New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-05-29
TIE MURDER NEAR ALTON.

IIiE MIRDER NEIR ALTON.
A correspondent of The Chicago Journal, writing
from Alton H.. 2lst inst, gives the following account
of an excitement among the Germans in that vicinity;
Early last week. three men murdered German
named Barth, in cold blood by shooting him, in the
southeast part of this county. They were promptly
arrested, and, as Circuit Court was in session,
were very indicted for murder in the first degree.
They were to have been put on trial Monday morn
ing. but il was put off for some cause. Word was
soon circulated through the county that the prisoners
had taken a change of venue to BOnd-knOwn as
strong American county. This caused intense excite
ment among the German friends and acquaintance oil
the murdered IAN and by the middle Ofthe day on Mon
dav a crowd of about 400 had collected in Edwards
Vile headed by two men named Smiley and Savage,
bent on having the prisoners hung anyhow. Ihey
erected gibbet ust out of town. and but Tor the eX'
traCrdnary bravery, frmness and prudence on the
part of Sheriff job and the Order-oving citizens of
Edwardsville our county would have been dlsgraced
by an atrOciOus case OF mob violence ana murder
After terrifying the Jail and the old Court-iouSe,
which are contiguous with about fifty armed ana res
oute men, the Sheriff met the mob, dsarmed the
rineeaders and then harangued them They were
also addressed by the Hon. Gillespie In English, and
by Mr.. krO in German, ana were induced To usPeT'e
upon the guaranty of those gentlemen that the PRISON
eTs should not be allowed to escape, but should nave
a fair trial go 80 s..
When the mob first began to collect the Sheriff dis
patched one OF his Deputies to Alton, calling Tor the
aid and assistance of the Alton National Guards. In
less than three hours after receiving the message,
Capt VIM. II. Turner, their commander, was IN I'd
wardsville-fourteen miles distant, Win his on'"o
company armed and equipped.
Al last accounts the Sheriff had released all but
small number Of he National Guard when ne re-
ceved dispatch from Highland, Informing nm tha'
onward of 400 Germans provided WIN cannon,
were assembled there, and expressed tc'r G'ter""-
tiop TO march to Edwardsyle and execute the muir
derers at all hazards. mus the excitement
was again raised to high pitch Sheriff JOB again
nut those of the released Guard who had not LEFT town
on duty and put everything i'll order to receive the
| mob Up TO > o'clock, however, no demonstration
had been made and the excitement was cooling dow1
though many anticipated that there would De an atach
| made some time during the night
II is probable the trial of the murdcrers Will be COM
nenccd to-day
| From our assistant who has been at Edwardsvhle
since the commencement OF the recent eXcltcmeh We
have received adyces up to y clock Ia't evening
| The aforementioned Gibson, Edward Barber ami
| Jo.crh Watson-worc brought into Court under an
armed guard at 100 o'clock and put upon tral Tor me
| murder Of Jacob Bart 1t appearing that they had
10 means with which TO employ legal assistance Inc
Court assigned Mcssrs Rutherford, Tribe ana sawyer
| of our city az their counsel.
Much difficulty was experienced in obtaining a
jury and the panel was not filled until - CLOCK IN
the afternoon. The prisoners VIII not Apply i'r I"
change of venue, was anticipated. go
! There was but little excitement III EdWardsNlhe,
and no greater crowd in town than geneIay Is therc
| during Court. No disturbance occurred during me
day but information had been received that the rlot
ers were assembled in the vicinity OF Highland to the
number Of at least 400 and II rumored thal lhry
| intended Ia make an attack last night; h..
| A howzer he'd been brought from Malheio"n d! q
detachment Of the National Guards, detailed by Sherr
Lob for that purpose and planted IN front OF th' JAN
The sheriff is prepared to give the rioters warm fe-
| cepGOn if they come.
The trial had not proceeded Tar enough Lar any oPin
ion To be formed as to the result. 1t i stated that the
testimony although crcumstanal, VIII be conclusive
| From The Altoa Couriey. Saturday.
| About II o'clock last night, after the forms for
| elm sod l.
vices from assistant at Elwardsvle, by the hands
! Of "a special messenger.
| The trial in the case Of The People agt. Gp'on,
| Barber and Watson, for the murder OF Jacob BARN,
was closed and the given 10 the jury atos CLOCK
| Yesterday evening. After being ont just ~ minutes,
the jury returned and rendered verdict OF guilty
! Mr. SAWYER entered q motion for new trla which,
| after argument was allowed by the Court.
| The Germans from Highland aud vicinity, ana oher
friends of the deceased, wee very mu'h .nSo-,cT -
| CONSEQUENCE Of the new trlal beng Stau'eH anu
attack from the mob for the purpose OF SEEING IN
pri,ouers and hanging them in Judge Lynch summary
manner was confidently expected last night OF l"!'
Bradv the las witness fOr the STATE, testified Uil
when he in company with EnSnngtI ana
went from the mill 10 the wagon, where tn W0HhIci
! man. Barth, lying, he picked up two pieces %
heavy cloth which had evidently been shot from ai4u
or pistol; one was IN the wagon ihe otheF III u 'oa
where The shooting took place; they were so!eI anu
! powder burned. On comparing them with the euHe'
Matching found Tie prisoners when they were tihen
they were found 10 be precisely alike, OF the sane
|
same piece of goods, being heavy check, such ~ l.
! used fur labotiug mems shirts.
Thee were gwen to the jury and closely examined
| lN them and had r powerful Influence IA conafmng
t6,m in their belief of the guilt OF The prisoners.
EpwAKp,vuLr, H., Saturday, -3d.
CONFESSION oT rnE N,EDERER>
To-day by request Of the prisoners, ana IN company
with Mi Rutherford, their counsel visited them III
hrir ccl for the purpose Ct extending to them The
cor soa,ions Of religion, aud a!dinS me n
| for the awful sentence which the la" pronounce'
! against murder. - =, =. .,
MIR rutherford Informed them That their counsel
lsd rxrrtcd thcmsciycs 10 the utmost IN ther favor
.,.I.,,, Lad been ,lurr that possible 10 do ~
sa,r' ihrui. but in >ain That the evidence a-anI
Them was such a. 20 preclude all hop OF new iTlal
,r,.y,n # Executive cc,nrncy tn terrible sentence
~, I i. ,y|,d bovr to be- carried out, that nothing
wa. left for them now but to prepare ior the awta
doom that awaited them; and urged them 20 'ufh ioI
aid and consolation To power mSne' 'nan .la
of man They scen.ed worry deeply affected; ana per
baps for the first time realized their real condition.
In my interview with them, told them taa' my %