Litchfield enquirer., 1870-11-17
GUILTY OR NOT GUILTY.
STORY OF CIRCUMsTANTIAL EVIDENCE.

In my earlier years studied for a ses sion at Edingburgh. It was in Rurke's year, not that of Edmund Burke, but ol another countryman of the same, and not less celebrated. The number, the atrocity, and the cool speculative motives of the fiend's misdeeds, approached genius in their way, and in the excitement of his tria and execution all other topics were forgot. ten. 1 shall not easily forget the singular fever of the public mind during these few weeks. was myself present at the trial and witnessed the spectacle of the greatest criminal of the country being defended by the first counsel at the bar of Scotland. A rumor had gone abroad that no counsel could be found to appear for such mon !ster, and as a testimony to the duty o1 counsel unde all circumstances, the most celebrated advocates of the day, without fee or reward, defended this gang of mur- derers in the face of torrent of public prejudice.
 The afternoon of the day on which Burke was executed, was distingui-h.d .d hya first rate college row. The students at Elin- pureh, like it's mob, have, when aroused, always been g formidable and dangerous body; and on this occasion, the police having intruded into the quadrangle to preserve order among the crowd that hur- ried to the dissecting room, a battle royal juries, and resulting ill triumphant and glorious defeat of the authorities.
 To celebrate this glorious event a supper party assembled that evening ill a tavern called the "Qainbow." The chair was occupied by the bard and satirist of the college, fellow of infinite jest, who made his mark on the world afterwards, but who at this time was mainly famed and feared for the sarcastic and biting power of his humor. Opposite him sat the prince of students-tall, handsome, reckless, flash ing with the exuberance of youthful spirit, and flow of conviyial fancy I have never known equalled: .
 l Among the others were two who figure in my story. One was a student named Johnstone, the Thersites of the circle-a disagreeable specimen of stamp of man which 1t generally to be found in every circle, without either wit or talent, except to make others feel uncomfortable. Bold and interruptions, and quick to see and seize on the weakness of others, he was a 1aagellum. fly blister; people feared to make him their friend, and so he extorted from hate what he never would have ob- tained from love- and was admitted to the most select coterie of tLe University.
 The other was stalwart, handsome young Irishman, who had done mighty ex ecution in the melee of the day; caring but little, after the temperament of his nation, about the merits of the conflict, hnt hitting right and left as his leader told him. He was an open browed, Spanish. looking son of Erin, half-rollicking, half-sad in express sion, who was winding up happy day with happy night; he had had fight in the morning, and a frolc in the evening. His name was Power, medical student who had been but week or two in Edin- burgh. He was consequently an entire stranger to the others, and had been in vited to make one of the party solely on the strength of his fist.
 The chairman, after many gibe and anecdote had gone round, rose to propose the police, and dreams to Bailie Riptgul." !" In those days the town council ruled over the college, and the obnoxious Bailie had given the orders to the police). GAS to the first pant of the toast" lie said, Git was superfous, pleonasm, for the police were in such confsuion already, that noth- ing the company could drink could add to it, As to the Bailie. the sentiment ex- pressed in the toast was suitable. His nor nal State was slumber. He slept on the bench of Justice, for he saw him in that state, on solitary and melancholy episode Tn his, the chairman's otherwise blameless life. He slept in church, for he heard him Another solitary and melancholy cpl sode," suggested the Vice.
 "Order, there! He heard him snore, and from it's vigor and constancy the oc- cupation was manifestly habitual. But Homer sometimes slept, the Ballie some times awakes; as he did to shame and de- feat to-day. He is asleep again by this time. Bad dreams to him-with all the honors."
 The Vice thereon rose to propose a con- trast, as he called it, the Principal of the University, and the Lord Provost of the city; and this he did in the style and with the accent of a very celebrated Professor of Divinity. It was great Phillipic; and ii words that burned could have withered and calcined civic functionary,. the unhappy Professor must have ceased from his troub- ling. He thus concluded: "I propose that we shall dedicate this flowing bowl to exc crations and exorisms of that malignant star, which, moving in the Armament amid the worlds of light, yet throws the whole universe out of gear by it's ill-omened alterations, and propitiate and do homage to that particular luminary, around whose benefcent and mellow radiance revolve the planets of our hearts and hopes
 Power, who had once heard the celebra ted orator himself, was charmed and de. lighted with the copy; and warming with the wine and the excitement, added his ; full share to the evenings amusement Every one was cordial and courteous te him excepting Johnstone, who seemed rather jealous of his popularity, all the more that one or two shafts, levelled al Power without the latter perceiving them , had been rather roughly warded off by the ; Vice.
 At last he also rose to propose toast ''It was, i" he said, ''the Sister Isle, and oul gallant allies, among whom." said he breaking into racy brogue, of which he was quite master, "I need not particular ize our friend over the way. Who he is do not profess to know. He came to u. } suddenly, and like, most of his countrymen ] will probably depart so; where he lives de not know, for his countrymen seldom dis close their habitation; but if pugnacity and muscle--the fruits of that choice escu lent of his native land--will make mar famous, famous he wlil be May his hal Ine,er be shabbier, or his coat never more thleadbare. May the rats fly his garret