Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-05-19
sweetser, D. D., of Worcester, Dea Philip L. MOen

OI w OrCpSLer.
The afternoon session was opened by prayer
from Rev. Henry Cummings Of Rutland, and Rev.
A. Fl. Coolidge of Leicester then delivered dis
course from the 34th of the lO4th Psalm; Aiy
meditation of him shall be sweet"
In the introduction of the discourse the preacher
noticed the fact that much of the Significance and
beauty of scripture poetry Is lost in its transfer
from language the very words of which are pic
lures as well expressions of thought. The mean
ing of the text was then unfolded under the two
leading divisions: First, the nature and second,
the sweetness of holy meditation Holy meditation
was said to impy-first, right views of God. as
great and holy, gracious and just; second contem-
plaiOn upon his character works, and relations to
us; and third, confidence and love- bringing the
heart and will into 81 mpathy with him.
In considering the sweetness of such meditation,
1t was remarked that the heart rendered sweet con.
tains within 1t the idea, first ofntermingling then
comes to mean evening-the time when light and
darkness blend From this comes the idea Of sweet.
ness-preciousness: "My meditation of him shall be
as the quiet evening hour peaceful in its tranquil
Joy In analyzng this satisfying peace, it Is found
to consist first, in mental satisfaction in the view
OF Gods perfecion second, in the elevation of the
soul above depressing Influences third in the feel
ing of security; and fourth in the peace of the soul
Perhaps one great temptation in these busy work
ing times, Is to neglect the duty of meditation on
God and infinite realities. We have reason to be-
lieve that such meditation on God Is an offering
with which he is well pleased and in the text there
Is still another thought which to involve this
idea.
The meditation here characterized is represented
as not alone thought. 1t is also song. "My song
of him shall be sweet" 1t shall be like the tran
qull evening nOur. Inc idea OF meditation Is not
lost, but it is a meditation which Is the souls song
The beautiful and acceptable anthem of adoring
love.
The discourse was listened to with great interest
and at its close the administering of the sacrament
concluded the meeting.
SUPERIOR CoURT-CRIMINAL TERM-DEwEY, J.
Thursday May 18.-The court came in at nine
O'Clock, when Mr.. Very proceeded to make the
concluding argument for the defence in the case of
Tof.- a.
tort money from Geo. p. Martin by threatening to
have him arrested for committing adultery In his
opening, Mr.. Very had moved to dismiss the in
dicment because 1t does not allege that defendant
maiciously threatened; because there was no allie
CATION that defendant spoke the words mentioned
as having been uttered; and that the words al
legged to have been used do not amount to a threat
sufficient to institute criminal prosecution.
This motion Of Mr.. V. the Court had over
ruled Mr.. Very began his closing argument in re-
view of the testimony by saying that this case
exhibited no evidence of malicious attempt to ex-
tort money, in the meaning of the statute. The
difference between .threat to extOrt money and
one to compel the payment of a debt or note, as
in the present instance, was dwet upon. The ques-
ton resolved itself into this which to believe Mar
tin, despicabe liar and adulterer, who went to
Carpenters house for a criminal purpose, or Car
penter himself What else could Carpenter have
done that nightf Both Martin and Mrs. Williams
were anxious to pay the money and have the mat
ter settled The government were bound to prove
beyond reasonable doubt the guilt of the accused,
which could not be done on the testimony offered.
District Attorney Rice in closing for the govern
ment, said the whole question resolved itself into
this, and this only; Whether Carpenter threat
ened Martin for the purpose of extorting money
from him. 1t was of no account what was the
character Of Martini whether he was as mean and
despicabe as Carpenter or Mrs. Williams, The use
of the words proved to have been uttered and the
circumstances, show malice the part OF the de-
tendant. AS to Carpenters duty, on finding the
parties at his house that night he should have ac
cused them and had them arrested, not threatened
them, as he admits he did. The familiarity
Of Carpenter and Mrs Williams, both before and
after the affair of that night was alluded to as a
powerful circumstance against him. What bust
ness had he in her bedroom, when he supposed she
was there, in bedy And afterwards they had co-ope
rated to have the matter settled with Martin Leav-
ing Martins testimony entirely out of account the
indictment was fully sustained But there was no
reason to discredit Martins testimony in the case
as substantially correct. The question was did Car
penter find Martin and Mrs. Williams together, and
did he threaten to have Martin arrested for adul-
terry for the purpose of eXtorting money from him.
This was shown by the evidence of Carpenter him
self.
The judge charged the jury substantially as fol-
lows, after remarking that there was no occasion
to go into detail of the evidence, which had been
SO freshly and fully called to their recollection by
the COUNSEL
JUDGE DEwEY's CHARGE.
1t is suggested that this has excited consid-
cradle attention outside; if it is so, it is matter
which does not concern you, only that you are
warned to guard yourselves with greater care from
all influences outside of the testimony, and con-
slider with strict impartality the case before you
The evidence is substantially from two witnesses,
Martin and the defendant. That of the former the
government claims as showing that threats were
made by defendant to extort money of Martin,
thn artu n
adultery, resulting in the giving of a note by Mar
tin Carpenter admits an interview, and that he
received note from Martin of $50, but claims that
1t was not procured nor induced by any threats of
his to accuse him. The character of Martin and
Carpenter have both been commented on.
You to place such reliance on the
testimony of each as you think they are
entitled to. Your inquiry is, aDhdt aCds the real
transaction, what was said and done. IL you
or Carpenter as to the details, are you able upon
their testimony and other evidence in the case to
arrive at satisfactory conclusion as to what was
the substantial transaction at Mrs. Williams room?
If you are so, that is sufficient.
The question as to what language was used by the
defendant, and whether the words used amounted
to threat, is a matter for the jury to determine,
and whether made malicously and with intent to
extort money. If the defendant malicously threat
ened to Martin of the crime ofadutery with
Mrs. Williams unless he paid him the sum Of $50,
with the intent thereby to extort money from him
by words substantially as set forth in the indict-
ment, it is sufficient, although he did not use the
precise language set forth in the indictment.
The question of malice is for the jury to consider;
that threat Is malicious may be inferred from the
circumstances under which 1t was made. If the
threats made with the purpose to extort
money, the truth of the matters he threatened to
accuse him of does not justify him in making
threats to extort money
If threat was made at the original interview
with a view to extort money from Martin by accus-
ing him of adultery unless he paid within three
days the note he then gave, that would be sufficient
to convict; but if no threats were made, except
subsequently, to the note, that would not sustain
the present indictment.
The jury, after being out about half an hour, re-
turned with verdict of guilty" The case goes
up to the supreme court exceptions taken by Mr..
Very to the ruling.
John Brown, not of Ossawatamie, pleaded guilty
to two indictments for assault officer and for
disturbing the peace, and was fined S25 and COSTS
John Come and James McGwire for breaking
and entering store in West Boylston, and larceny
therefrom, verdict guilty, and sentenced to the
house of correction for six months.
John Gum of Webster arraigned for assault and
battery, pleaded not guilty, and recognized in $500
to appear for trial.
Manton NJ. Marble of Charlton pleaded guilty of
keeping a liquor nuisance.
Sullivan Moore retracted and pleaded guilty to
four indictments for liquor selling.
BARLEY McSnerry pleaded not guilty to an indict-
ment for being common seller and recognized in
$1,000 to appear for trial
Timothy 5. Cooney of Milford, for keeping Ii
quor nuisance. Verdict not guilty. Fales for the
defence.
John A. Marcy, who pleaded guilty of liquor
keeping, fined $40 and costs.
Michael Scnlly, for drunkenness, second offence,
was let off on payment of costs.
Thomas Moran of Milford, for liquor nuisance,
verdict not guilty by direction of the court. Fales
for defendant.
Patrick Mccormick Of Milford, pleaded guilty to
an indictment for keeping liquor nuisance.
1t is thought the case of Mrs. Williams for extOr
ton, will be tried to-day.
COUNTY NEWS.