Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1854-03-11

weather. and the bad state Of the streets, the
CITY Hall was densely crowded in every part,
last evening, in response to the call for pub
liz meeting of citizens of Worcester, without
distinction of party, to inquire what meas
ures can be taken to improve the moral con-
dition of he city.
The meeting was called to order by P. L.
Moeu, Esq. Albert Tolman was called to
the chair, and Thomas Earle was chosen Sec
Rotary pro tenn.
A committee was then appointed to nomi-
nate permanent officers of the meeting. The
committee consisted of the following gentle
men. Geo. NJ. Rice, John F. Pond, Lewis
Thayer and J. F. Gleason, who retired and
shortly after returned and reported the follow
ing list of officers;
For President-Hon. Henry Chaplin: Vice
Presidents Hon. Thos. Kinnicutt, w. L.
Merrifeld, Rev. DR.. Hill, Rev. DR.. Smalley,
w. Dickinson, ]. P. Ketten, Ich. washburn,
w. A. Fisher, P. Crandall, ]. M. Earle, A.
Tolman, Eben'r. Collier, P. w. Taft.
Secretaries, Thos. Earle, T. w. Hammond,
Nathl. Paine.
Business Committee,-T. w. Higginson,
Jno. F. Gleason, w. w. Rice, Philip Moen,
BENZ. Walker.
mously adopted.
Upon taking the chair Mr.. Chaplin address
ed the audiencein elegant terms.
He said:
Fellow citizens: we have come here upon
no ordinary occasion. Every man knows what
is in the heart of his neighbor. The honor of
our city has been furnished, and unless
verdict of jury has been rendered by mis-
take, foul murder has been committed here
and we know not who the guilty person
is. We do not come to make attacks upon in
dividuals, neither do we come to find fault
with the municipal authorities. We come
rather to sustain them, to hold up their hands,
and to let them know that the people are with
them in all the efforts they may put forth to
enforce the laws, which were made for the
safety and protection of the community. We
come here as lovers of law and order, to stand
upon some common platform, together to
pledge ourselves to sustain one another and
the public authorities in redeeming the char
acter of our city from the imputations that
rest upon it. We all feel the need of Divine
assistance, and he would invite Rev. DR.. Hill,
to open the meeting with prayer. Mr.. Hill
responded tn the invitatior
DR.. Hill said, do not know the occasion
when have stood before my fellow citizens
with more pain than do to- Knight 1 am an
old citizen of our beautiful city of Worcester.
remember it when it was peaceful country
town; when it was safe to walk through its
quiet rural streets at any hour of the night;
when, during Is years, there was not a CAPT
tai ofense committed within its precints. But
what are we called upon to do this evening
We are called upon to mourn our fair city
Bhorn of its rural glory. We are called upon
to contemplate it fallen from its state of pris-
tive virtue. We have now our "Fiye Points, y
rs other cities have. We have our Washing.
ton Square, as other cities have their Unior
Squares. Fellow citizens, we come to.
gether to contemplate the saddest even
that ever occurred in our midst. =
We come to contemplate the startling and
mysterious death of one of our old native bor1
citizens-one who had been the teacher O
youth-one who had received an honorable
commission from the Governor of the Com
monwealth--one, of whom it may be said, hi
had not an enemy. This man, walking quiet.
ly through the humble paths of life, is sud
denly struck down by asanguinary hand. HI
lies weltering in his blood. He lies during
four hours not in a remote place, but in ont
of the most public thoroughfares of our city
before he is carried to his home, and when h
is brought to his friends, assumed names are
given by those who bring him; and when i
is proposed to send for physician, those whe
propose it are told to hush.
Fellow citizens: We all remember the start.
ling tragedy which sent thrill of horror
through Massachusetts,, when DR.. Webster
struck down his victim, and burnt up his body
to conceal his guilt. How much more tragi-
cal was that murder, than this which has oc-
CURED in our midst:
Fellow citizens have personal interest in
the fame four city. Ihope to end the few days
that are left to me, in this fair and goodIy
place; and yOu and l, wish to leave it as fit
habitation for our children. This great and
intelligent meeting is gratifying indication
that ,,s. ff.fs ~ alavoxc fa ,t,orol sfaHr,ra If