Litchfield enquirer., 1850-07-04
5 Frsm MssN. Y. Hraid.
Trarical Affair IN VOrmont.


Tragical Affair in Vermont
srxrRNcR or BRISTOL BILL AND HAD
ows--ATrEMPTKD ASSASSINATION or
THE STATE ATTORNEY.
DAnvSln, W., June 81, 1850.
VOLUNTEER my services in furnishing
Won with a statement Of a shocking affair
which has Just occurred in eur Court
House, md has thrown our village into q
state Of great CONSERVATION and excite
ment.
The fellows Warburt6a alias Bristol
Bill and Meadows, were brought into
court this forenoon at half past ten
o'clock, 70 receive sentence for the crime
oi counterfeiiing, Of which they were
found guilty last week. a report Of which
trial was published in your paper.
Immediatcly after the sentence was
passed. to WI, ten years Imprisonment
at hard l&boF, IN each Of. the prisoners,
Bristol Bill suddenly, and with the aglll>
i. ~ of tiger, sQydNg aroe M. Davis.
Sfdse attorney, and plunged the blade q
eglfge case knife fuU three inches mt
kisaeck, just back Of the right ear, s:rik-
ING the neck bone, and glancing backward
instead Of forward, to which fortunate
circumstance Of the backward direction
the State Attorney is no doubt indebted
for his life. The first intimation that
any one pre- .ent had of the prisoners in
tention, was fhe sharp tinkle Of his chains
as he suddenly leaped forward to inflict
the wound. Mr.. D. fell reeling to the
floor, nttering but faint cry, the weap-
on sticking III the wound. Aby -stander
pulled out the resking blade. while Bill
stood erect, with a look of exultation de-
picted upon his countenance. Indeed,
while being doubly ironed, he repeatedly
stated that he had but one anxiety, and
that was the fear that the work was but
half done-that it would not prove fatal
during which he evinced as much cool
ness as though nothing Of any particular
moment had occurred.
The family Of the State Attorney were
Immediately sent for, and are anxiously
attending by his bedside. Mr.. D. is in
i very critical situation, though the at
tending physicians encourage us with the
hope that the wound will not prove fatal.
Our Lyndon Correspondence.
LYNDON, VI, June 81.
The closing scene Of Bristol Bill and
Christian Meadows trial is .tragical and
mselanchsly-melancholy, not perhaps
10 them, but the entire community.
Yesterday Mr.. Farrar submitted a
motion to the Court, on arrest of Judge
ment, based upon some alledged errors
in the Indictment. His Honor deferred
giving his opinion till this morning, when
he came into the court room and oyer
ruled the motion and asked the prisoners
if they had any reason Why sentence
should not be pronounced against them.
Bristol Bill rose, and making several in>
dipnant remarks, told the Court he asked
as mercy at his hands Meadows seem-
ed somewhat penitent, and begged m1iti-
The Court then sentenced them 70 ten
years each, at hard labor, in the State
Prison ct Windsor.
Bliss N. Davis. Esq, State Atty. inn
smediately passed round the outside Of
the bar, stopped over, and began to
whisper something to Meadows, where
upon Bill rose frpm bis seat. vent round
"a the side .of Davis, and suddenly stab
bed him In lie neck. Davis fell, and ex-
claimed. "The rascal has killed me. p
Hef was taken pp and carried TO bis lodg-
i;ngs. where he continues in most crit
al condition. He bled most profusely,
and since carried to his room remains per-
fectly speechless, and il IS feared BY bis
surgeons and physicians that at the wound
will prove fatal. .
Bill stabbed him with case knife, the
blade Or which is some eight inches in |
length, and without handle He made
only sudden thrust. and left the knife
sticking iH the neck, where it remained
lii some one seized it and pulled it out.
Much fear and excitement prevailed in
the Court room and though Bill was fet-
tered, he took control Of the house for
some minutes. The Judge commanded
the officers TO arrest him; but so COM
pletely terror. stricken were al present.
thar no one burst approach him; Bill
stationed himself in one corner Of the
room, and swore be would kill the first
man who should approach him. But at
last his counsel. Mi. Farrar, went PIP to
him. spoke q few words. when without
further resistance. he yielded himself to
the hands Of an officer, and was immedi-
ately handcufed and put in close cons
inemept. Bill seemed frantic with rage.
said he intended to kill Davis on the
spot. and is "most CD d-ed sorry
lie did not" Where he obtained the
knife no one knows. but il is generally
supposed some one furnished hun with
it--for what purpose that individual best
knows.
Ii Is most desperate and melancholy
occurrence. and we trust that in the end
strict justice will be meted opt, and Bill