Litchfield enquirer., 1881-04-21

The Superior Court has been engaged this week in the trial of the New Preston case of State vs Frank Grant for an alleged assault with an attempt to kill Watson Cogswell The story told by CogswelI is substantially as follows:
 On the 27th of January as he was coming Town from his ice house to his store in tile village of New Preston he met Grant. Geo. McCann was with him at the time, and turned to one side while Cogswell turned to the other to allow Grant to pass. Cogswell says that from previous threats he was some- what on his guard, and stepped clear into the snow as Grant passed. He swears that as Grant passed he slapped him.. Cogsweil, on the breast with his hand, but kept on. Cogs- we'll shouted to Grant to know why he struck him, Grant denied having done, %, and. hlgh words passed. Then Cogswell turned and went up to Grant, and, as he says, laid his iand upon his shoulder when Grant took his snife from his pocket and struck at him with |, saying, "D-n you, take that" Cogswel ,ays he warded the blow, knocking the knife rom Grants hand. Blows ensued, Grant ,nocked him down, and struck him after yards Finally Cogswell got Grant by the
 pllar, dragged him out where the knife lay md picked it up, saying, Here's the knife ,e's tried to kill me with" He says Grant hen threatened to shoot him, and after more .quabbling the parties separated. Cogswell vent down to his store and there first dis covered cut in his coat. Shortly after, when he went over to the grand juror, cut sas discovered in the wais,band of his trow- CTS. These cuts he swears, were not in his garments before and must have been made by irant's knife.
 Grants story varies from Cogswell's very materially as regards the beginning of the racas. He denies having struck Cogswell as ,e passed him, and he says that he had been .ating an apple and had knife, a paper and pair of mlttens in his hands. When Cogs we'll came back to him, he says he put his ,rm around his, Grants neck ana struck him in the face. He says he then fought and struck Cogswell in self defence, but denies trying to stab him or making any threats ot immediate shooting.
 G. c. Hitchcock swere that he heard Grant ay"Damn you; take that; as the fracas began, aud admits having told Cogswell topound Grant, but says he told him not to cut his throat, and tells the latter part of the story as it is related by Cogswell. Hiram BMrdsley and Mrs. Jane Moore, testified to Cogswelrs having his arm around Grant 8 neck, and strik- Ing him first; but Beardsley was 60 or 70 feet away, and, on cross examination it appeared that he was extremely near-sighted. Mrs. Moore swore that Hitchcock had been to see ller and threatened her in case she testified against Cogswell. A number of other witnes ses swore corroborating one or the other chief witnesses, chiefly on minor points; number "f witnesses were called to impeach Hitchcock.
 Such is an imperfect sketch of the testno- ny up to Tuesday night: A fearful amount If ill blood has been shown between the TWO parties. Grant testified in liquor prusecu- lion against Cogswell, and Hitchcock has brought some half dozen suits and prosecu- tions against Grant
 "CuuCCu0y IOtCuOOu Noc bohCu uP with testimony about a knife shown by Mr. Hitchcock in Marbledale and about the find ing of a knife near the place of the atfray which the defence claimed was Graut's knife and that the one shown by the prosecution was not his
 WEST TWISTED, CONN.,, April 20, 1881.
 My Cutter. Mir. E. B. Duchette, will be at the Mansion House" oa Friday, the 22ud inst., with large and choice assortment of spring suitings. M. w. MINER.
 The death of Benjamin Disraeli, Lord Beaconsfeld, removes great name aud a great influence from modern English pelitics For q dozen years past he has been the undisputed leader of the Tory interest in British politics, and his ''imperia" policy is one that till with in year past seemed firmly established in that country. The election of 80, which threw him out of power and restored Glad. stone, was a surprise even to thnse Oest informed in English politics, and shows, how much more show than substance there was in Lord Beacous. ield's popularity. In Literature as in poll. tics Lord Beaconsfeld has brilliant but. un substantial reputation. Nevertheless English Toryism will sorely miss it's able, brilliant, v, rsatile leader