The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-06-16
TRIAL OF BRISTOL BILL.
Our vermsnt Correspondence.

AND MbADOVSy Fch
The trial Of the celebrated Bristol Bill siiss VIM
commenced this morning in the Dsnviils County Court
IN this place. before his Honor Chief Justice Poland
assisted BY the Hon Walter Harvey and James Bell
Assistant Justices.
Bliss n Davis, State Attorney, and Abel Underwood.
Esq, appeared on the part of the prosecution and
VIM II Parrsr and Chas D. Pletehsr Rsqs, Of Boston
for the prisoner
The prisoners brought in at half past eight
O'Clock. Bristol Bill looked all smiles and cheer f,
an trim q Broadway dandy Meadows seemed osrs
worn and faint Of hope, though strong Of nerve Mo-
tions were made by counsel for continuance of the
cause which were overruied by his honor.
Mrs. Meadows came In, aud seated by the side OF
her husband having y fine, noisy child in her arms
confusion" Mrs. NJ seemed quite n modest unsssu u
ming afectionats wife. not handsome, but deo iedy
pretty and IL reported to be from very
family in Cbarlestown. Mass She certainly has the
genera ~ mpathy of this community she seems un-
Ismi,,,ng in her efforts to console the accused The
Indictment was read TO the prisoners, who appeared
anxious and attentive. Bill made quite = success fui
attempt at sang Jroid; while Meadows evidently
depressed in spirits Meadows pleaded by ths OF
Christian Meadows, and none other plea not
guilty" Bill pleaded to the name of VIM. II. Warbur.
toh-" not guilty'-remarkins, he knew nothA Ag
about sny other nameu Counsel for nrisorers nov
moved that the prisoners be tried separately, which
was warmly argued ny the counsel and Ststes Attor
ney; but II decided by his honor that they ould
be tried Unity. As this decision was announced we
noticed the wife Of Meadows burst into tears, much
rs to say. A IL lost" at the time she
Of woe AT Bill who only returned wink, dev eish will
evil, for the Z" "un ALI gstear -
The oath beiug administered to the jury the indct-
ment was read to them whereupon the States Attor-
ney gave brief statement of the circumstances aud
facts as the Government expected to prove, in sup
port Of the charges set forth in the indictment
Potter nj Paul was the first witness caied-first
knew cf this matter year ago last winter went into
Lows counting. room; Low showed me a couple of
u ms Ate NM "
with them. (Dies were here produced. which wit
nees said booked like the ones) Low told me ne had
convrrsation with Mr. VI of Boston, who had agreed
to come and assist him; Low said he had
boxes OF dies and If he could get Mr. M he should
come the richest man in Vermont; the boxes di-
rect~d TO witness and marked axes" said he had
been TO New York and purchased transfer press -
which was marked California, which press came to
Groton and one JOS Morrison and self carried IL In
TO the shed chamber Low said the press designed
to work The dies; afterwards helped Low the
press down into the she'd and partially concealed 1t
under the wood IL aft moved In to m shop
during this time, Warbsrten and Meadows came to
Groton Low said these were the men he had en- rxrsd
TO help him. and wanted me to help in rspsiriog the
press at fret refused at last consented and with
Meadows and Marshall put IL together; We dArkened
pair II; Low brought me copper plate aud dies
and told me II Meadows called for them to lot him
plate and marked 1t of into squares and made some
impressions on 1t with the dies by Of the press
ana carried away the plate; be afterwards in and
made sDothsr kind Of impression another pate tho
impression was figure nve: soon after, went In
pany with Low TO Mesdows's, and there saw plate
engraved having figure Eve one corner. u female
visnstts and drove Of cattle IA bill partially exc
cuted was here presented to witness who thought 1t
received Its stamp from the plate he at Meadowss
which plate presented to witness. who identified
the same rs being the one be saw at Meadows's War
burton once TO my chop to purchase furni-
ture and engaged some; this was my first Acqusint t.
ance with him; Low called day, and recon mend
ed Warburten's credit, and became respon-ible for
away tho dies in hsndkerchief l-hioh was produo.d
In court and Identified by ths witness) Witness
gave description OF the transfer press" and the
mode Of working IL; likewise described the printing
Press, said hs repaired It, The printing prsss
here produced In court and dsntiaed by witness who
seemed quite At home" in describing the ~sdus op,.
randi Of itS mechanism He handled the screws plate.
ana suscbments, like . ready student, we'll trxiaed
atio.--Low nrst showed me the dies in
February, lsts; Low had just retarned from Boston;
never bad oonversed with Low relative 60 the
felt butibess previous to this time; "a eveninx z
when he showed the dies; showed the dies In tb.
counting room; think the doors shst. don't
certan Low never had made me his conhdant; think
he took the dies from his pocket he often mentioned
the subject to me after he fret exhibited the dies
used TO speak Of hn exploits in New York and Boston
said he had suffered everything but death; his nrst
exploit vas obi aiming the Dies his plot
getting the press; Low said man by the name Of r.
went 70 the building where the dies kept;
man through the key hole and was frightened away;
ths next time Mr. X said he would go through n II
for twenty Ave dollars but that he would ret them,
did not suppose this Mr.. r. was Christian Msadovs:
snid two persons vent and obtained tho dies but
understeod that Meadows one Of them; (diss
to their ideDtity) the next Interview had With Lev
was considerable time after the frst boxes
st Lows store With my name them Low said they
contained vsrs did not help TO carry them into
the store did not complain to Gov because my name
vas married on the boxes At that time but afterwards
did complain and advised him not TO have anything
Do With the business; Low said II not counterfeit,
but tbs genuine article told not TO say anything
sbout H. or be would shoot ne; Low len for New
York don't knov Of whom be obtsin.d the transfer or
printing prss; after the presses arrived In 0roton
the nferws "A
press at Lows store the transfer press removed
TO my shop In January, 1850 first used the pre.-
and harsball were present when the press put
up (witDess here described the situation Of his shop
roads &c be s j..eilsr oy professional never pro.
him 70 understsnd would embark I'm the enterprise
never knew Meadows to make any i'm mpressions upon
psper but have seen him make impressions copper
plate, never saw any dies In the house Of Mr. M-ado~
do not think any were ever there, that he ever
stamped any paper; he never used IN. printing pres.
TO my knovisdgs; don't know a. he ever had any In
suitabs for printing, vas arrested about the
time the defendants helped pitch the presses
out OF the window, and aitsm pied TO conceal them
denomination Witness wouldn't be too
cossciensious In his answers On the whole. the Wit
ness stood crcss-rshins nre Of some t-o hours, With
remmksble grace and fortitude
Henry y Slack, called for the stste-Certsln me-
ehsnea toss we're presented TO witness for the pur
poee OF Identification This was ohjscted 10 By prison
ers counsel but overruled by the Court 4 hrst 81
the tool at Meadows house; believe these are ths
same
Cross ssxsmined-wss present -hsn Meadow. wa.
arrested not The hrst Who saw the tools Meadows
was not In the bous. at the time; the tos In
light stand drawer; Mrs Meadows cane Int the house
While ve we're there searched the house. found sosh-
Ing, eroept these tools.
W Wilson vas next called I carry on eneravi
and printing, reside In Boston, Mssschasstts; wit
no~s examined the toos) these engraving toot.
full .et tsrsmined th. die.;l these mise; thsy
we're fsund under Lows beehive in three boxes; the
horcs we're marked Peter N Paul Groton; thsrs we're
lST or lSo; Afterwards found IL at Lows house;
these des are used to make bssk notes; they are q
complete set (wtpcss here produced bank note and
said thee dies verc used In STAN ping the note have
carried the business Of engraving some is years;
then witness vent ON 10 explain the msnn~ of using
the dice for real aud oountcret business and for the
purpose Of altering hills of 20 that Of
smother; witness made Of Brosdwa hill In the
city Of New rorh (some spsrrng here ensucd bssvecn
the witness and Mr. Farrnr, reis,ivs TO One-Hyed
Thompsoni neither seemed very willing 10 recognise
ths gentle mans sequsntasce, M his ehsrsoter
smnrked somewhat Of bills ~ we'll known rsputation
Meadows hS worked for me In the engraving business
In ue vicinity OF Boston
fsrg-snt rieid eramined-A bank note vas submit
ted 90 the vitn~sa' inspection, which had been par
italy sfsced In denomination and which found In
q book blsngins to Low; \ thisk this IL tho bA 4
found in tho boob. but Gill not swear positively
Dabicl CofYrnn smined ed-(same bill prssented1 ssv
txI IL ~ 49,