Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-03-19
General News summary.



The special legislative committee on the,
metropolitan police question for the city Of
Boston heard yesterday the closing arguments
of counsel. Charles NJ. Ellis, Esq, made an
elaborate argument for the petitioners, and
j. T. Healy, Esq, city solicitor, replied. The
most earnest and persistent efforts that have
been made in behalf of the state police have
come from the city of Boston, and if the
change is made at all, it will be greatly due
to the zeal 18th which Boston men have urged
it as necessary measure of reform.
The bill relating to the coast defences of
Massachusetts, which passed the house of
representatives, Tuesday, appropriates one
million dollars for that object. When the re-
belion broke out, instead of nine hundred
and sixty-eight guns, the number estimated to
be necessary for the thorough defence of Bos-
ton harbor, there was but one gun at the
principal fort in the harbor that could be
safely fired, while other Massachusetts sea-
ports were entirely unprotected.
On Wednesday noon a pair of horses at
tached to an omnibus, in which were four la
ladies, ran off the drop of the Peoples Ferry,
and were drowned. The frightened inmates
fortunately succeeded in opening the door Just
in time to be rescued from watery grave.
BRISTOL COUNTY.
One Daniel Reynolds of Freetown, was
found dead, Sunday afternoon. not far from
Weir's cStern in Taunton. He was mis-
chievOus character and had given the officers
much trouble for some time past
HAMPSHIRE COUNTY.
The Stone family in Prescott have six
brothers in the United States service, as fol-
lows Forbes Stone in the 27th regiment,
age Al; Leonard in the 3lst, 80; William in
the 42d, 81; Dwight d. in the 9th, 80; Eli
OF d. in the Both, 80; Davis j. in the Both,
2S. All are married and have families living
within ten miles of Prescott. With the ex-
eeption of William they are three years men.
One brother only remains at home. physically
incapable of military duty.
James StOddard, who was arrested month
ago for breaking into the house of Walter
Stocking, in Amherst, and stealing a watch
and chain, committed suicide by taking bed
bug poison which had been carelessly left in
his cell
The officers of customs have seized a lot
of Struggled goods owned by L. d. w. Stone
and Fuller & Tucker, of Northampton, con-
sisting of II casks and IA cases of brandy, 10
baskets Sot champagne, IA cases of Scotch
gin, and few dry goods. These liquors and
goods were concealed in two cars, under a
quantity of shingles, all of which passed the
''line," under the reciprocity treaty, as two
car loads of shingles. The liquors cost over
$4,000, and the dry goods about 500. 1t is
said that Messrs. Fuller & Tucker became
implicated in the smuggling to screen Stone
and their partner in Canada.
CONNECTICUT.
Mrs. Mary Deming of Newington, was
burned to death on Friday last by her clothes
taking fire. The rest of the family had re-
tired, and about IL o'clock were awakened by
Mrs. Demings screams. Her clothing was
all burned off, and her whole body burned
black, presenting sad sight. She lived
about three hours On the same night lady
named Gorham living in Rocky Hill was SO
shockingly burned in similar manner, that
she died on Sunday following.
Gov. Buckingham has appointed Friday,
the Sd of April, as the annual fast.
Some evenings since a young man named
Foster, was returning with a lady from Falls
Village to West Cornwall, when his horses
took fright and ran, throwing them out. The
young man, and Miss Pratt his companion
were severely injured, and one of the horses
was killed. The pair cost $1,000 few days
before.
RHODE ISLAND.
The cotton mills of Messrs. Pardon Olnev
and Lewis c. Kenyon in Alton, (Richmond,)