The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1853-05-05


SPRISo THE MURDEREK.-Now that Arthur
Sp ing, the late trial Of whom for murder has excited
so much interest, is convicted, and nothing remains
but to execute the fearful penalty, it will not BIZ inn
proper aud may not be unnerestng to recite bret
chapter Of the last FIVE six years Of his liie.-
Spring Irishman born---a CONNECTION by trade.
lie lived for a number Of years and up To 1888,
in the city of Philadelphia, after which he moved his
family to this city and commenced the business of re-
fcctory and liquor saloon IN basement two three
doors from the old Park Theatre. Within three
months after he had opened this place in Park Row.
he Was arrested by the police char &c Of having,
in connection with another person, (sil residing in
New York ) entced a sailor (the mate, we Think
Of vessel into his cellar late hour of the nj ht,
knocked him down with heavy club If wood,
Grounding him nearly to death, aud robbed him of
nearly $500 in gold coin. The evidence against
Spring not conclusive Of guilt, hut sufficient
bind him in the sum If 81 900 to appear and an.
the charge. He procured bail and was released
from the Tombs.
Springs family lived in some rooms the rear Of
his place of business, and after this charge
against him, his wife died in childbirth, Gas it was
said, but otherwise was suspected) leaving three
small children, the eldest a son-,he present witness
| on the trial for murder-and two infant girls. La
less than month after the first charge, and within
! few DAYS after the death of his wife, Spring was
again apprehended on charge OF having stolen, at
night, in his cellar (and almost in the same
the mate was robbed,) $500 and over from emf
grant lately arrived in this city. part of the money
WAS fonnd concealed under the steps of the stoop
leading into his rear yard. The offence was fixed
uron him anos, beyond doubt. Shortly after his
rest he confessed his guilt to Jastice Chen Ceik
Stumt, admitting also the preparation o. the other
iobbcry--how it was done--who concerned with
him the feony--in what manner they divided the
money, and where he had conceal led the of his
SHARE (Which searching proved true) declaring
most soemnly that he had committed the second Of
fence for the sole purpose OF getting a sufficient
amount Of money to reimburse the party first robbed,
(s partner in the crime refusing to surrender back
any portion of his share, that the seaman mi ht,
as he had promised, leave the city, and not appear
against him at the trial, and be thereby preserved
from the State prison, and saved 10 the and pro-
lection Of his children Spring pleaded guilty to
this second offence, and sentenced SIX Years
feion's doom--at hard labor at Sing Sing-ieav ING
his destitute and than orphan children friend
less and without protection. Mr.. Stuart had them
placed in the KIND charge of Mrs. Foster, matron OF
the City Prison, where they remained for number
of weeks, and were finally removed TO the Aims
| House.
Some six ten months AFTER it learned
that the wife Of Spring had some relations, and
among them an aunt, owner OF some property, at on
near W hrngton. On writing to her. Stuart received
an answer, that II the children could be sent
Washington, proper charge would be taken Of them
by their mother : relatives. small amount Of money
WAS basci rusty person cilpioNcu, atu these poor
oh dIcn--yOung Arthur, with two snalicr sisters
were forwarded 10 their friends and kindred. Five
years passed, when ing in the early part Of
Dccembor hast, Arthur-abright intelligent lad, whu
had passed the age Of sixteen seventeen years
presented himself to Justice Stuart, (who at
once reminded of the unhappy history Of father and
ta,niy) stating that he was living apprentice To Il
con;t cuOucr IN Washnsion--that his sisters were
+ both alive and 18th their fyiends-that he had alone
come to New York to il by means. he
could get his ihcr rardoncd the remaining year OF
his sentence from the State P,son-that he would
have made the effort sooner bat was without mono,
to pay his passage from " ashnSton, and had only
then become enabled, by long and continuous saving
of ali the small means he could husband.
The magistrate moved by the noble object Of the
boy, (who declared that nothing would make him SO
happy 10 be able take his father homo with him
TO his little sstcrsO and upon his own knowledge OF
the whole matter, wrote earnest letter to Governor
Hunt with which the lad proceeded to Albany. II
is almost needless to say that with man like Gov.
Hunt, the brave and generous conduct and earnest
artlcss pleading of this manly and devoted stranger
boy for the pardon Of parent ions confined in the
dungeon OF the State, did not fail Of its Object
he freed father and thankln child, with heart
swollen by emotions of gratitude and bounding with
hope IN the joyful anticipation q! restoring a long
lost parent to the tlr sisters he much loved, it'll
no delay left New York by way of Philadelphia 70,
the City If Washington
The rest is known. And this is the son On whom
the father seeks fix the offence II most da-
bolica nuGcer, 81 VIII ch he alone is. beyond doubt
the rerpctlator, ana most riyhteously Yictcd.-
IN. Y. Tribune.
The Japan expedition is mu'atcd that 1t Is