The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1872-01-09
The Ring Trial.

LC0.
The character and results, together
with the inference to be drawn from this
trial, affects not Bristol alone, but the
whole community. The acute AID hare
work on the one hand to evade the law
and clear the criminal, contrasted with
the marked imbccility manifest on the
part Of chose sustaining and enforcing the
law, evinccs uumistakably softening o.
the terrors of the law, and surprise tc
those well acquainted with the facts il
the case. Those to whom we looked fol
a defense and unfolding Of the laws Of
our state seemed to succumb without q
struggle to the opposing party. The ei.
feet is to legalize crime and mitigate its
offence
If John Ring can deliberately take his
knife from his pocket, and without prov
ocation, plunge it into Noah Thompson,
letting his hearts blood out before our
eyes, robbing him Of life, and committing
the highest offence known to our flaws,
and escape due punishment, why not an
other man do the same and also escape
In regard to the circumstances attending
this sad affair, the people Of Bristol ought
to be supposed to know quite as well as
those residing in Middlebury or else
where. Some may say we are prejudiced.
If so, that has some foundation or cause,
as we, who are familiar with the minutest
details Of the character Of both Of the men
for number of years, know the quail
ties of each The impressions Of the
community in regard to them are simp-
ly the reflections OF their own character
and acts. 1t is well known from whence
originated nine tcnths Of the rows that
have occurred here fer the past few years.
1t is also well known and significant
fact that we have not had a street row
here since John Ring was carried to Jail.
These facts speak for Themselves they
need no comment.
The plea OF self defense and fear Of
Thompson, set up in the Trial, was a
farce from first to last What worth is
testimony that at one particular time at
a turkey shoot, in Huntington, when
Ring was lame with n broken leg that
he was afraid of Thompson, when it is
well known that for weeks, months, and
years they have met in the streets, in
stores, in groceries, in the hotel, and va
rious other places, and more recently
Ring put up barn that stands within
one foot OF the house in which Thompson
lived kept his horses in this barn, was
in and out all hours Of the day and night
affording opportunities without number
for Thompson to injure Rings property
or pound him, neither of which was done
Thompson always said that he never
should strike Ring first. Just before the
murder Ring commenced building foun
dation for house and had some timber
drawn on the ground to build a house
adjoining his barn. These circumstance:
10 not indicate much fear on the part o
Ring, and VIC invite a careful considera
ton of them. So far as self defence il
the immediate action was concerned ,thcr,
is not a man Of responsibility in our tow
that will say that he thinks self deiens'
had anything to do with it. His keepin!
knitting him after he was down, and tn
blood was squirting in his face, told con
clusively that he intended to finish him
His advancing from two to four steps t.
get to Thompson, and Thompson at thu
same time having his hands in his peck
cts, going in another direction, does no
exhibit self defence on the part Of Ring
very wildly.
In regard to the character and stand
F ing in society Of a large portion Of thu
witnesses used by the defense, in com
parison to those used by the state, is
, noticeable feature in the trial, to thos
who are acquainted with them. Espe
cial attention might be called to scvera
of them, but we will mention only one
that is the testimony Of Edward Guinon
: who testified that Thompson kicked an'
struck Ring first, and the Judge is I'm
derstood to have used this testimony il
giving his charge. Now We have a youni
, man of unquestionable integrity in GU
place, that will testify under oath tina
, this same Guinon was with him at tn
, time Of the affray in the barber shop, ant
when they came down Thompson laid oil
the steps, where he was carried after tn
encounter. Said Guinon told the consta
, bic, +. d. Ninton, that night, that he di
not see the row or the murder; told re
spohsibe parties next morning Of tn
murder, but said he was not present
did not see any Of it. These thing
could have been shown at the trial. VIII
were they not? Query,-why?
l 1t seems pity that due justice shoul
c be enacted by such evidence as the above
The Judge spoke Of Rings evidence o
S testimony. Every one that is intimate
: ly acquainted with him would spew hi
testimony out Of the mouth in such
: case.
e At the time of the murder when some
body says ring is knitting him. RIM
S answers, 81 am not knitting him, he
= knitting me-" This statement is charac
teristic of the proceeding and the mar
He said again aud again after his arres
he would not try to get away, yet in
few minutes he did try, and run the bes
> he could. The facts of the case as ca
e be proved by the best men we have i
Q town, are in brief these When Rim
d was abusing the hoster of the Bristc
House, Thompson told him to whip Ring
; that he could do it; others present toll
him the same thing at the same time
/, Ring took up what Thompson said, an
! hard language ensued. Ring went to
I ward his wagon telling Thompson st
D keep away, that he did not want any
thing to do with him. and at the sam
0 time was taking knife out ofhis pock
? ct and opening it, which he had accom-
plished by the time he had reached tn
wagon. The lines were handed him, bu
he handed them back, and asked Thomp
son why he did not strike him, he sal
that was what he was waiting for, an
c Al 81 g mould oo,,o Il AN,