The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1847-09-30

HIGU-HANDED OUTRAGE. When the
Court met on Tuesday morning, the Clerk,
Mr.. Disco, gave information that his Office
had been entered during the night, and his
portable desk, containing the indictments, rec
ords, and all the important papers necessary
for progress not i'll the hands OF parties and
Counsel, had been stolen and carried away
The Court adjourned to 2 NJ, authorizing
q reward Of $500 for the detection of the
thief or thieves, and the recovery Of the pa
pers. At the Court met again Thepresi
ding Judge Observed that 50 hcartiess and
reckless piece ofvillany had never before oc-
CURED in this State, unless, perhaps, the
Manchester murder He thought there should
he ugoneral AMI vi@lant search made, and
that the services of every good citizen should
be rendered. He then gave the Sheriff
charge and authority to take the necessary
measures to ferret out the offenders, and ad-
journcd the Court to yesterday morning. All
persons present were then desired to remain,
when committee of three, consisting of
Chief Justice Parke? and Messrs. Henderson
and Chamberlain, was appointed to confer
with and assist the Sheriff In few min
utes the number Of persons required by the
Committee to make diIigent search and en-
Qurv, volunteered their services and pro-
cccded forthwith in the discharge of their du-
ty, but thus far without success, The Court
proceeded yesterday to transact such bust
ness as preserved papers enabled them to do,
and will, from necessity, early adjourn.
Mr.. Disco, was busy III the Office until
nearly o'clock on Tuesday morning; but it
appears the windows OF his Office were not tas-
tened, no springs, even, having ever been in
serted. The County had taken precauton
to preserve their records and papers against
fire, but none against thieves
The trial Of Harris for poisoning his wife
was assigned for to-day; but the loss Of the
Court papers viii Of necessity defer it, I'M
less the Court permits the trial to go on, by
consent Of the prisoner certified copy OF
the Indictment being used.
S.nce preparing the above, we learn that
the counsel in behalf Of the prisoner, Harris,
who lad been indicted for the murder of his
wife,( by arsenjc) and had pleaded not guilty,
urgently pettioned that his trial might pro-
coed, on certified copy Of the Indictment,
the original being lost lie waving all right to
exceptions hereafter. 4 very able plea was
made by Mr. Farley, one Of the prisoners
counsel, (he Chief Justice being presenOas
all important to the prisoner. The Attorney
General said there was but one question
for the Court to decide, and that
was whether the Court cou'd substitute a copy
for the ri-inal Indictment The Attorney
expressed strong doubts, and presented some
other difficulties, but was ready to procced,if
the Court SO decided After due delbera-
ton, first deciding that the destruction of the
original Indictment did not affect the juris-
diction of the Court, it was decided to pro-
coed, and this morning was assigned. 1t was
stated that the prisoner would have to remain
in prison six months, and he feared he could
not hereafter avail himself Of important teSii-
moMy.
The Grand Jury found ten bills Of indict-
mcnt against Gilman Brickett, for selling in
toxicatng liquors without license. He was
fined $50 on each Indictment and costs Of
prosecution, amounting to over 500.
Ezra Hall of \Vapolc WAS fined for six like
offences, $3.50 and costs. Bills were also
found against Samuel Pierce of Westmore-
land for the same ollencc.-N H. Sentinel