The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1850-01-19
Ciroumatantlal Evidence.

sy'lursJ, l'd he llyln' on Ihe irsI aoor"
Circumatantial Evidence.
a correspondent ofIhe New York Even.
ing Mirror furnishes Ihe following thrilling
narratives
BALLsrON Sra, doc, 25,h, lniD.
Tie most singular Hnd astounding drNui-
upuieuiH thHi ryrf Chuaetafi2rd llie proceed
inRs Of a eouu ofJusllee, have Iusl hasn mada
baiuru the Over aud Ierminnr nov rliung ln
ihia place. iou remraIber tho 'enre Ot john
TatHudga, ludiciod hers lnsl rprlng Tor lhe
murder ofWm L. Dodge, tho engineer who
WIS killed by rba running OIL the cars ifum
the track Tho catastrophe was produced
by stones placed by the accused ou Tie lpsidu
et tits fsli-,-I IsIHtadgs waa an Intelligent
nnd wealthy farmer of tho higher grade, aud
up 10 Ihe time Of his arrest had maintained
y character nnd Hinnding, lint placed h'ai
beyOud HE rnach oi eHlutnDy. irI be war
high spiriied aud passionate defender of
hla own aud the rights ol othofH, Aud hn
the railroad passed through hls iarm, he had
been coOlly snigecled "a Ihe loss OF several
cattle, rlln over by lhn cars, for which iho
company infused all remuneration, and ~
consequence al winch, much linRnIion and
hitter hninoEity had eusued between tho par
hoped To God Tie cars would run Ol,' aud
lh,H, iogetlier Hilli ihe circumstance referred
TO, had concentrated pulllc suspicion upon
HIN, aud be WRH indicted. a. length tNo
wiincsresl lrishmen connected with the road
wero found, who saw IAlmadge place tie
stones on the track. Their story was fin-
Ile aud plausible, and there Heened for the
accused no possible escape from the ssllows'
The man whom oil had esteemed, who had
poen honored by tie people viii haUy "
public trust and represented them ~ tie
State Legislature, was soon, In the reluctant
belief Of all, 10 swing upon tho scnilold aud
exIiiaie the crime of deliharnio sold-bloodsd
msfder. In this state OF things The day of
Trial arrived,
Thousands from nll SECTORS ofthe country
crowded To the scene, eager 20 cHich every
movement, md listen With fearful eyes Ia ev-
cry word thai sccmed 10 mako n
gains, the prisoner Tho moa eminent
council were employed un both sides, The
yIriHuurr jirruisting IN hrs entire tttrtc-trr.
wrh pale counlcnaneo and an eye OF Wild
ng0ny, sNt iremhiiug md rustirHs ~ hi- lrs.
The Iwo principal witnesses took tie stand.
They were cAlH aud apparently hnncI an
the natural aud plausible story which they
told from the effect of Nhich u seemed im-
pussblc for the nccuscd to escape Hts wife
who pht hy his side aud who up TO This mo-
ucnt, Ind preserved and uncNamplrd com.
posure, now hurst into food Of trnrs, mud
by sobs interrupted the proceedings Of tho
court; md lie friends of 'Tulmudgr hrgnp "a
abandon nll hope and 10 prepare their tiftnds
for the awful sentence aud the still moro mp
phlling sooEa iliai whs soou 10 follow q.
~ this point n movement OF the crowd
took place toward lie door Of tlIn court room.
Make way, make wny!rcsounded through
I the spacious hall. Two men pressed NJ 20
the prisoners counsel, and whispered nEfni.
2 td mud almost brrnihlnss, IN their ears. A
/ fellow, lTlshman WIN had long known thai
/ the story ofthoso two witnesses was tahrl-
caliou. to obtain the reward offered for The
l detection ofiho man who placed The sloucs,
Ind been moved hy conscience 10 dMrldSc
( II, aud to eunduei another person tV the
proof, positive 'uird ulidrninble, lhnt when tile
i tHtsi crtAStrofrtte occurred ihny we're not an
ihis country hat 10 irrlurd THIS proof was
now prcsenied to,hcprisuncrs counsel. TIE
Witnesses were piac.d npoIi'the sihud. The
/ cyidcItcr OF lulmudgc's 0ntito Lhnnocence
wns clenr aud uuduuinble---thr attorney Tor
I The people at once moved permission To- with
draW the prosecution, aud To arrest tie iva
iusr wiiirrasi;s t,ti tire spot, s'hich was grant.
sd and such n shout Hs rnug through thc
mulIIIude prescuL ne,or Jelbrc Numbered
lrun the windows ol n court room.
/ 1alns@dgr wns bnrne OIL on the shoulders
J a-lIla pentllc,-And- -Ihn- -hnoining OF N klA
FOUNDER ns expressive Of ,h1r eXulIHIiun
closed up one ui tie most novel and exciting
SCENES lh0t ever fausplrud ~ nny court oI
4 COUNTRY, .. t...