Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1853-04-01

CHAPTER IN THE LIFE OF SPRING, THE
MISUNDERSTANDING freshman born-a
conectoner bv trade he lived for number of years,
and up to 1874, in the city OF Philadelphia, after
which he moved his family to this city, and com.
menced the business of reiectory and liquor saloon,
in basement two three doors from the old Park
Theater. Within three months after he had opened
this "paCe" in Park Row, he was arrested by the
police, a charge OF having, in connection with an.
other person, (still residing in New York; enticed
a sailor (the mate, we think, OF vessel,) into his
cellar, at late hour of the night, knocked him down
with heavy club OF wood, wounding him nearly to
death, and robbed him Of 5000 in gold coin. The
evidence against Spring not conclusive of guilt,
but was sufficient TO bind him in the sum OF $ 900
TO appear and answer the charge. Heprocured bail,
and released from the rumbs. Springs family
lived in rooms in the of his place of bus
ness, and after this charge agains; him, mis-
wife died in child birth, it was said, but other
wise, as it was suspected, leaving three small chill.
dren, the eldest son--the present witness on the
trial fer mu der-and two infant girls.
In 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
night, in his cellar, (and in almost the same man.
the mate robbed,) $500 and over, from
immigrant lately arrived in this city. part Of
the money found concealed under the steps If
the stoOp leading into his rear yard. The offence
was fixed upon him almost beyond doubt. Shortly
after his arrest, he confessed his guilt to Justice
Chen Cerk) Stuart, admitting also the preparation
of the other robbery-how it dune-who was
concerned with him in the leony-in what manner
they divided the money, and where he had concealed
the most OF his share, (Which on searching, proved
true) declaring most sOemnly, that he had commit
ted the second offence for the sue purpose of getting
sufficient amount To reimburse the party fir rob
bed, This partner the crime refusing to surrender
back any portion OF his share,) so that the seaman
might, he had promised, leave the city and not ap.
pear against him at the trial, and he be thereby pre-
served from the State prison. Spring pleaded gull.
ty to this second offence, and sentenced six
years TO el0n's doom-at hard labor at Sing Sing
leaving his destitute and than orphan chi.
dren, friendless and without protection Mr. Stuart
had them placed in the kind charge of Mrs Foster,
matrOn of the City Prison, where they remained for
a number of weeks, and were finally removed to the
Aims House.
Some six or ten months after, it was learned that
the wife Of Spring had relations, and among
them an aunt, owner OF some property, at or near
Washington. On writing to her, Stuart received
an answer, that if the children could be sent on to
Washington, proper charge would be taken Of them
by their mothers relatives. A small amount of
money was raised, trustY person employed, and
these poor children young Arthur, with two small
er sisters-were forwarded to their friends and kin.
dred. Five years passed. when one morning in the
early part Of December last, Arhur-a bri aht, in
teigent lad, who had passed to the age of sixteen
seventeen years-presented himself TO Justice
Stuart, stating that he living apprentice to
coniectioner in Washington-that his sisters were
both alive and with their frends-that he had alone
CONC on to New York to see if by some Means lie
could set his father pardoned the remaining
year of his sentence, from the State Prson-that he
would have made the effort sooner, but was without
money to pay his passage fIom Washington, and had
only then become enabled, by long and continuous
saving Of all the small means he could husband
The magistrate, moved by the noble object OF the
boy, and upon his own knowledge of the whole mat
ter wrote earnest letter to Governor Hunt, with
which the lad proceeded to Albany. 1t is almost
needless to say, that, with a man like Governor
Hunt, the brave and generous conduct and earnest,
aress pleading Of this manly and devoted stranger
boy, Tor the paI don of parent so long confined in
the dungeon of the State, did not fail of its object
The freed father, and thankful child, with heart
swollen by emotions of gratitude and bounding with
hope IN the joyful anticipation Of restoring long
lost parent TO the little sisters he so much loved
with no delay left New York by way Of Philadelphia
for the CITY Of Washington.
The rest is known. And this is the son on whom
the father now seeks to fix the offence of most dia
bolica murder, of which he alone is, beyond doubt.
the perpetrator, and most righteousIy convicted
N. Y. Tribune