The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1855-07-13
rHR VERDICT RENDERED.


which has been held under the auspices Of
Messrs. Clapp, Clifford 4 Co., for tho use
and behooi Of the Rum and Hunker Democ-
racy over the body Of John Robbins has
been rcndercd-as was provided for when
tho jurors were selected, "it knocks Neal
Dow higher than kite" alledging that said
Robbins camo TO his death I" Through the
seenoy of said Neal Dow, Mayor Of the city
Of Portland in tho manner and by the means
aforesaid, and in consequence Of tho rash
and illegal order to fire given as aforesaid,
BY the said Neal Dow in the said city store
10 the said company, called the Rifle Guards I;
and that the said homicide Of tho John Rob
bins, by tho said Neal Dow, in tho manner
and by the means aforesaid, was and Is with.
out any legal justification or excuse" And
they very kindly refrain from deciding
whether Mayor Dow's crime Is murder or o
nanslaughter leaving Z" that question to DO
determined by tho appropriate law tribunal
in the State" and close by making the
following recommendation, {" that tho wit
nesses, whose testimony appears to be
material, be required to enter into rccogni-
zanco according 10 law, for their personal
appearance at the term Of the Supreme Ju-
dicial Court for The transaction Of criminal
business, next to be holden ct Portland,
within and for tho county Of Cumberland,
on tho last Tuesday Of July current. so that
oil tho facts respecting the death Of the said
John Robbins, and tho criminal conduct Of
the said Neal Dow may DO in the usual man
ner laid before tho Grand Jury, then and
there to appear, asrccatly to tho statute in
such case made and provided"
The document is sealed with the seals Of
the jury and is altogether such verdict rs
was provided for by the rum company who
instituted tho farcical proceedings. Indeed
We think the jury have fairly earned oil the
pay they will get for their services. They
have in fact so much overdons the matter
that We conclude tho verdict will DO more
than satisfactory to their employers. Its
influence on the community will be co-eI-
tensive with the Rum party. It is said that
the authorities of Cumberland County having
already paid for one inquisillon, will decline
paying Coroner Smith and his inquisitors.
The Portland Advertiser in commenting
upon tho verdict closes as follows:
Ofcourse. they have no difficulty in reach
ing their predetermined conclusion. But
the strangest part of the whole Is, they
abandon its duties the momen. II is reached !.
They surround their enemy, and then are
afraid to take him /! Tho law provides that
where the person, charged by the inquest
with having caused death, is not in custody,
the Coroner shall have the same power as a
Justice Of the Peace "to issue trarrlnt
for the apprehension Of such accused per.
son." In tho case Of tho Justice, when o
proper complaint Is made, his duty is imper-
attire. But the finding oftho jury is o prop
per complaint, is the proper complaint in
such cases-and It is, therefore. Coroner
Smiths solemn duty to arrest Mr.. Dow !!
Why does he not do it Has he no faith
in the Verdict Do his political friends
think il not advisable Is this the end Of
the game q! Had Mr.. Dow heen an Irishman
Ito adopt Mr.. Cllord's polite alusion)
would Coroner Smith have so eyaded his
duty' u
But enough of this poor affair. The jury
slna s.ttcrs up Of ID we're sick Of their I'M
dertaking long ago. They found them selves
in fix and have got out OF Il tn best way
they could. Tho public Is completely un-
concerned about their verdict. And for our
part, we find 1t exactly as we predicted,
illegal in law and not reliable in fact"