Connecticut western news., 1879-11-12

1 preposterous and pernicious rule of rotation
 ID the selection of representatives is perhaps
 'rrled to greater extent in Litchfeld coun
 ty than In any other. She failed to return
 thls year single representative of the las
 legislature. There are some able and experi
 enced men in the delegation, however, notabl,
 lion. Robbins Battell of Norfolk and Hon
 Gldeon H. Hollster of Litchfield MT. Hol
 hster succeeds MT. Graves and will doubles
 take a prominent part in the proceedings O
 the House. That body will possess few mem
 oers better equipped for all the duties of
 legislator and few who will be able to cope
 with him in debate
 The new Legislature will vote upon con
 stltutronal amendment changing the selection or judges from legislative election, after eau ! GUS nomination, to nomination by the gover nor' subject to confirmation by the whole gen eral assembly, not merely the Senate. It vii pass the amendment, and the people will vote on It next year. It is manifestly wise thing put what the people of Connecticut will vote as to amendments is best known after cleo tlon. The new Senate, too, will be called on to confirm railroad commissioner. (Mr. woodruff Of Litchtield, the governors fellow toWnsman, will undoubtedly be re-appointed), J, and to confirm also an insurance commission. CT. These two appointments are serious re- responsibilities for Gov. Andrews. There is a rumor that Gen. Walker may not stay in the railroad board this year, owing to his census taking labors. The general government for. bids any of it's officers holding state offices, ana Secretary Schurz is said to have given Mr. Walker his ultimatum in the negative.
 Frederick B. Webster, the alleged as- sallant of the venerable Chester Goodale at Egremont in September, was arrested at Cha pinville last Thursday by Deputy Sheriff Richmond of this place, with three deputies from Massachusetts, Webster had been concealing himself in the mountain since the assault, living upon chickens, etc. stolen from the neighboring farmers He had been seen several times by different persons but in some way managed to elude the officers, who have been upon his track ever since the assault. It was conjectured that the recent fall of snow would drive him off the mountain, and he would naturally seek shelter among his friends. This supposition proved correct, as thel search revealed. Search warrants were procured, for three different buildings in Cha pnville, including the house and barn on the premises occupied by James M. Gray, a brother-ln-law of the prisoner. Sheriff Rich. mond, with the other sheriffs, searched first the house, but finding nothing, proceeded to the barn. Alter searching the hay now and other places in the barn which might afford a hiding place for the fugitive, they proceeded to tear up the floor, beginning at the end. After raising up few plank, rubber coat was found, and a little further along they came upon stocking, and finally they came to a human foot and leg, which was seized by Sheriff Richmond, and with a vigorous tug, out came Webster in a wretchedly dirty and demoralized condition, completely covered with hay-seed and filth. He made no resist ance, and said he had been there two days, being compelled by the snow to come down from the mountain. He had crawled under tho barn through an opening in the founda- tion wall which opening he stoned up from the inside, then by raising up plank in the floor, was afforded means of ineress and egress when it became necessary for him to ''rise, kill and eat.' Among other stolen ar- ticles found with him, was small piece of cloth which was recognized by Michael Con- don of Chapinville, as a portion of the lining to horse blanket, which was stolen from him together with horse few days since. A rubber coat was also found belonging to a droVer from whom it was stolen near Shef- field recently; also shoe corresponding to the one left by burglar who shot the store- keeper in Afford on Sunday the 2d inst He is also supposed to be the man who fired the furnace al4d several barns in Chapinville. Sheffield and other places; who did all the recent burglarizing within forty miles of his hiding place, and we think he is the man who 'struck Billy Patterson" Webster claims he was hiding all this time to avoid being taken back to Copake, whence he escaped short time ago, being in limbo for some petty of fence, and says he knows nothing about the Goodale affair, and has no apprehension on that score. He was taken to Gt Burlington, and held for trial at the January term of the court at Pttsfeld