The New York herald., 1845-03-21
Hudson. .
fFrom Correspondent
Trial OF "Big Thunder,"-Legal Skirmish-
ing-Increasanw Crowds and Surprising In
terest.


terest.
HUDSON, MARCH 10, 1S45.
As will be seen from report of the proceedings
in the Court of Oyer and Terminer, to-day, step
has at last been taken in the important prosecution
Of the aa-renters and although it is not ye: cer-
tain that it will be carried through at this erm
is by far the most likely event.
At IL o'clock the District Attorney made a me-
tion TO call on the case of Boughton, on the rob-
berry indictment. This was opposed by couaselfor
the prisoner, the ground that he was unprepareo;
to sustain which, he submitted the ahdavlt OF the
accused that certain witnesses, whose testimony
was of the last importance to prove his innocence,
were not In attendance besides, II was matter
OF great conseq quence to know in what mode a jury
was to be selected, and whether the choice OF
talesmen, in case any should be required, was to
be left with Sheriff Miller, upon whom, on the per-
who was robbed, the strong suspicion OF The ac-
cused res,s,as not perfectly free from feeling hos
Esq, resisted the arguments in favor of postpone
ment, and ably sustained by the Attorney
General, John Van Buren, Esq. In case OF thai
great Importance TO the public peace. It was
mcst desirable to dispose of these indictments
The whole country took an interest In them; the
county Of Columbia had incurred vast expense in
making preparation for these trials, and nothing
but regard for the rights of the prisoner, ought to
act as a reason for putting off the investigation
No possible injury could be done TO him, 1t was
contended, by proceeding and whilst it was the
business OF the defence to be ready, having had
due notice Of motion for trial, 1t nct reasonable
Tor them to seek to avoid fair inquiry on trivial
pretexts and II these witnesses were not forthcom-
ing, it was no faut o! the prosecution, but must re
main chargeable to the defence, from whose re
mlssnese II proceeded.
While this discussion was going on, the coart
house was crammed full, and the anxiety of all 10
hear, showed the large place these trials have in
the public mind. tCounsel too, appeared to
for the defence-who showed disposition to con-
tend for every inch of ground that mlaht by any
means be turned to the advantage OF the defence,
and il quite apparent that their remarks we re
now and again tinctured with some ac-imony. All
this duly relished by the audience more than
can well describe, and It Is very likely that, as the
trials progress, they will have ample opportunity to
crafty their taste for that curious ces OF glada-
! torship called legal squabbling.
| Trouble Is anticipated in procuring jury, apC
yet, if gentlemen on each side would be content 10
1 part with nconvenent fastidousness, they might
! be very fairly served Certainly, few there are,
| who can be called entirely neutrsl, but there is 8
| class who can discover a certain degree of founda-
| tlon for the complaints OF the anti-renters, bu
whose ferven respect for law and order leads them
to deprecae any lniraction of the one or the other
no matter on what pretext It be perpetrated
jury then, may be procured, but not wiIhouts
waste OF much time, and many words
As far as can ascertain, the prisoners are in NO
degree daunted at the prospect before them. but IN
dulge. in the anticipation OF certain aequ'tal-
Boughton wears any thing but hopeful aspect, yei
this may be attributable to bad health, the conne
ment having prayed upon him sadly. Persons who
were intimate with him before his incarceration
say he retains hardly any Of his former looks
| PERHAPS bis Counsel may ingeniously raise the
question of his identity, and SO give The prosecu
ton ample room for the exercise of their ingenuity
Mr.. Beding is fond of music, and his cultivation
of the violin has, if don't mistake, beguiled some
weary moments. He looks cheeIful and ami
mated, and by no means concerned with his situa
tion.
There are, strange to say, no reporters here to
chronicle these weighty legal proceedings excep
that on the part Of the Herald, upon whose shoul
| ders will fall the onerous duty of enhghtenng this
| republic on the investigation now Irocee diRg il
that part of it calledColumbla county, in the State
| of New York. A.