Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1857-08-22

Ell verdict Ot murder IN the first degree. y
The judge, after overrullng a motion for new
trial, pronounced most impressive and solemn
sentehce Of death by hanging, upon the prisoner
The courtroom was filed to Overlooking with
both men and women. All were much affected
and many tears were shed. The prisoner look
ed pale and agitated, yeti was apparent that he
wds not without hope. The execution was fixed
at a distant day by the court to afford an oppor
tunity to test the legality of the conviction in the
supreme court. The Judgment was affirmed by
the last judicial tribunal, and the record return
ed. The people Of Dearborn almost in a mass
signed petition tc the governor for the pardon
of Fuller; and such were his hopes that he re-
fused TO escape from lis prison, when he could
have done so. Time rolled on, and brought the
fatal hour, but no pardon and Fuller was pub
lcly executed in the presence of thousands. This
case will long be remembered in old Dearborn.
The mind of the reader, and my own recol-
ections may require rest rom this tragedy, by
relating other cases Of more comical character.
Shortly after the trial Of Fuller, the court called
the case of Michael O'Briau, indicted for the
larceny Of watch, the property of Jenny
O'Regan. The prisoner appeared in the box.
lie was small pock- marked lrishman, who was
evidently acquainted with the "dear crater" as
well as the private resiing-places in the out
houses of the city. In the witness stand sat
Jenny O'Regan, the prosecuting wilness-a
small, rather good-looking lrishnap, with fam.
ing red-head, and one eye that looked as if il
had been put in with red putty the other eye
had long taken leave of his countenance. Gen
James Dill was the clerk of arraigns. The gen.
eral was distinguished connecting specimen Of
the last and present generations "a perfect gen.
tlemln, with fine ruiiled shirt, buff pants and
a long queue down his back and with solemn
l.. Il al. Il
dead The general speaking TO the prisoner
said "Michael O'Brian, stand up md hold mp
your hand Il will just do that very thing as We
ask me- "You are indicted for stealing Jenny
O'Regan's watch are you guilty or moi guiltyr
Michael bowing to the floor, Not guilty, my
Iord = This % ought down the house, as the
saying goes. TIE case was submitted to the
court, without a Jury. Jenny was sworn. and
was the only witness. He went on to identity
the watch, gave the number and makers name
and then said, with tears in his ewes, 1T is the
same watch me ould mother gave me when
left Ireland, peace to her sowl.' The identity of
the watch was completely proved, but still the
larceny was not traced to Michael O'Brian.-
Judge Eggeston O'Regan, did you
| find the watch upon Mchael?' Sir your hon.
orT Judge-1 say, did you find the watch
with him ? Jenny, with the most Indignant
c'"'e'I, III nS eye' iooA'"g '"c Juuge in '"1
iace--'rInd the watch upon him and didn't i
tell your honor that IT was the watch me ould
mther gave me in ireland Had | found him
with IT. DO you think | would have troubled your
honor with him Judge-.Ihe prisoner must
be acquitted on the ground that there IS no evl-
dence that he ever saw the watch Jenny
And how could he see 1t, your honor when he
was drunk and asape on the floor all the while
he stole Il
left Dearborn mme edaiey after these trials,
with my license arrived at Versailles Ripley