Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1855-07-26
Attempt to Screen Dow.

Attempt to Screen Dow.
The committee appointed by the city gov
eminent of Portland to screen Dow from all
guilt in the murder of Robbins have made a
voluminous report which is widely circulated
from the office of the Portland Advertiser.
The Portland Argus remarks as follows upon
this report - thot
! The great fact which the committee in their
plea, deemed it most important to establish,
and which they therefore made it their chief
object TO accomplish, was TO satisfy the public
that Robinson was killed by the police, and
! not by the military, by pistol, and net BY
musket shot. The reason for attaching so
much importance to this point, we take to be
this. Upon looking over the ground, they
perceived how utterly futile it would be to at
tempt 10 relieve Mr.. Dow of the odrm which
his guilty conduct had indeibly fixed upon
him in public estimation. To wash that out
would be impossible. The next best thing
they could do for him, would be to help nut
out of the way the legal consequences Of his
rash and illegal acts. They therefore set
themselves to this task, and in their labyrinth
OF eight columns, they hope TO confuse and
make doubtful the various dark points against
Mr.. Dow, which they lacked time or space to
clear up. The fact to which we have re-
ferred, whether Robbins was killed by police
or military, was SO vitality important in their
estimation, that there must be no half way
about It, must appear that he ,Uas, killed by
the police, and really the whole labor of the
plea is TO this end Now, is it asked why
this was deemed so importanti We answer,
because the fact that a human life was taken
by Mr.. BOWS order, is admitted and unless
he can justify that in taking of life, he is
guilty of murder or manslaughter. If they
show the man was killed by the police, this
force being admitted to be legally on duty
that night, the only question that would then
arise, would be, whether such a pressing and
urgent eXlgency had arisen, as would Justify
the shooting of men. There is no doubt in
our own mind, that no such exigency had arts
en-. We believe the whole difficulty could
have been stopped by the police force, without
any such terrible resort. But, as upon the
same testimony, different minds might come
to different conclusions on this point, it will
be seen it might be more difficult to establish
it against Mr.. Dow. But Robbins was
killed by the military, then will arse, not only
the question as to whether an exigency had
occurred which would justify the summary ex-
ecution of the heaviest penalty of the law upon
human being but also the question whether
the military were legally called into service,
and were acting in strict conformity TO the re-
qurements of law, at the time they killed the
man; and both the erigency and the conformity
10 1dc, must be established, or there is no justi-
ticdtiOn. ap
William Sloan testified, that while he saw
a part of the company on Middle street by the
agency, he heard the others inside firing, and
then word came round that man was shot
in the head. | ran along the sidewalk, and
saw crowd go into The T. S. Hotel. called
out, shame, TO fire on parcel OF unarmed cit
lzens like that, without arms, for could take
three men, and arrest the first man who threw
a brick-bat, or | would never own myself
citizen of Portland again.
One of the Rifle Guards heard what I said
and said g he wished some of them would
come in range of his gun, for he would like TO
blow their damned souls out. Saw man
come down Congress street as | was looking
through the Agency. They aimed their
muskets at him; this man, who used the oath,
and another, and l thought Capt. Roberts,
fired. They were also firing of muske,s IN
side. When they aimed and fired, | looked
and the man fell. saw him fall. The word
then came round that the man was shot dead
should Judge the musket firing lasted Is to 20
minutes; it was from to minutes after the
first man fell. before the last was shot. Saw
the body of John Robbins at Capt. Caleb's,
and recognized it have been acquainted with
him or years. He worked for me last
fall. He was peaceable man.
JededIah ID. Farr, member of Capt. Green S
company, testified that he was at the window
over the Agency, with Capt. Green, when he
heard what he had no doubt was section of
muskets. Capt. Green said TO him, They
have fired into the crowd and killed some one
both then left the window.
Lewis Della testified that Robbins was killed
in his presence by discharge of musketry-
that he recognized him distinctly the moment
he received the fatal bullet, by the light from
the flash of musketry. Col. Nathan Barker
testified that he saw a man aim and fire his
musket, and saw man drop out of the way.
Kan around to Congress street side, and heard
that man was shot. Heard the man who
fired the gun say he meant to hit his object.
Ihefe were several other witnesses, whose
testimony is to the same effect, but we think
this ample to settle the question, that John
Ro6bans tcGs shot by a nusket ball from musket
IN The hands Of the military. AN
In view Of these facts, we hardly know in
what terms TO characterize the extraordinary
doings of this most extraordinary committee.
In looking over the matter however, we can
not rid ourselves of the conviction, that in
their attempts to relieve Mr.. Dow of the Just
weight of guilt and odium that now rests upon
his head, they have subjected themselves to
the grave charge of pergerting fact, and falsi-
flying truth.
Ten times as Severe"
Elder Peck saws the present intensified lin