Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-03-29

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Works Corporation, presented for new roaC
from Barre to Worcester, twenty miles long, com
mencing at the corner of James and Mechanic
streets, in Barre, and running through SmithvilI,
and Colebrook, and the towns of Oakham Rutland
and Paxton, to the junction of Highland and Pleas
ant streets in this city. The commissioners will vsi
the new Jail at Fitchburg, to-day to attend to th
furnishing ofthe same, preparatory to its opening il
May.
SUPERIOR CoURT.-In the case of r. S. Denny VS.
Erastus Williams, which was submitted Tuesday
morning, the jury were unable to agree, and tn,
papers were taken from them 1t is understood they
stood to 6. Bacon and Dewey for plaintiff, Foster
& Baldwin for defendant.
The case of A. P. Small VS.. j. w Jenkins Jr an
action note of hand for $780, is still on trial
Dewey and Foster for plaintiff, Deyens & Hoar for
defendant.
The court decided in the case of VIM. S. Wood vs.
Asahel knowlton, in favor OF the complainant This
was habeus corpus case, in which the COM
plainant William S. Wood, of Dixon, Illinois,
prayed for the possession of his child, boy
of two and half years. then in custody of Asahel
knowlton of Boylston. The Judge decided that
the said child was unawfully detained by the said
Knowlton, and ordered that he be delivered to tie
custody of his father 1t appeared i'll evidence that
the complainant married the daughter of Mr..
hnowlton in August, 1856 and that after their mar
riage they resided together at North Atteborough,
where lie was engaged in teaching school, till March,
1853 He then went with his wife and child, then
about four months old) a visit to her father, in
Boylston He then removed to Illinois The father
and mother of bis wife (Mr. and Mrs Knowlton)
were very much opposed to this step, and expressed
g L.,
family West, in very decided terms He, however,
started for Illinois about the LIST of April 1855 leav
ing his wife and child with her parents Having OBJ
tanned situation, he returned for his family but
the father continuing his opposition to his daughters
going west, and she being unwilling to go, he was
compelled to return to Illinois without them, though
not till he had used every effort in his power, short
OF absolute force obtain the custody of them and
to induce them to accompany him. He also made re-
peated efforts to have his wife live with him, and to
obtain possession of the child but without success
After his wifes death he from Illinois, went to
the house of Mr.. Knowlton after the child, but his
application was refused. He then made the CON-
plant to the court upon which this writ of habeas
corpus was issued. The defence set up was that
Wood had abandoned his wife and child, that he
was unkind to his wife while living and that short
time before her death she gave the child to her pa
rents and that they agreed with her to bring it up
as their own child And it was further alleged that
the father of the child not suitable person, by
reason of ungovernable temper to have the and
control of the child. There evidence to show
that while he had lived with his wife he had treated
her unkindy or that he had ever authorized her to
transfer the custody ofthe child to her parents. 1t
in evidence by large number Of witnesses that
he was young man ofirreproachablec character and
of kind disposition and that he in all respects
a suitable person to have the and education of
his child. Dewey & Williams for the complainant,
Bacon & Aldrich for the defendant.
Police CoURT.-Yesterday, James NJ. Jacobs for
vagrancy, was sent to the House of Correction for
two months
The DUMB BOYS OATH.-In the Court of Probate
and Insolvency, Tuesday, deaf and dumb boy
came forward to prove his claim against the insol-
vent. The debtor admitted the claim to be just, the
other creditors were willing that it should be al
lowed; but how could the deaf and dumb boy re-.
peat the oath? The Judge declined to take official
knowledge of the boys infrmities, as the lad him
sell had not said anything of them but held up his
own hand, looked the boy directly in the eye, re-
peated the oath, and nodded. The boy lifted up his
right hand and gave similar nod. The claim was
admitted.
MAJOR BIGELow IN PRIsoN.-We left Major
Bigelow prisoner of war Whether he was con-
fined in Canada transported to Halifax, placed
aboard English prison ship does not appear on
the record. But tradition has it that he went aboard
of those tory vessels noted in the History of
George the Third. The severe treatment and cruel
ty he received here did not cool his ardor His mot
to was, 81 have not begun to fight YETI An ex-
change having been effected in the summer of l776,
after Imprisonment of months, he returned,
and Immediately called into the service with the
rank of lieutenant colonel; and the next February
he appointed colonel of the fifteenth regiment
of the Massachusetts, line in the continental army
His regiment was composed principally of men from
Worcester, though there were some from Leicester,
Auburn, Paxton. and Holden, and drawer band
never took the field, or gathered for battle. High
character for courage and discipline, early acquired
was maintained unsullied to the close of their SER
vice His troops being drilled, Col. Bigelow march
ed to join the northern army, under the command of
Gen. Gates, and arrived in season to join the main
army at Saratoga, and to assist in the capture of
Gen. Burgoyne.
AT this scene of blood and carnage, Col. Bigelow,
with his regiment from Worcester behaved with
uncommon gallantry 1t was said by our inform
ant who was the spot at the time, that the 18th
regiment, under the command of Col Bigelow, was
the most efficient of any on the ground Col Bige'
low was of fine personal appearances his figure was
was tall and commanding; his bearing was erect
and martial, and his step said to have been one
of the most graceful in the army. With taste for
military life he was deeply skilled in the science of
war; and the troops under his command and instruc-
ton exhibited the highest degree of discipline Col
Bigelow possessed vigorous intellect, ardent
temperament, and warm and generous heart.
SERIOUS AcCIDENT.-One of the workmen at N
Washburn & Co.'s rolling mill, named Ranney Les
ley, met with painful accident Tuesday afternoon.
small quantity of melted iron fell from the ladle
into pool of water the floor, and the particles
flying into the eyes of young Lesley instantly closed
his sight The lett eye escaped serious injury, but
the right eye destroyed.
The CHERRY DANCERS. For the past two
nights, from one to two O'Clock, the heavens have
been illumined by northern lights of unusual SPLEEN
dor; on the latter occasion extending from horizon
to horizon; and the first night exhibiting the
| crimson hue which was observed in the grand dis
play oflast August
The AMERICAN TRACT SOCIETY The meeting in
behalf of the American Tract Society of Boston will
be held at the Old South Church, in this city, th,
evening, and addresses will be made by Rev. DR.
Kirk of Boston, and Rev. Mr.. CULVER of Norwich
BUFFERS TRADE DIREcToRY.-We recommend
Buffers Trade Directory Through the Messrs. B
Russell & Co.. the most extensive mercantile agency
in the world it is sent annually to twenty thou
sand responsible dealers, gratuitousy This enter
PRISE like many Others conceived by Mr.. Butler, re
fleets much credit upon him, being of mutual adyan
tage to its patrons and twenty thousand active mer
chants throughout the United States. Mr. Butleri
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