Washington sentinel., 1853-12-14
From the Richmond Enquirer, Dec Z.
vnvpy.rp Nnrxyf~k

stlf - n IOun& COnvlCIs
On Monday last, in the United States court now
in session in this city, Judge Hayburton presiding
a boy named John Hood, aged only thirteen years,
was tried and found guilty of puroining letter
containing two halves Of q one hundred dollar
note. John M. Gregory, esq represented the Uni
ted States, and James F. Johnson esq, of Bedford,
appeared volunteer counsel for the prisoner,
whose parents are very poor, who desired that
Mr.. ]. should appear on behalf Of their child. From
the Dispatch we learn that the prisoner was in the
employ Of Mr. Dearing as mail carrier, and frankly
confessed having purloined letter containing
two halves ftwo one hundred dollar notes. which
was mailed by Mr.. Davis at Oak Level post Office
TO house in New York. Without giving the evil
dence in detail, we will endeavor to furnish its
substance. On reaching Bnshs Office, the prisoner
says, the postmaster at that place assorted the
mail, and coming 10 the letter containing the
pieces Of bank notes, remarked that it contained
money. Hearing this he watched an opportunity,
and when the postmaster turned his back, he
seized upon and concealed it, On arriving at the
Liberty post Office, in Bedfordscounty the accused
asked for wafer, and in the presence Of Mr.. Par
ker, the postmaster. endeavored 10 put the pieces
together, but they would not fit. Mr.. Parker on
seeing what he was attempting TO do, went to him,
took possession Of the parts Of notes. and asked
John where he obtained them. The reply was
that his father gave them TO him. This Mr.. p.
doubted. and in a subsequent conversation the
little fellow made clean breast of the whole af
fair frankly admitting that he had taken them from
the mail.
Mr. Gregory merely read the law and explained
to the jury their duty. He regretted that there
was not shadow Of doubt as to the guilt Of
the accused, for he felt assured that il would
be no less painful to the jury than to himself
to see mere child sent to the State prison If
the jury found the prisoner guilty, he trusted that
they would commend him to the clemency of the
President in which petition he would readily
join.
The jury strongly commended him to the cem-
If ala, Sta, o,Io
ing power is vested. A petition will be at once
drawn up and sent on to Washington signed blythe
United States district attorney and the jurors, and
in the meantime the sentence will be deferred, 10
give time TO hear the result, which we sincerely
trust, for the sake Of humanity, will be favorable.
Her Driesbach and His Tiger--a Loving
Embrace.-At the Broadway menagerie last
evening, scene occurred which was not an
nounced in the programme Of the performances
and therefore, il somewhat took the audience by
surprise. AT o'clock, as usual, Mr.. Driesbach
entered the den, in which were lion, three leop-
ards, lioness and Brazilian tiger, for the pur-
pose of exhibition. Scarcely, however, had he
commenced the performance, when, from some
unforeseen cause, the tiger sprang at Mr.. Dries
bach. The unexpected attack threw him from
his feet, and the beast instantly fastened his teeth
on the breast Of Mr. Dresbach and his claws on
other parts of his body. The lioness, observing
the assault, took the part OF her master, and
pitched into the tiger; but in so doing she un,ucky
missed the tiger and struck Mr.. Driesbach pow
erful blow with her paw, which only tended to in
crease the difficulty already pending Mr. Moi.
fat, the principal attendant during the exhibition,
kept the other animals back from entering into
the melee, as they seemingly felt inclined to do !;
at the same instant he opened The door, and by
main force dragged Mr.. Dresbach from the den,
the tiger still maintaining her attachment to her
master; but when opposite her own cage, she
| loosed her hold sprang into her own apartment,
| licking her chops, and crouched down in one
corner, evidently enjoying the blood taste OF her
| fond master. Mr.. Driesbach was conveyed TO a
| private room, and physician sent for to dress
the injuries, which, on examination, proved only
| 10 be flesh wounds.
| The audience at first thought the attack Of the
| tiger only fun, and considered the rough and
tumble action Of the tiger remarkably natural; in
few seconds, though, they found the thing was
/ no joke, and alarm prevailed least the assault
should prove fatal.
/ II is a curious fact that this tiger is considered
| by Mr.. Driesbach one of his pet animals for mild.
ness and docty; but not having been exhibited
for two or three months past, and last evening in
! troduced suddenly before a crowded audience,
and the dazzling gas light, the beast no doubt be-
came confused and excited, which led to the at
tack. Such an affair may not occur again for
/ years. sf
Mr.. Driesbach will be able in few days TO re-
new his visits "in the hons den.n
| ~ Y Herald of The llA na.