The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1845-01-06
,NrLRENr EXCITEMENT.
VI ~. u,,dsnn Gaselle, Dec. "a.

~ Ds0'. p' coul murder, at an Ambient meet
N pD'0 " ,ho boose J. s. 5 Miller, in Smokey Hal
a ~ n, Town of Cnvernck, on Wednesday last
(" w., "" hscn given of a meeting at that plaee, 10
% n..'.5 nv Dr. Boughron, (Big Thunder,) who
r,os, the title of the Lvngston's TO tho land
"|, hold 1t being understood that large
"" tossed in Indin disguise, from this and
"'', ,,,., cOunties, would be in attendance much
II A"' w., ,y,. created, and many Of our citizens, as
n u" h,,o orlhc adjoining towns, turned out 10 the
\ ncng' .,o, .,o,,.,o =,
,,ormeetng-those Anti-Renters who had
B W.T., met in the house to put on their disgsises.
A ,,A,vor equipped themselves in Indian style, all
~, armed with pistols, swords and other deadly
. .,,o, they sailed out in single file, whooping,
r, and making all kinds of noises, 81 at int rivals,
,,, ,e,ched the piuzzn, firing olTther pistols into
I,,, When about half of those in disguise had
,,,, ortbe house, one of them fred and shot
.,.,b The heart quiet and inofiensive young man,
,.Asr,me of William II. Riphenburgh, of Hills
a, vbo stood near the piazza, looking on. Not
,,h,,,odoy this gross outrage and deliberate murder.
-, ana orthc thousand assembled had the courage
b, dion forward or make any movement 20 arrest the
wRDERER, and although the liEeess corpse of this
,,,r man, who had been shot down without any
,,,s or Justification, lay before the crowd, still his
1,g. we're permitted 10 march up and down The
re,, and 90 through with their manoeuvrsS in front
,rAo house, ms # nothing had happened. They did
o, ,poCar to mind or care that one Of their number
Ind been the means of depriving fellow being Of his
existence. Finding at last, that their steical ndfTer-
pncc was ,Ousing strong feeling Of indignation,
BIZ Thunder came forward and ad journed the meet
ing, and said that the Young man was accidentally
hot On being asked why they came to these meet
ms armed, he replied tina: he had heard that the
Sheriff had summoned posse to attend the meeting
nnest him. ard they had come prepared TO resist
&tEpen 3 ard 4 o'clock in the afternoon, the first
1sI.cnce Of this outrage was received in the city,
nd produced great excitement and commoion; and,
itbcre were many conflicting reports, the Sheriff
emed it duty to repair to the place Of meeting,
I'D obtain all the particulars in regard 10 the muir
rs lie, therefore, in company with Joseph d.
Mcneil, Esq aud the District Attorney, started for
Smokey lIanw. On their way they met Deputy
SEiScdgwicls, in Stockport, and John 8. Anabe,
EI, dlhs city and also Ambrose Root, Esq. of CLAY
zE, who, being informed by the Sheriff OF his OBJ
4 NE gNNg out, concluded that they would turn
Ind and accompany him back. On reaching tho
use, they ound Tint most Of the people had dis
rsed, bat were informed that "Big Thunder" was
4 in Tho house. The Sheriff resolved, at once, to
rest him; after looking through the lower part of
{ house, he went up stairs; and on going into the
al room, found him surrounded by a number of
rel conycrsing, not knowing, it appears THAT the
'iaf was in the house. After making the arrest,
IL Sheriff commanded the assistance of those present
enforcing the law. Dr. Boughton demanded to
ow for what he was arrested the Sheriff told
n, and said he must go along with him, and then
rIed down stairs; and, on reaching the piazza, he
gun 10 hold back and resist; and on being pushed
ward, by the Sheriff and his friends towards the
IHoge he called upon the Anti-Rsnters, and want
to know if they were going to see him arrested?
At this arush was made, and general melee en-
hour, during which DR. Boughon drew his pistol
ice, and threatened to fire, and he was called mp
/, by some of his friends, to shoot the Sheriff. Mr.
'ne'I and the District Attorney appealed to the
wd' and told them Of the consequence of their re-
ing The Sheriff, and that most ofthcm were known;
'hat' II they did not desist at once, they would
VISITED with the severest penalties Of the law
rs appeared TO calm down the turbulent spirit, and
sheriff succeeded in getting his prisoner into the
rage This done, the Sheriff succeeded in arrest
Mortimer c. Bedding, Q: rensselaer,, formerly of
FNimer county, who is called 'IittIe Thunder"
also Samuel A. Wheeler, Of Taghkanic. both
"nO" had been very active in opposing the Sher-
!" making the arrest of DR.. Boughton. The pris-
i" were brought in, and committed to Jail. On
's examined in the JAIL, there was found on Beld-
adrk-knile, loaded pistol, and set of chin
t'nss'-'hus showing that he was not only pre-.
Gu 'Or gambling, but for riot or any other emergen-
i"'s fellow nppears.to be the most desperate
" "e gang There were no weapons found on
''e'er The pistol of DR.. Boughton was taken
Z" IL, n'm' soon after being put into the carriage
thursday morning, before daylight, the Sheriff
u" Pa'u visit to the scene Of action of the previ-
evening" and found the disguise worn by Big
'"uer' and also arrested Esau Craig, who inter-
gu ana endeavored 10 prevent him from arrestlng
prisoners the previous evening. ........
~ "s examination of these men has been going on,
'"' las. three days, before Judges Peck, Will
~" anu Martin, together with the Recorder OF The
. al inc courthouse. The prosecution is con-