Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1850-09-19
AlisecIlaueoils.
BRISTOL BILL"

Perhaps brlei description OF this noted
burglar, who So recently has figured in our
criminal tribunals, may not be deemed I'M
important OF Improbable to The public well
fare. The community SO far as possible,
should well understand the character and
habits OF those whom she nourishes, Sup
ports and protects aud if secret fees be
ionnd pseying on her vi,ais, aud proslrating
her strength and vigor, justice aud public
and private security require they should be
fully exposed and held up to view, SO that
they may be known and read of all men.
Bristol Bill from his own confessions,
seems TO have been born for plots and crime,
aud seciel schemes, deep hid from good and
honest men, aud all his life long has been
an active laD0rer ia his masters vineyard,
until ne has grown gray IN vice. and is now
reaplng ielon's just reward. He is now
about forty FIVE years of Of age, FIVE feet
eight inches high, slim in person, of dark
complexion, black hair, which is very thin
on the top If his head and somewhat greyish !;
has deep, black, keen, restless eye, which
single fash seems 10 observe all about his
Possessof; his nose is small, and forehead
quite low; he has whlskers which are as
suredly as black as raven, and nicely trim
med as dandy; his step is quick, and his
personal appearance and address quite gen.
uenanly: bat on close inspection, the des-
perado IS apparent IN his coun,enauce.
An EngiIshman by birth, his early life
was spent in the dark alleys and secret dens
OF Liverpool, London and other large cities,
where he received that education aud disci-
pine winch sd eninenily fitted him for his
subsequent successful career, whereby lie
became pre-emlnent in his profession above
his fellows, and one OF The most dangerous
and desperate fellows ever thrown upon the
community. lie coniesses that after having
spent years of his life in the most success
iul buf9iarlous operations, he was at last ar
rested in London, tried, and condemned 10
Botany Bay where he remained some COLI
siderable time, but at last by an extraordI-
nary feat at swimming, he effected his es-
cape, gained vessel, and finally landed III
New York, and Immediately resumed and
continued the praciic ofhis early profession,
and up TO the time of the Groton TRANSACT
ton, managed to elude that justice which
he SO richly nierited.
While COINED in Danyille Jail, awaiting
his trial, lie made some astounding and al
most incredible confessions of his criminal
acts and dongs, plots and designs, while in
the city OF New York, from which it seems
that he is out one of an extensive gang OF
backlegs, coniedera,ed and combined to-
gether for thepurpose ofburglary, arson and
assassination.
One of their bloody schemes, marked out
and fully determined upon, was the assas-
sination of WIN. B. Astor; but some I'M
foreseen circumstances occurring, prevent
ed, at the time, execution; and thus FORUM
ateiy, they were robbed of their victim
Could the city of New York be made fully
acquainted with the secret organizations,
conlederaces, and Vaccinations, that had
been entered into and cherished i'll her own
bosom, she would immediately sound the
trumpet Of alarm for her personal safety,
nor rest day or night till her dark places and
secret deus were completely rid of these
loathsome, deadly serpents in vice and
crime.
VI hen Bill was committed to Windsor
State prison, he was requested by the over
seer las is his practice with all convicts, To
undress and battle, this lie readily submit
ted TO, aud during the process it was DIS
covered that he carried marks of hard sery-
ice quite 'sirikingly' deinealed upon his
back, and When pointed out, he very iaeeti-
ously remarked, they were only emblems
of his honorable profession.
He is now busily occupied in making
scythe snalhs, and acquits himself like a
dutiful son. He expressed at the time OF
his attack on the States Attorney, an ard
ent wish that he might live long enough to
kill Judge Poland, Bliss N. Davis, who is
the States Attorney, William w. Wilson,
of Boston, who is witness against him,
aud MIR. Lean Marshall, who was an ac-
complete, and turned States evidence, and
then he should be quite ready to die; bu,
under present disabilities, he will hardly
effect his desired object. He is now in
tor ten years, and he will probably be pres
cnted to the next Grand Jury, who will find
bill against him, charging him with an as
sault with intent to kill the States Attor-
ney. This indictment will hang suspended
over him ill OH or about the expiration Of
his present term, when he will be tried,