The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-05-29
our Boston Correspondence.

A L;vely Week-Arrest Of an alleged Fwgnsce-
Trial for Murder Conviction Of the Pr'soner-
Democratic Official ACTION ON TIC Nebraska 61-
FIRE Soil State Conrsntion-Annicersary Week
The Vacant Senatorship-Mr. Choate, Mr.. HIN
,hrop. Mr.. Lord, Mr.. Grinnell-Ihe Eclipse
Death Of Luke West-Ihe Burns Afair-Mu-
f;rv Riot, aud Bloodshed-W Water for Worcester.
We have had quite an exciting week. What with
mobs, q trial for murder, hopes and expectations
about the eclipse itself, military parades Of Boston
companies and New York musicians, the arrest and
examination of fugitive slave, the Nebraska tri-
uu,ph, and things generally" we have been in no
danger Of spelling for want of something to talk
about and keep us excited. Thanks to fortune for
the same, for anything is better than stupidity and
stagnation though all the details not agreeable.
Mr. Clifford commenced the renewal Of his labors
as Attorney General on Wednesday, with the trial
of James Wilson, charged with the murder of Will
liam Adams, on the 10th Of July last. Wilson AMI
Adams were both convicts in the State prison at
Charlestown, and served in the same division. Will
sons term was out on the day of the murder, which
was committed between four and five o'clock IN the
morning; the deed was done at once, by Dlow from
a case knife sharpened to point, wnicn cut
through the external carotid artery and the juguar
yein and entered the winipipe, thereby causing al
most instant DEATH The prisoner entered the plea
of mot guilty" when first arranged, but on We'd
ncsday, and after the District Attorney (Mr San
ver) had commenced opening the case, he inter-
rupted proceedings by expressing wish net to put
the court to further trouble and expressed desire
to plead guilty" He said be haA :" f''anas'
"a uoe r---.~---,---~ noped that he would be
Lowed to say something to the British Consul and
to the jury, which, however, he should prefer say
than in court. In course OF the conversation that
cnsued, he declared that he knew he had been
brought into court before, but had no recollection
Of pleading. The government proved the act of
killing without any difficulty, and there closed its
case, the court refusing to entertain Wilson's plea
of guilty. Mr.. Clifford stated that he reserved the
privilege Of putting in evience as to the legal ca
pacity Of the prisoner to commit the act, rebuff
ting evidence, in case it should be considered ne
cessary. Mr. Sears opened the case for the priso-
ner, arguing that he was laborng under intellectual
monomania, which led him to the belief that
the act he was about to commit was not
. criminal one. The evidence adduced was
strong In support of this line of defence; but In
spite Of Mr.. Sears and Mr.. Medwn (senior counsel)
and the evidence, the jury found verdict of guilty
This verdict has excited some SURPRISE Mr. Clifford
made very strong argument in closing, for the
government. It may be doubted If Wilson will be
hanged, because there must be some doubt on the
mind Of the executive as to his guilt. But what
should be done with him It would be hard to say for
to send him back to the State prison would be- his
intellects are disordeTed only to give him opPorta.
right mind, cannot, should think, be supposed by
any one who read the evidence, or who saw his con-
duct while on trial
The democratic ward, town, and county COM
mittees for Suffolk county and the city of Boston,
at meeting held on Tuesday evening last passed
resolves in favor Of the Nebraska bill. The vote
stood As to 8. This was an important movement,
but cannot agree with those who attribute to 1t
the passage of the Nebraska bill through the House.
The fact that the bill was adopted previous to the
resolves rather makes against that theory; and the
other fact, namely, that the resolves never would
have been heard of If the bill had been lost, may be
regarded as in the nature of o clncher. The admin
istration win, no doubt, be pleased at such proofs
for you must know that the committee Il beg their
pardon, the committees) speak for others well
as for themselves, as you shall see. Last Mon
day we had an election to fill o vacancy in
the Board Of Aldermen, and the democratic
vote amounted, actually to two hundred and sixty
one (26l.) Last November, when all the Catholic
democrats S had been bought and Sold BY the wings
Boston democracy nevertheless cast 455 votes for
Judge Bishop, SO that the loss since then has only
been 2,l94. Including hunkers, abolitionists, and
wings, there may be thousand Nebraska men in
Suffolk county, and perhaps three thousand more in
the rest Of the State Some wings, If the question
were directly before the people, might vote for it,
from their desire to injure the democrats, and more
ab0litonists might do the same, from the belief that
it affords material for agitation" OF such demo
Gratis an really favor the measure now, do not
it forward Of their own motion. Those who
now uphold it do so from attachment to their
party, which they consider identified with the
bill; whereas it was passed BY only nine majo-
rity in House that contains eighty democratic ma
jOTity, and by the aid of more than dozen whig
votes. Even that majority is something more than
as ever Wapole or Pelham bought the votes of mem
bers OF the British House Of Commons il support Of
obnoxious measures.
was voted to send copies of the resolves to each
mr. ~arrbor Of Hnnn v1,o ,x(o~
interest ,he action Of Suffolk committees-amost as
numerous the constituency in whose behalf they
profess to- speak-can be to the members represent
ing the Be- Gnstable the Berkshire and the Worces-
ter dissrie Is, and others or less remote, it
would be HI rd to say. The recipients of the copies
Of the res Dives will probably read them, smile
witch served the copy of the circular letter
that he receiv ed from Mr. Eden ON the occasion OF
the latter &c utleman rafting from his political
friends his sons for doing which he set forth in
circular ad, dressed to each of their number.
Whether our m, mbers voted properly or not, it will
not be denied by any one acquai1ted With public SEN
tment in Massae lusets, that they faithfully repre-
scented their cons tuent In the proportion of almost
fortynine to one. II is hoped that Mr.. Banks will
send on sharp, sl Ort and severe answer to this
specimen Of Bosto impertinence. Such docu-
ment would do him much good in his district
The free soiers ha We changed the place of their
mass convention me, Mings from Worcester TO Bos-
ton. 1t viii be anotl her item, and, perhaps, the
most formidable Of all u the grand total OF our an
Monday next, and bi, as fair to be time Of
uncommonly great inter, vt to the moral the religi
ons, the philanthropic, snd tie agitatlng world.
There is to be an unlimite amount Of talking, and
eating to correspond. ARA ugements have been made
for numerous speeches an, for many more dinners.
There 10 20 lie the UNIVERSAL st Festival and the Uni
tartan Festival and the congregational Library
Festival, and the collection at the Methodist Sabbath
School celebration anu the COZ ,ks and caterers only
know how many more gatherin, y at the table. The
pjors classes dave Always been renowned for the
niceness of their paatcs and the capacity Of their
stomachs. The cook of the no pitable Gains, in
Bnnyals immortal work, was eamed Tastetha
whieh-s-good, and he might make his fortune by re-
Stunning business, and providing for people who go
on pilgrimage after much more o. yreeabe fashion
Than prevailed III the days of Christ ian and Great
Heart.
The vacant Senatorship has been the cause Of