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


DArvILLn, VI, June IL 1850
TRIAL OF BRISTOL BILL, ALIAS WV. H. WARRINGTON
AND CHRISTIAN MEADOWS, FOR CONTEMPLATING.
The trial Of tho celebrated Bristol Bill, siss VIM.
wsrburtou end Christian Meadows for counterfsiting
commenced this morning in the Dsnvis County Court
N this place, before his Honor Chief Justice Poland
assisted BY the Hon Walter Harvey and James D. Bell
Assistant Justices
Bliss n Davis, State Attorney, and Abel Underwood
Esq, appeared on the part OF tho prosecution, and
VIM II Parrsr and Chas. D. Fletcher, Hsqs Of Boston,
for the prisoners
Tho prisoners brought in at halfpast eight
O'Clock. Bristol Bill looked all smiles and cheer +"
an trim "A Broadway dandy; Meadow seemed osrs-
worn and faint Of hope though strong Of Mo-
tions were made BY counsel for continuance Of the
cause, which were overruied by his honor
Mrs. Meadows came in and seated by the side of
her husband having fine, noisy child in her arms
irolicksome in innocsncy, creating small noise and
confusion" Mrs. NJ seemed quite a modest, unsssu
ming ahectionats wife. not handsome but deoi iediy
pretty; and 10 reported to be from very respectable
family in Chsrlestown Mass. She certainly has the
general ~ mpathy OF this community She seems un-
remittibg In her efforts to console the accused The
indictment was read TO the prisoners, who appeared
anxious and attentive. Bill made quite 3 success fui
attempt 1t sang Jroid; while Meadows was evidently
depressed in spirits Meadows pleaded by tina
Christian Meadows, and none other-the plea " not
guilty" Bill pleaded to the name of VIM II Warbur.
ton" not guilty emarkins, he " knew nothing
about any other name" Counsel for prisoners now
moved that the prisoners DO tried separately which
was warmly argued ny the counsel and States Attor
ney; but It was decided by his honor that they should
be tried Unity. As this decision was announced we
noticed the wife Of Meadows burst into tears much
as to say. sA IL LOST" at the time she look
OF woe AT Bill who only turned wink dev elish with
evil" for the "unsvsilins.tear"
The oath being administered to the jury the indict
ment was read to them whcreupon the States Attor-
ney gave brief statement Of tho circumstances and
facts as the Government expected to prove, in sup
port Of the charges set forth in the indictment
Peter Paul was the first witness called FIRST
knew of this matter, last winter; went into
Lows counting room; Low showed a couple of
dies; Low said he intended to make some money
with them dies were here produced. which wit
nees said looked like the ones) Low told me he had
conversation with Mr.. VI of Boston, who had agreed
to and assist him; Low said no had two or three
boxes Of dies and II he could get Mr. he should be-
come the richest in Vermont the boxes were d.
rect~4 10 witness and marked "axes;n 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 yself carried In
to the shed chamber Low said the press Designed
TO work the dies afterwards helped Low to NJ the
press down into the shed and partially concealed 1t
under the wood, IL was -oon after moved In shop
during this time, warbsrtsn and Meadows came to
Groton; Low said these the men he had engaged
pr-ss; at fret refused; at last and with
Meadows and Marshall put IL together; dArkened
the room ut the time; one Mr. Sewer helped tn
and told me II Meadows called for them to let him
have them Meadows called after, and took the
plate and marked IL OF into squares and made some
impressions IL with the dies, by Of press
and carried a~ay the plate be afterwards in and
made snothsr Kind Of i'm preston on another plate. the
impression was figure i've; after went In
pany with Low TO Mendows's, and there saw a plate
engraved having figure ave on one corner. female
vienette and drove Of cattle. bill, partially
cuisd was here presented 10 witness who thought 1t
received ts stamp from the plate he at Meadows's
which plste was presented to witness who identified
the same being the he saw at Meadows's War
burton once 10 my chop to purchase furni-
with him: Low called same day and recon IN end
ed Wnburtcns credit, and became responsible for
him .oon after Low called At my shop and carried
In court and Identified by this witness) Witness
gave description OF the transfer press" and the
NOSE OF working IL; Likewise described the printing
press raid hs repaired It, The printing press
here produced In court ana Identified by witness who
seemed quite at home" in describing the ssi.s ops-
rand Of it, mechanism. He handled the plates
ana suscnments like ready student we'll trsissd
xsmin atiol--Lov nrst showed me the dies in
February, lsts; Low had just retarned from Boston,
never n.d oonyerssd Win Low relative to the counter
when he shovcd mo the dies; showed this dies In the
counting room think the doors shat: don't know
certain. Low never had made his con dant think
he took the dies from bis pocket he often mentioned
the subject to me after he fret exhibited the dies;
used TO speah Of his exploits In New York and Boston,
said he bad suffered everything but DEATH his nrst
exploit obi aiming the Dies his plot
went % the building where the dies yer. kept; s..
man through The hey hole and va. trigh.sned away;
the nett ,i%s Mt said be would go through u
did sot suppose this Mr.. H. was Cbristian Meadow;
rsid two persons vent and obtained tho de but
Understood that Meadows was Of them; (diss
here presented to the witness but he could swear
TO their idsntify the next Interview had With Lev
was considerable time the nrst; sAv som. boxes
at Lows store With my name them; Low said they
contained hardware did not help to carry them into
the store did not com plain 10 ov because nv nam.
Married on the boxes at that tim. but at-r-srds
did complain and advised him not 20 have anything
% With the business; Low said not countsrfsit,
but tbs genuine article: told 20 say anything
sbout H. or be would shoot Los soon lefs for Nes
rorh don't hpov Of whom be obsin.d the transfer or
Lo- invited m. to 60 and see them; 1 vent .ns only
saw the transfer press. Afterwards the printing
pres ~ Lows store; the trsn.esr pre-. vas removed
sunday though i am ashamed to Own IL: Meadows
and harshali we're present vhen the prs.s put
up tvitness here described the situation 81 his shop
roads he be is jevesr By profes-iop); never pro.
Drsd Loo TO into the countereit business nor gave
him 70 undsrstand would embark in the enterprise
never kpev Meadows to make any impre.ssons upon
paper but have him make Inn pr~.sops 90 copper
plate never ssw any dies In the house Of Mr. M-sdo-
do nos think any we're ever there. that he ever
stamped any paper he used the printing press
70 my hnovl.sg.; don't know .. he ever had any ink
suitahs for printing vas arrested about
tim. IN. defendants we're helped pitch Tn. prs..e.
out Of the window. and attempted 10 eesc.si them.
REORGANIZATION direct Witness wouldn't be too
considerations In his answers On the whole the vii
hess stood crossrstine ere of some too hours With
rcmsksble grace aud fortitude
Henry " Slack called for the state-Ccrtain me
ehsncs tosls we're presented 90 witness Cor the pur-
poes Of Identification This oh-cted By prison
ers counsel but overruied by the Court first sv
the seoas al Meadows houss; believe these AZ. IN.
Cruss sxsmined-wss present when Meadow VA.
arrested not The hrsf vho saw the tools Me.dovs
vas not In the house ~ the time, the toss Ger. In
light Ssnd drsver Mrs Meadows can. int- the house
While 90 were there searched the house found sosh-
Ing, except these tools.
W Wilson vas pext csiied-T carry on engraving
and printing reside In Boston. Ms.ssohas.tts. wit
nses essmip-d the tools these engraving tooi. .
full set; (srsmtned the desl thee ar. misc: th-y
-ere found under Lows beehive In three bosss. the
tcr~ we're marked Peter Paul, orctos. thsrs
Nv or leo; Afterwards found IA 81 Lows house;
these dies are used To make bask notes. they .
complete set twhncss here produced bsnt note and
said thee dies we're used IN STAN ping the motel have
earned on the business u engraving ~ yssrs
then witness vent ON 20 explain the msnn~ Of using
the dice for real and cOunterc bushes ssd for the
purTose Of altering hills ~ denomination 90 that Of
another witness made ne Of Brosd~sy bill I'm the
city OF New fort (some spsfrng here ensucd besveen
the witness and Mr. Farrar reistive TO Ons-Hys
Thompson neither seemed very willing 20 recognise
thn grntlemsns acquaintance ku character
smaeke somewhat u hills % we'll known rsputatisnJ
Meadows hS worked for In The engraving bssiness
In Ne vicinity Of Boston.