Litchfield enquirer., 1867-08-15
Law and Order

One of the most conspicuous members of the present General Assembly is the Hon. Harris B. Munson of Seymour who was some years since elected by a Demo- cratic Legislature judge of the New Haven County Court, who, during the session just closed, disputed with MT. Hammersly of Hartford the practical leadership of his party :n the House, and who came within two or three votes of the Democratic nomi- nation to a Superior Court judgeship. Du- ring the war he was one of the foremost of those noisy Copperheads of which New Ha- ven County produced rather more than her share; since, he has made profession, in sea- son and out of season, of that unquencha- ble hatred of the last and of the present Congress, and of all its doings, into which the transition from Copperheadism is so easy. During the past session he took an active part in those illegal and tumultuous secessions in which the Democratic minor ity indulged themselves, and in which, perhaps, he acquired taste for the re- markable style of proceeding in which he figured at Seymour on Wednesday of last week.
 It appears that during the past few week f. D. Fyler Esq. of Winsted has brought eleven prosecutions under the Maine Law before Justice Barton at that place. On the Wednesday in question, Burr F. Beech CT was tried, found guilty and appealed Messrs. Simmons, Champlin and Barnes, detectives, appearing against him as wit nesses, and Hon. H. B. Munson managing the defence in this as in all the other cases. After the trial was over, one Leonard Mor- ris, against whom similar prosecution was pending, walked up on the stage oc- cupied by the justice lawyers witnesses &c. and deliberately knocked Simmons down. The grand juror seized Morris, when he was assaulted by Derby rumseller by the name of Blakesley. In the afternoon the witnesses Simmons and Champlin were ar rested on complaint of Beecher for perjury. and their examination set down for seven o'clock in the evening. Morris was, also, tried found guilty, and fined for selling liquor, and arrested for an assault on Simmons; Judge Munson remarking, according to the report of the New Haven Courier, "We do not deny that Morris pounded Simmons dg sre regret IS, ha he didm pound hina mers." In the evening the perjury trial commenced before justice Wilcox. son, large crowd being present in the hall among whom were gang of rowdies led by some of the convicted rumsellers and pugilist named Arnold. The accus. ed were bound over and debate arose about the amount of bonds which was finally fixed at $7OG. The Courier report then proceeds:-
 During this discussion, Mr. AIunson said, il speaking about the witnesses being detectives
 Ny only regret is that law here is not the same a' m the army, so that they could try man and aang him a as spy. No decent jury acould conric S-y man q hey should hang tsenl nO,c but tcouto o.'sg a! cerdict ofjust!faUe homicide At the
 cluslon ofthe case just as the parties were trying to tbe s,ss sne nall the crowd of rowdies surged nl ~ha e S.ahu S:u ied by Arnold, who made his way tC Mhyre summons stood and struck him a had blow m aS. tue Dack of the head. Sheriff Tucker seized n,o nol1, put was in an instant himself seized by RqnolS eesrer st and several others and held when slune shot cnt,;rs simmons, mons, this time with a s9oskg him senseless to the floor where Iu savsroi s nav tshed tbs im eot away from the ruffians and leaned o,,t 1t window and went to the hotel bleeding us Os
 from wounds The attackna 1o ptrolasel! le Rereety organized and prepared for the afraV me,' case things did not work right After the r3w tb 4. eous with carousal e' nio
 In shsrt there was a repetition of the dsgraceful outrage perpetrated in Eas Kent, some years since; the victim being witness instead of trying magistrate; an, the Ex7Judge taking, it would appear, tn