (mlly
concurred in by most Of her simple and unsophiS,-
Gated hearers ;hut there was one among them who
was Obliged to thrust his tongue into his cheek and
turn aside, To prevent the dame from seeing his
laughter. lie was the merchants clerk, and had
heard the story before. The fact was, that never
having used the Article of tea in her ie the poor
woman had caused pound of 1t to be purchased,
and boiling it all in large kettle served II up to
her guests ~ green's for dinner.
'They tell said farmer, who had the rcpun-
ton of being a wit among these ie'lowS,n and whose
nsey -woolscy coat conlmsed strangy with II
calico shirt, the collar ofwhch WAS ostenm,louSy
displayed. They tell TIN, old Silvcrsgh. had Il
power Of money when he was killed, It's kill ar
cure with those yankee doctors, any how; but thu,
was the queereSt pill to give pitient, I've heard
Oft; aud he took the trouble of your hands, Car
lock, and paid the bill himself out OF the dead
mans pocket, hey
Such is IL specimen of the idle talk with which
the crowd amused themselves Till the court al length
assembled, when, after the usual prGliminaries, the
mporlnn, trial commenced. The prisoner hid been
supplied by his anxious and alaclIonatc parent
with all the little comforts which the narrow apart
menl nd nted or,eycept fire and candleS;they being
nrndden on account Of the mnternl of whih the
iail was constructed. But the GOODNESS of the
weather had been excessive, daring II part OF tn
time thai, he was the occupant Of TINT dreary abod'
and the boundaries of the cell noaIIowng OF much
exercise, n sickness fastened upon him, which,
though not dangerous in lis nature, hld rendered
him thin and pale. lie came into court arm in arm
with the attorney who was employed 10 plead his
cause and slightly bowlns to those whose friendly
salute Indicated thit they believed HIM innocent,
he pissed through the crowd and took a ) 'at be-
side the lawyers within the bar. From the high
and exemplary character which he hal Sustained
invariably, from hiSfrSt settling in the pncH, until
| the present black suspicion rested on hun, de-
gree Of inlni,ve respect was accorded by all, ti'
must have been gratifying to his feelings p'cl
] 4 Lao, limit A,
witnesses commenced.
George Carnck was the nephew ofthe de,casad.
| On the night Of the 18th Of DaGam5ar h. WIS sur
prsed to sec The horse Of his uncle arrive, with
saddle and bride on, but without rider II,
thought that the deceased Ind stopped for while
pe,hnps, al Burkhorn's, who lived n mile or "
further down the timber; bat, as thu night pissed
away without his returning home, he started early
in the morning with the intention of trailing tn
horse He called for Bucthorn,and they 90, uprn
the trail, and followed it until they found the deaf
body. Two Young men that had jnined them a
Buclhorn's returned with lii, badly, they cnntlnu-
inr on the trail. |, led them TO Mr. Wentworth =
They inquired if any person had been there, thu
crossed over from the other side of the stream. -
They were answered that Doctor Ryln-,On hIt
crossed the stream, and remained the night will
them. That Mr. Rumley, the deputy -she'Il, hlt
also remained the night bat that he had come i,on
further up on the other side. They followed
on the trail, and found TINT there was tract
from further up, most likely Mr. Rumlcy's. The
continued on the track till they arrived in town.
; Being Informed by Nh Drill, the gun-smlrh, thu
, Doctor Riyinslun had taken buckhorn's rifle wi,
him, they Immediately procured a warrant for hi
apprehension They found hnI employed in coun
, Ting the identical money which had been take
, from the unfortunate SilyerSight.
James Buckhorn's testimony was in full zorro
! horaiion Of the preceding lie mentioned in nd
! don that he examined the lock and barrel of hi
rife, on finding it lying near the murdered maj
and discovered that it had certainly been disrhars
&C., but short time before.
The gun smith deposcd to his having given II
u rife to the prisoner, on his offering to carry i! o.
to Buckhorn and that ii had been discharged sine
$ mir Drill said Lawyer Bandiey,who was cour
/, sci for our hero, you mentioned having given tn
i pun TO Doctor Ri,ingon did you also rive him