The Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1850-1852, 1850-04-25

his honor Judge Pike, and the henoIa
ble suhu,a',ne court. then holding, IN aod
FOR the district of Wrsahicon. the BODY
Of the detesiahlc John Jones, charged
with high crimes and misjcmcanors. IN.
der penalty of being d-vourrd by the
cour. on bis return. The inunc'ion hav.
ing been fal6llcd. be rule was d.charg.
ed. In the mean time. John bad time
to leok around him, and his heart failed
him. as he recognized in the person Of
the Judge, an Odd pike which he had once
hooked, away up in the Perkiomcn. but
which, ster severe struggle, had e..
caped with n boss ot part of his under
lip, waicl, sii,l showed a most unsi.h,ly
scar. The recognition was evidently mn.
iua|. and the isrocious twinkle Of the
Judges eye, indicated pretty plainly 10
the unfortunate Jones, what he had 20
expec, from the trial by jury which a.
waitei him. Among the jury and spec
tators, he likewise saw some faces, which
he had much rather have viewed from
above wafer. However, he was plainly
in for it, aud il could no, be helped, so
with sigh he resigned Limself,o his fate.
The court was now called TO order, aud
the prosecuting attorney was jus, begin
Hing to state the Indictment, (vcrbal!y.
Of course. for fishes do no, write, owing
TO the dislike they have for Hnfs.) when
he was interrupted by . deputa,ion from
the people. who being permitted by the
court, stated tha, as the trial WA likely
to be u long one, and consequently very
fat'guing to the court, they begged leave
to present his honor, Judge Pike, and
his honorable associates, q few fishes
which they had elected from among them
selves. to the dignity Of sA,iAting their
honor's appetites. Here they presented
the 6nless Writings and perch, which they
had prepared for the occasion, and ex.
changing wink- with the judges, they re-.
tired in high glee.
The attorney nov proceeded, while
the judges were dispn,ching a few Of
their Ash, to state the indictment upon
which Jones was to bc tried. II held
that the prisoner nt the bar had on sun.
dry occasions, AS well before and after,
as upon the tenth day Of tn" great food,
against ,he lives Of tho fishes
the Schuylkill, and all and
singular its tributaries and branches;
and by certain trcacherous practices, in
which the prisoner was skilled, had en-
ticed many Of them to leave their native
e!iment, and accompany him to parts un.
known they having never returncd.--
and that on tho said tenth day after the
great food, he did wilfully and with NAL.
ice aforethousht, en,ice. entrar, ensnarc,
and pu, to death, the brother Of his hon.
or, Judge Pike; which, with many other
crimes of like nature, the prosecution
was prepared 10 prove Having listen
ed gravcly to the Indictment, the Judge
asked Jones what he had 10 say to it
Guilty, or not guilty" Jones was about
commenting n speech denying the au-
,hori,y of,he court, &c , bat was inter.
rupled by the Judge, and ordered to an
sw'r the question directly. guilty, or not
guilty 2 Not guilty, then exclaimed
Jones fercely. The court fines the
prisoner in the amount Of one Of his cars
for lying said the judge; sheriff, collect
the fine. it is a pcrqnissto of the court
Before Jones had time either 10 remon-
s,ra,e, or attempt 10 evade the payment
OF the fine, the sheriff, who was no other
Than the cd catfish, to whom he owed all
his misfor,uncs, seized him by the righ,
car. which with n sudden twilci lie de-
tachcd from the head. and carrying it TO
the bench. presented it to the judge, who
acknow edged the receip. with graceful
flourish Of bis tail, and placing poor
Jones oral appendage between lis teeth,
and smacking his lips with great appa-
rent gnsio, ordered the clerk TO enter the
plea, and the prosecution to procec!.--
Jones now became Observation-Disclosures.
ed the court, jury and witnesses. with in.
slant annihilation: but was again inter
rnp,ed Ly the old judge, who ordered
the sheriff TO collect his other ear, for
contempt OF the court, and in case OF hi.
again interfering with the proceeding
Of the court, to give his fingers and two
Of hi. toe. TO the jury without further
orders.
On hearing this, Jones sub,ided into
a profound mclancholy, and the trial pro
ceedcd The prosecuting attorney made
short al ress to the jury, in which IL
magnifcd the importance OF the duiy
which they were called upon to perform
and the wisdom Of the sheriff Who had
chosen them from among the hosts o'
good f.l,es and true, ho were eager ,c
assist in the condemnation and conse
quent destruction Of their common enc
my for he felt confident. tia, were any
thug wanting 10 convict the prisoner
the good sense and patriotism OF 'h'
gentlemen present, would convince then
Of the eIpedisncy Of making such ar
example Of the presen, delinquent, ~
should be q terror to all future anglers
lie felt happy 20 inform them, however
tha, The evidence in the ease. was smpl,
sulficieu. 10 convict the mot ihnoc-n
man dive, much more, wretch !ik'
.Ion.s, ~Lo'n they all knew 10 be wi
lam. Injured to murder, aud ,'eeped II
the deepesi guih. lie therefore wslve'
auy further remarks on the subject a
,rA...h tsx, a..Is n g..t &,