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'iiji'.Ml Lf.l IJf 'n i-v;. <;-.,;•. ;|-(mI mIhI >Uw nn>>V.UiB I , ;, • !,■ ,. ! ..■,;i.i V ¥' i , , J •:)'*/ '-lifi •](>'! niJVii MDRDER OF THE HAl )' ^ THE MURDER.— SUSPICION AND ARREST OF AN INNOCENT MAN.— HIS ACQUITTAL.— OTHER ARRESTS. Qk the morning of Friday, April I5tb, 1859, the town of Brantford wa^ throwa into an unusual state of excitement, by the intelligence of the b'^utii murder of Lance;.ot Adams^ Trho was employed hy Mb. I^ale, lAul Contractor, to carry the night mail between Paris and Brantford, — a distancd of about seven miles. The news of the perpetration of this dreadful deed threw alarm and consternation mto the hearts of all who heard it, ai^ iii the course of the morning hundreds of our townsmen were se^n tr^Telling to and fro between the town and the scene of the heart-rending ct'im^. The body was found lying on the side of the road, down the declivity of the hill, and near what is known as " Good's Hollow,'' — about a mile and threes fourths from the limits of the town; the horse and wagon were fpuhd standing a short distance off. Upon examination it was ascertained that tlje unfortunate man hi^d been shot, the contents of the gun (large squirrel shot) haying taken effect in the left side of the face and head. Mr. Hale, wllci was one of the first on the spot, at once instituted a search for the maij-bag^^ Which it Was found had been taken some rods off, and rifled of their Taluable contents. ■.■ ..J ..n^.T ,:..,o^^.,^ a^^ The body ww removed to " Good's School House,*' where a Coroneif's Jury was summoned, and Bpoit mortem examiiiation held, whe^ thie sh()|i were found embedded in the brain, and Drs. Henwood and Bown gav^ ii,u thair opinion that the unfortunate man must hdve died instantly. '[' ' "*^''\ This foul and fiendish crime caused a desire in the minds of alf to searc(^ for its, perpetrator. Various were the surmises, suggestion^, and suspicions ^ each bad somethins; to offer which, in his mind, might lead to thp ^pprcheur sion of t!lie guilty parties ; but, among the various opinions, there was on^ point upon which all agreed — thajt t^e deed had been commitfed j}y soni^ person or persons acquainted with thp locality, and cognisant of the regula^ time fbf the arrival of the mail ; h^fte the conclusion that the guilt must rest upon some person in our midst ; and strict inquiry was at once insiitutea fo. the purpose of ferreting; ot|.t any suspicious circuiifistaDce that mtgiit have occurred. , v ,, At length it was found that two person^, fitimed Cheesbro' and potej hla^ hired a horse and wagon from the livery stable of Mr. ShikeJ, between i^h hours of nine and ten, the evening before, for tie alleged purpose of driving \ a couple of miles out on the Pans Road, to a farm that the mother of the latter*named person had sold a few days before ; that thej were to have returned before eleven o'clock ; that ihe horse and wagon were returned by one of the parties in the morning about three o'clock ; that be paid Mr^ Sbackell with bills torn across the end, and that be left on the morning train for the west. Search was made about the house just vacated by the Dove family, which was in the immediate neighbourhood of the murder : and, as a coofirm^tion of what had been suspected, seVieral letters wei(ei ((^M lying about ^he, House* Another strong! circui|fi9t«nceiw|at, t)|»t!ibe sii^rie j aknount of moiiey, kipotk the same Bank, as that paid to Mr.' Sbackell for foe horse, had been taken from a letter sent from the Post Office Department to a party in town. ^ Telegraphs, describing the parties, Cneesbro' and Dove, were sent to the authorities east and west, in order thai they might be apprehended; and Thomas McMeans, Esq., High Bailiff of Brantford', immediately «et' out in pursuit of them. At Paris he ascertained that Cbeesbro' had taken the train forLppdon. tie took the next train, and, shortly after his arrival in i^pn,4on, found Cheesbro' io the, custody of the officers tWe. Mr. McMeans brought his piisoner to Brantford, where he was Ipdged, ipiQaoli for the night, to await his examination the following morning. , ,) « vi'i > Early on Saturday mornipg, the I6tb, a womau known as "Mary, Dean" called on J. Weyms, Esq., J. P., and informed bim, that she had been sent by Mrs. Moor — a colored woman— to tell her husband, Moor, vi(:hu.liTc^d in East Ward, to leave as soon as possible, for the constables w^re[4f^ritiQ\> aQdthat, at the same time, she mentioned something aboutthe, mail driver having been murdered. Mr. Weyms at once sent for the High Bailiff and two or three constables, and told Mary Dean to go immediately and deliver per message. JEIe and the officers followed her at a respectful diatftn9e, and, upon her entering* the house in which Moor lived> they rushed in and arrested Moor and abother colored man, named Ov0r,,with who^, liloojc wajl l>^>'^gv:. V;'..' ■ '■. <;o V : ;,: fl-, '!... ^.i:/. ' , In the house they lound two guns, one being a double-harrelled one >, and lipbn the floor Mr. Weyms also found one-half of a $100 Bank Note. The guns were both loaded with shot, and the double-barrelled one had. t)ie ap- pearance of having be6n lately charged. On examination. Dr. jTolin iToUfig Bown found, under the nail of one of Over^s fingers, a small risd substance 'whioh proveid to be sealing-wax. From information received by the magis- trates, they were led to believe that another colored man named Joseph A. Armstrong, who had been released from Gaol but a very few days, had,als()i some knowledge of the murder, and he was at once arrested and placed wi^ Moor and Over in the "lock-up/' In the afternoon they were, examincid before the magistrates ; but nothing of great importance liras elipited. Bpth j^e mbtber-in-law and sister-in-law of Moor, who were living io the same hoosd,, swore positively that neither Moor or Over had been but of the jlovse that night. The prisoners Mftf^ )i9wever^ ^e|Xijiifn4(fji: (or, fur^j^ (jc-^ aminatipn. on Monday. :,';' .'i>'^"^.,' ' V^i .' '. r;....'" ' Z'^''. " Lir'^:^ 10 the evening of the same day, Cbeesbro' was also examined; and^ aft^f, adducing satisfactory proof of hi^ w)>ereaboi|t8 during the nigdt of the viur- der. Was acquitted. J'tJRTI AI C( him Jh irjiHi t hf.C, ■-ji'Hi ^'^ /il4>oii ■"''^Pi?!'*"*^"" htt of tLe to have turned hj paid Miv 1 'taj *4 «m!I \.nl\lA hf'd <.i1v/ WDo;! ion '' ' (.dv ■:■■ : ,: i,/;0 ifl 3S).iJ birft 'ixul/i. jTF'IM 'V. J .nflff FURTHER EXAMINATION. — THE BOY'S EVIDENCE.— CONFESSION' OV ARMSTRONG— COMMITTAL OP THE PRISONERS.— VERDICT OF THE CORONER'S JURY. ' On Monday, April 18M)^ ihe examinfiMon of Robert Over, John Moor, an cl Joseph A. Armstrong was rea^iraed. The prisoners were sbverally examined and tlieir statements disagreed very materially. Both Ov'erand Moor denied having been out with the guns for fully a fortnight or more, and solemnly ddelared ihey had not been out of the house on Friday morning before ten o'clock. In these statements, they were corroborated by Mrs. SiiiH0 gave MrstSinclair one bill. Over gave Lrs wife a nu'jibef of the bil^ whicbfshe putinto her bosom; thiS'WasfR'ter dairk on Friday >n$ght;>Ove^ tttid Moan went to bed quite early. Moof dhipt in a restless mioaer j fad moni oot of doors on Friday morning aod^said be was ({uite ttneasy^! Overhiaid' that be was ail right. Moor said that be did aot know who had killed the mao, but that be had beard that it was a Thito man who bad done so. On Saturday morniog Marj Dean called at the house, and said that he had better }eare as the oonitables were after him. Moor gave mj mother some sil- Ter to buy ariioles for the house. Moor and Over went after the gun on Fri- dfij morning ; they brought the double barrelled gun back then ; the single barrelled gun tbey brought back in the night, they said that Arrostroig wav witli them, the koife was brought back, it is whit? handled' Over :lui4 hii shot in a glass vile, and bis powder in a horn." . v^rfjv .i^w h, . r,',;t\ t,,H/» •, 1 .; \ •• h.iQn Thursday, the 14th of April, 1859, 1 left town in company with Jno. Mobr and Robert' Over, about half- past 8 o'clock ; went first to the Rail- way track ; walked along near the same, till we got to the Paris Road ; pro- e^ded along pkst the first toll g^te ; met no one before reaching it ; Over ask^d me if I ytt^s a roan ; I answered that J was ; he again iuked me if I eottid be depended upon ;J told him I could. He then related to me what he was going to du ; he said the mail came along there every night about 10 or 11 o'clock, in the care of one man, and it was the best strike we c«uld nutke ; I asked 'jim then how he was going to do it ; he said " we will make tho mail man ^et out of the wagon , or I will make him tumble out;" I Wud *' bow willyoil>make him tumble out V He said ^< it is easy ; this old thibg, (pointing to the fun) never lies," and I said '* good Qod, don't shOot ^be man ;" he said it was the best plan ; for dead men tell no tales. Moor then aaid " we can spare the man's life, for there are three of us^ and we mUiBt be pbOr men if we cannot make him give up the bags without killing hiaL" Over then said again << if !:e sees us we are sold.*' I made answer that I would tttther run the risk of'^im kvowing me agun, because knurder can never be Ud. Moor added wotis to the same effect. Over then said tftiftt he iHnild not kill lum but that wie wioald see the oOnsiquance; I said I ;ille(l th« 00. On lad better auine sil- n on Fri- le single roag wu bad bif evidenoei lonobom- 9ge, wbo been out old her be Bt said he e roagis^ id to con- > conviet was torn evidence >ng made nission of ackno.w-* lian. The ilbhlilifiiU •jn.'H .!«}'" • Qftm'ii'i'V with Jno. the Rail- >ad ; pro- it ; Over 9d me if I me what about 10 we ceuld trill make !OU|j'»I this old >n't shoot I. Moor 1^ and we it killing ) answer e tamrder then said : Isaad I again I would run tho risk of being found out from sparing bis life ; that I did not wish the man to be killed. We walked along tKen until we heard the lt>uggy coming. Orer pointed out our statioos* I was placed on the left of the road, going up, on the edge of it. Moor abouli 20 yards further west, ou the rii(nt' Over was in the gully on the right side, further on than Moor. The wagon came up. Moor was lying down ; I was standing. I expected Over to seize tho reins of the horse, and demand him to stop ; but he did not. The Hist thing was the report of one barrel of the gun in tbe hand of Over. In about live seconds I heard tbe repart of the second bar- rel ; the horse in the meantime was going on ; I jiimped over the fence and ran about 15 rods back in Mr. Good's Hold on the right side of the road going up ; I thought that if I did not return Daok Orer would shoot me, for fear tbht I would appear against him if found our. When I came back Over Said I was a smart man. I said " I thougiht you promised that yon would not shoot the man"; he added "it is done now, and it is no time to talk ;" he was leading the horse down with the man in the wagon ; just as Over was leading it down the bill the man fell out ; be led the horse some 8 or 10 feet further then let him go and turned bach to the man and oommenced seareh- iog bis pockets ; when I saw this Iturnt>d my back and said to myself ''the roan who can do this can do any thing." I took hold of two bags ; Moor one and Over one with the gun; We then went over with the bags tO'Vhe Sonth and Over ripped them open with his knife when we began to open the letter*, taking from them alt the money we found ; had only opened one bag tvhen a wagon was heard to pass going west, and we saw a man walking ahead of it j Oi^ or said we could not roost there any longer ; we then passed over tb^iRail- v^ p on the other side of the fenoe, and there opened the remaindisr '<>f Ibe bags ; Over cut tbe bags, and Moor and myself opened and settrohed the let- ters ; there was a $100, bill one $20, one $4< one $2 and three onds tbat I had,whioh together with what the other two had(a8 they said) made $151. We went along towards town ; I asked "what are We going to do with this nioneyf it is no good to us now, because everybody knows that we are pot* ;** Over said it was very easily arranged, for one of us could goto the States aiidfget it changed, for American ; I said «yoa can go but I shall not ; beoaUiBe it when tsdw them in tb« lock-up. After deriding the money, we came to t^ south side of Lake's new fence, when Over proposed we should hide' gun, -iSf l»row of i bill on George S WilktisMand. He climbed over the fence for thiit ptrpese. I went as far as Kerby's hill with Over and Moor, and got to the do6rof my house as ths clock struck twelve. I never heard a word from Oveir or Moor, before that night, of any intention to rob the mail. Ovi^ promised faithfully not to kill the man, and Moor urged him also not tb do so ; bad I thought he would, I Would have returned. I saw the ningle- bftifrdled gnn at. Over's house on Thursday night, when we left. Over laid it up in tbo loft. I have none of the money, hcm jui .». » i>il» tu\ Having been first read over to me, I subscribe mr same to this document as being correct in every particular. r*'* ; y irtv^l JOSEPH A. ARMSTRONG. IM -I I ilt was no sooner made known that Armstrong was making a confessionir than the excitement in the town became more intense than it had been at Mf time subsequent to the first announcement of the murder. At G.o'olock the same' evening, the three prisoners were brought from the. cells to tbe Town Hall, before the Magistrates, for further examination and' committal. The excitement still continued, and in a few minutes the Town Hall was .completely filled. Order was at length obtained, and the magis- trates 8eated|arouud;the table. Mr. Mathews arose, and addressing the pr:« BOners, ssiid he hoped that Moor and Over would pay particular attention while tbe .Confession of Armstrong was being read in their Ijearing, after, wbiebvthey could make apy statement they wished. Mr, Weyms read thei Confession in a distinct and clear voice. Ttie prisoners were then asked what they had to say,;^and both Moor and Over declared it was false, and protetCed their innocence. Mr. Mathews then addressed them at some length upon* «lbtk enormity of their crime; and also referred, in a feeling manner, to tihe atrest of Mr. Cheesbro', who was as innocent as any man in tbe Court, remarking that, had not thermal perpetrators been apprehended and brought to jiMtic^ there would always have been some uncharitable enough to have ohaKged.hjlm with a knowledge of the crime. The pridoners were then iCom*( mi|tf d for Irisl. v 5 IliAftier this the publicjmind][appeared to be more settled* and but little was heard of' the murder except pn occasional expression of gratification at bav*' ing the jguiity parties within the reach of justice. On Saturday, the ^rd of April, the Coroner's Jury, which had adjourned from time to time, for the purpose of gaining fresh evidence, met in the Town Hall, and, after a few-moments' consideration, returned the following "XT ^*^ 3Ft X^ X C' 'T7-^ -^ ■■■'''' "rfJ ^**" ^^'^ ^ \ii vtoQ-A i bur br&iJH '>(».;jw/;; u i-nsdt tDi^qriJi afm lo t«w« y;f»n< ict ^In Ibe opioidn of ; 'M , 1 Ml II' (I'll ' '^ ) mrj J.ll I. . I .•,{ ; it,. 1 1 » ll III "111* "nfl I .•((■■i»i'» v.ll j II 'If. .Hv»/ iia 'ir I i!ii( .J.i vl \ t.iU '.'ill lot ^iliil-|lli:in VI .: Ill f.'fi '! ;. ■! i' ., • . ,: ,-, *i|..'".iiMr»li.'» Mil) !(» ■. . . !< »l|jf.'Jli f*ll III •* ' ' : (i/I. ii) •! •(^1 n.;(it « 1) •(! •■"' ■■'■ii «"*" •' ::■; THE TRIAL & SENTENCE. b on ,(ll«'iK , I ■.•I'lTIM >•■ III i.' f ■ ' On Friday morDing^ April 29th, just a fortnight from the time of th6 mur- der, Oyer and Mooru were put upon their trial. (ArmBtrong was indicted •eparately, in order that he might be brought forward as a Tritnets on behalf of the crown.) It was generally uoderstood that their trial would hi the first one in the mortiing; and, in consequence, large crowds cf persons 'W^rie seen moving along in the direction of the Conrt House at an eairiy' ^oUf: There was considerable of excitement manifested by the pubhc; and ' some time before nine o'clock, the time appointed for the opening of the Gourt^ the gallery, as well as the Court Room, was crowded to eicess with aniioas spectators. Several special constables, besides the " Regular StiiT,": '^'^la equipped, and placed in their proper stands, with instructions to keej|>^ the crowd from thronging the passage, and preventing the ingress and 4gre#A «lf witnesses and others. f. vmif nsjy/ At a few minutes before nine o'clock His Lordship, Chief Justice Drinfe^,' made his appearence ; silence was called, and the crier, in his usual oiear and audible voice, sounded the well-known and oft- repeated **0!'yt)s,<>0'! y(8, 0! yes," &c., after which the names of the petit jurors were tfaUed.' Shortly the sound of chains was distinctly audible, and all eyes were* turned towards the door leading to the jail, from whence the prisoners, Over and Moor, were brought loaded with heavy chains and placed in. the dotrkr^ They were, however, taken back and their fetters renioved, when i 'they '^etti again placed in the dock« The prisoners, notwithstanding they'w^re ^the observed of all observers, appeared to be clam and unmoved. Over aitfemett evenstern and malignant^ while Moore appeared gentle aud cemposed.' ^hn^^i A Jury was empannelled, the. indictment read, and the Jurors told tbe>|lti- soners had pleaded " not guilty." Mathew C. Cameron, Esq, Q. C, conducted the case for the C^QWD,'«od' Messrs Wood and Freeman for the prisoners. 'fojfi biwi siawoi oilj Mr. Cameron opened the case, by relating to the Jury the ciiroun/stanees' of the late murder, the arrest of the prisoners, and the nature of the • eKi-i dence that was to be brought before them. ." '. iMf\ Jonathan Haky was the first witness called, who, being riworn, saidi: He lived in the town ofBrantford; he knew Lancelot Adams ; yonng Adams^ had taken the contract from him te carry the Mail from Piftiis to BranCfor^l/ and deceased was engaged by his son to do the work. The mail generaNjf left Paris at 9 o'clock p. m., and arrived in Brantford at half past 10 o'cloelrw On the evening of the I4th instant it did not arrive at the usual time. On the morning of the 1 9th he took the first train to Paris and there leariied' that the mail had left the night before at the usual time, and he Also leaiirtd from Mr. Smith on the cars coming np, that a horse .and wagon wsre seenbn •■"'? } - iaj Aeuiw . i iuf^Amti n iiiite ^ fe-aP?ir; !^T..^ 10 th« till* of (be road : hi caine'baok'on the train, which loft Paris in foi -4 niuutei after l)e arrived there, be tuld the oonduclor of the circumBtnnce, aDd|a»ked to be^letoff wheu tho train arrived opposite where thehonieBaiid wag- •n were leen ; the conductor let him off at he deairod -, before he reached the wagoD, he saw* Mr. Greenaway going to where the bodj of a man laf. Mr. Greenawa/Uold him the man was dead ;'^be then said that the man wu hia mail driver ; the body liy about 8 tods off the rofld, and the wagoti was about 8 rods from the body ; witness and Mr. (ircfnaway then commenced learchingfor the mail baga, two of which they found in a ravine beneath, cut op4n and the contents scattered in all directions ; they gathered them up, and witqeai placed them in the wagon, and took tbcm to Brantford Poet OfXi- ea ; witoesa left Mr* J. Good in charge of the body. When be came to tL« body h« saw what he took to be a cut ; supposed it was done in falling from tha^wftgoa, bttt^he made no examination — .L» face was covered with blood. Adams waa |kn old man, but healthy, and able to i4jdure hard labour ; never heAfdtbat be was of a quarroUome disposition ; he was sober and steady. Ai.iX'Oliimi!NT, sworn. — Am clerk in the post office in Brantford ; n- eoUect the morning of the 15lh of April inat.; lemerobei the letters, &e. bafing been brought in ; some of the letters had^been sealed with red seajipg wax ; they had nearly all bben torn open. Dn. E. T. BowN, sworn. — Am a medical man ; never saw deceased until $he morning oi the 15 of April inst.. He first oame to where the body was when they were preparing to rcmoye it and told them if they would take it to f 1m vehool-bouse be would make an examination of it ; in the afternoon he Hiadv % further examination ; death was caused by a gun shot } the wound was on tb9 left aide of the bead ; found grains of shot in the bnun , should say they were about No. 4 ; they were m-the substance of the brain; the shot had taken the direction to warrant the opinion that the poison who fired the gun wtf lower »||and a little ia front, though nearly opposite deceased ; there vfM one hirgfl orifice and several smaller ones; the wound must have caused ijMlant^dooth. To the Court— rlf deceased had fired the fatal shot, the contents would havo token a different direction, and hia face would have been scorched, which woo not the ease in this instance ; the muzzle of the gun must have beffo obotti 8 ieet from the head of deceased. M. X. Carr, sworn — Am clerk in the Brantford post-o8ioe ; recollect ■QOeiTJag. port of the mail from Mr. Hale, on tho morning of the 15th iiist. ; the letters had been fastened in a variety of ways; the packages bad been faatonod with red sealing wax; recollect that some of the large letters had been fitatenod: with wax.. .\ni>i--: -cl <-.!■'!• Mathew Brophy, sworn — Live at Mr. Good's ; recollect the night of the 14lh of this month ; was at the house about 10 o'clock in the evenibg, when ho hoord two shots fired in the tavern direction ; that is in the direction of the road ; saw the bodty the next morning ; think the shots were fired about 3 o'clock going towards Ilolmdale ; one of them had a gun. They returned in about 10 minutes with two guns. Saw them again in Ilolmdale, about noon. Had just got up when they passed in the morning. They might have had time to go as far as Wilkes' small bush, but not as far as the mill. Mrs. Mary Dean, sworn — Know the prisoners; saw them on the Satur- day after the murder ; went to their house ; there was no one there when witness iirst went there but the family ; lived atfout 9 or 10 minutes walk from where they did ; it was about 9 or 10 o'clock in the morning. Told Moor bis wife sent him word to leave as soon as possible, fov the constables were after him ; did not tell bim what for ; the constables were right in. Saw no money with them on Saturday. Stopped at the house with the women on Saturday night, and on Sunday morning saw a bill between Mrs. Moor and Mrs. Sinclair, in the bed ; they were talking and counting money ; also saw in their hands a quarter and a York shilling. Was there on Mon- day morning when a search was made, but nothing but a silver spoon was found. Cross-examined by Mr. Wood — Mrs. Moor did not see the constables go towards Over's bouse when she sent me to tell Moor to go away. To Mr. Cameron. — Mrs. Moor saw Moor or Thursday ; heard her call him, and when she came back she said she had been speaking to him. Silas Tanner, (colored) sworn — Am acquainted with Moor, and know Over by sight. KecoUecl the murder; it was on a Thursday night; saw the prisoners on the following morning, at about 10 or 15 minutes past 7 o'clock. Over had a gun — the other had none ; the gun was single-barrelled ; in about 10 minutes they returned with two guns, one a double-barrelled one ; »w tbem again at qood, they said they had been out hunting, and that when i# 12 tbey went up in the morning thej had two guno, but Moot's hands werii cold, and be carried the gun under his coat. Benjamin Cheesbro', sworn — Recollect tbe night of the mail robbery and murder; left Brantford at 20 minutes past ten, in cofaipany witfi four others; had a strong spring wagon and one horse. Were all in the wagon Arom Brantford to the bottom of Good's hill, when Hall and I got out and walked up the hill ; tbe horse walked slow, and we went on ahead. Saw nothing. It must have been about 20 minutes to 11 o'clock when we got to Good's hill. G. Balfour, sworn — Am a Coroner for the County of Brant ; have the shot that were taken from the head of deceased. Tbe double-tarrelled gun was loaded when taken at the prisoners'; saw tbe charge drawn, aiid have it. (The charge from tbe gun found in the possession of the prisoners, and also those taken from the head of deceased, were here produced and shown to the Jury.) Witness considered they were of the same size-^No. 4. Thos. McMeans, sworn — Am High Bailiff; saw the charges extracted from the gun ; the gun was taken from Over's house ; both barrels were loaded and capped. James Weyras, J. P., sworn — Am a Magistrate for the County ; the pri- soners were arrested by my direction ; it was on a Saturday morning ; found half of a hundred dollar bill in the house, near where Mrs. Sinclair was sitting ; it was rolled up ; there was no search of her person made at the time ; have inquired of the whole family, and they all deny knowing any- thing about it. Dr. John Young Bown, sworn — Am a medical roan ; saw the prisoners ader the late murder, in tbe cells ; examined their nails to see if there was any blood about them; on holding Over's nail up to the window a red ray was observable ; took a small substance from under his nail with a penknife, and have since carefully examined it with a powerful microscope, and havd no doubt it is sealing wax. The coroner also examined it ; have asked Over if he had used any sealing-wax or other red substance, and he said not. Coroner Balfour, recalle* — Have examined tbe substance that was taken from under Over's nail, and am satisfied that it was sealing wax. Dr. J. Y. Bown, recalled — Was asked to examine the guns taken with the prisoners; should say upon examination of the doubk-barrelled gun, that it had been fired within a couple of days ef that time. Wm. Mair, sworn — Keep the first toll gate from Brantford on tu.« Paris Eoad; recollect the night the mail carrier was murdered ; did not see him that night ; generally leave the gate open ; the mail carrier generally comes along a little after 10 o'clock ; saw three men of different heights go towards Paris on foot that evening between 9 and 10 o'clock ; they were past tbe gates, and I could only see their backs ; cannot say whether they were black or white. Mrs. Emeline Sinclair, (colored) sworn — Know the prisoners at the bar; lived at the same house with them ; recollect tbe report of the murder of the mail carrier ; it was said to have been done on a Thursday night ; tbe prisoners were at home that night ; they were uot out, to my J^nowledge, and 13 il think it impossible that they could Lavo loft the house without my kaow- ledge. I slept with my mother and little brother that night. The prisoners, Mrs. Over, and my little sister, slept in the same room with us ] first heard of the mail robbery on Friday afternoon. Cross-examined by Mr. Cameron — The prisoners have fire-arms ; saw no strangers at the house on Thursday ; was away to the Dorcas Rooms in the afternoon ; Armstrong was there on Friday ; he was not talking on any par- ticular subject ; saw no money given to Moor from Armstrong, nor to Arm- strong from Moor. Moor used to saw wood, wait at the Kerby House, and do anything that he could get to do. The Dorcas Society mainly supported us; I went to their rooms, as did also my mother, and sometimes Mrs. Over. We used to get one or two pliillin,!;;3 a week each. I got two shillings on the Thursday before the murder was committed ; Moor and Over wer** down town on Friday afternoon ; but not in the morning before nine and ten o'clock, .when we got breakfast. Wo sometimes bad a shawl hanging up before the beds; it was up on that Thursday niglit ; my mother was up .that night; did not hear her get up, but beard her coiuc to bed, and she said she had been up; heard no one else up in the liousu that night; Moor and Over were not out shooting for nearly a fortnight oelore their arrest. This witness was a really handsome mollatto (a young widow), apparently about 19 or 20 years old, and gave her evidence in a firm, clear, musical voice and unfaltering tone. Indeed, her firmness and sagacity appeared to be of the very highest order. She has since been sentenced to six months' im- prisonment for perjury. Mrs. Manah Brown, (colored,) swcn — Was taken into custody on a Saturday ; have been kept in the same cell with Mrs. Sinclair. Heard about the mail man having been murdered ; was told after coming to jail that it Was done on a Thursday. Do not know where the prisoners were that night ; they were in the house when I went to bed, about 9 or 10 o'clock ; Over was then in bed. Moor always slept alone near the stove. Don't know whether I was awake during the night or not, but am sure I was not up ; got up late in the morning. Cross-examined by Mr. Cameron — Charles Henry Brown is my son ; he is a very bad boy, and does not mind me as he should. Never told him what to say in this case ; never spoke to him about it. Mrs. Sinclair is my daughter; did not tell her I was up on that Thursday night; I think she got no money from the Dorcas Society that week. Mr. Wood, counsel for the defence, proposed to call Mrs. Over ; but said ber evidence should be entirely confined to Moor. His Lordship thought ber evidence was admissable for Moor, but not for Over. She was then called. Mrs. Alice Over, Ccr dorod,) sworn — Know Moor. Heard of the murder, but do not remember when it was. Mrs. Brown brought the news to the house on Friday afternoon. Moor was at home the uight before I heard of the murder when I went to bed, between 9 and 10 o'clock. ■ wf Mm; Breadon, and write all orders that REBUTTING EVIDENCE. sworn — Am Fidancial Secretary of the Dorcas Society are given by the Society. Know Mrs. Sinclair > 14 gave her an order on Mr. Cockshutt for some Indian meal on the I4th of April inst., but gave her no money. Mr. Wood addresed the Jury on behalf of the prisoners, and Mr. Came- ron on behalf of the prosecution. His Lordship then summed up the evidence, and charged the Jury at great length. At 10 minutes past 8 o'clock, p.m., the Jury retired, and the Court ad- journed for one hour. Some time before the expiration of the hour, the Oourt House was densely crowded, all seeming anxious to hear the verdict of the Jury. At precisely 20 minutes past 9 bis Lordship entered the Court room; the Jury had agreed upon a verdict and entered the Court. The interest and excitement was now greatly increased, and a deep anxiety was plainly observable upon each countenance, as the prisoners were conducted to the dock. The jurors having answered to their names, they were asked whether they found the prisoners guilty or not guilty; the answer was " GUILTY." The verdict was recorded by the Court, and the prisoners were told to stand up. His Lordship — Robt. Over, and John Moore, the jury have found you guilry of murder ; have you, or either of you, anything to say why sentence of death tiliould not be passed upon you. Over— I am not the person that committed the murder. His Lordship then said, now that the Jury had returned their verdict, he had iio liesitaiion in soying that ha fully concurred with that verdict, and it only remained for the Court to pronounce sentence upon them. The Law that wa« just to them, was more merciful than they Wjre to the unhappy man "who had fallen by their hands. It gave them time to prepare for death, and repent of the crime of which they were convicted, but they had sent iheir unfortunate victim to the bar of God without a moment's notice to pre- pare for his untimely end. The prisoners were then sentenced to he hanged on Tuesday, the 7th of June next. They received the sentence, as if entirely unconscious of t\ieir dreadful sit- uation, and left the Court apparently as unmoved as they enteiedit. When taken to their cells they, however, conf'^ssed participation in the robbery, but said the murder was commited by Armstrong. The manner in which the case was conducted reflects the greatest credit upon the Counsel on both sides. Messrs. Wood and Freeman evinced much talent and tact in the defence, while Mr. Cameron proved himself equally worthy of credit, by the manner in which he conducted the pro- secution. On the following Tuesday, May 3rd, Joseph A. Armstrong received-hls trial. His confession was read to the Jury. He urged that he was not guilty of the murder — that he pleaded for the life of Adams — and that, as poon as he was arrested, he was so impressed with the guilt of having par- ticipated in the dreadful crime, that he confessed to the authorities ; and hoped that he might receive whatever consideration he was worthy of; but that he cared not what became of his body, so long as his soul was safe. He was then found guilty, and also sentenced to be hanged on the 7th of June. * T II K OF JOSEPH A. BY IIII!»ISELF. I was born in Springfield, Columbia County, State of Pennsylvania, on the 27th of January, 1835. My parents emigraced to Canada in 1837. I do not remember ever having seen my father, for the same year that we fcame to Canada he enlisted^as a soldier. My mother^had me and a younger bro- ther to lake care of; but father gave me to a gentleman in Lockport to raise. Some time after, the gentlemaTi took me to the Poor House,^where I remained until my mother heard of it, and came, in company with my step- father, and took me away to St. Catherines, where I lived for tbree^years, when we moved to a place called *' the * Queen's Bush ;" there we worked hard to get a home. It was/nothing but a wilderness jwhen we went there. I was only eight years old, and could do nothing but pile brush. When we had the place nearly paid fur, my Htep-fatber^j fell|sick and.died. When he died, my mother was not able to get out a crop. There was a hard time for us you may think, fur 1 was only nine years old, and I was the oldest ; but we done the best we could. Wheo I wasj^nearlyjten years old my mother married again. As soon as she got married everything went to rack; the farm, horse, cows, and everything that we had weie^sold.K We'^then moved to the Towaship^of Arthur, on Owen Sound Line. But little moru^fof in- leiast transpired until I was about fifteen, when my step-father drove roe away from home, and I had to leave my kind mother, and go among fitranflfers I never saw before. I knew very little of the world — to use a common expression, I was *' very green." I hired to one Groate, for $2.50 per month, to chop cord-wood. I stayed with bim for two months, when I hired to a man named Buckenham, a black man, for $5 per'^;month. I re- mained with him for only one month, and then hired to a farmer named Wm. Hood, with wbom I lived for six months. I done well while ^with him ; but I unfortunately hired to a man named MosesiJ Giles, toEburn coal. Here I got into a real devil's nest ; for he- was^a drunken sot, and kept the very worst and lowest class of people — both men and women — about him. I, being young, dancing, fidling, card-playing, .and whiskey-drinking all pleased me very well, and J. thought it was all the heaven 1 wanted. I there got in with one Solomon Tillman, who led me into all the rascality in the world. At length ; he proposed that we l should |go ^sailing, and I'iat once agreed te it ; hut it was not long before he got in jail. I sailed on board the Mai/ Flower, from^Hamilton to Kingston. I sailed^for^threej months, when I was caught in a house of ill-tame in Hamilton, and was sent to gaol for one month, i then went home and remained there all summer* but as soon as winter came on, and my step-father had (nothing morelforkmej^to do, I was obliged to leave again. I then went, with a couple of robbers, to Buffalo, vhere we made some '^ city strikes," as we called them. There were three of us, but I^will not, tell the names of ray partners. _^We"were hard boys — 16 F too hard for our own good ; though wa never troubled any person on the streets. We generally went into stores, shops, hotels, and steamboats. I was most generally the chief commander, when we boarded boata, for I knew all about where they generally kept the money. My partners were both white men, and neither a murderer. When we landed in Buflalo, wo had $5 between the three of us. We laid around for four days, and then we made a strike, and when we left, between money and jewelry, we had six hundred and four dollara each. We then struck out for Detroit, and laid there one month beforo we done anything. We were seldom seen in the town in the day-time; never went together ; and, if we met in the streets, we appeared to be perfect strann;ers, and passed by witliout noticing each other. We went well-dressed in the day-time ; but wo kept one suit for our business secreted, and when we were going out to commit any action, we would change our dress. We wore a quakcr's rigf;, and a pair of sheepskin shoe-packs, with the wool out, and we conld walk all over a house, and not be heard. After we had been in Detroit one month, we wont info a dwelling-house, and got, in money and jewelry, five huiulred dollars. The same niglit we went into a wholesale clothing store, where we got sovon hundreil and ten dollars. We then went to our place of letireuient, got our clothes, divided the money, and parted. They went to Milwaukie, and I camo back to ^Canada. I went by the name of " Jack of the Lakes." \ went back to Buffalo on the 8th of July, 1856, and laid around till the 12th, when I was dead broke. I dressed myself and went to work again, at discharging freight on the wharf. I worked at that for two weeks, when I sailed on board the I^ree State steamer from Buffalo to Chicago. I remained on board of her until the 8th of December, when I loft her in Amherstburgh, where I then resided for one month. I then left for Zviichigan, and lived a month in the Town ot Marshall. I went to the City of Jackson on the I5ih of February, 1857, and boarded at the "Royal Exchange," for two months, when I went to a private boarding house. There I became acquainted with two of those picayune robbers, such as rob smoke-houses aud hen-roosts. They had no money, and had to live ; so we kept that up until (he Spring opened, and we could get work. I then got acquainted with a young woman in the city, and became a steady young man ; and I was much respected by all the respect- able inhabitants of the city, both white and colored. This young woman wa.s at service at the house of one Mr. Reynolds — a very fine man. I courted this young woman, and shortly after married her. I quit robbing, settled down, and went to work at making those fire and water-proof roofs. There was not much of that going on in the city, and I hired to a Company as foreman in a stone quarry, at S2G a month. The times wcro hard. I had myself and family to keep, five dollars a month rent to pay, and everything was dear. I worked on for five months,'' when winter set in, and we could do nothing in the quarry. Being out of employment, 1 left Michigan, on the llth of January, 185S, and on the 12th I arrived at my step-father's with my family. I lived with my parents until the 26th of March following; then I moved to the town of Paris, and went to white-washing. I done well there until I got into a fight with two Irishmen. I hit one with a heavy hickory oane that I bad, and in about half-an hour after there were more than 100 men afler me, and I was forced to fly for my life. I went to Mrs. Wolver- ton's in the upper village. My wife was away to my mother's, and I staid L 17 at this lady's house until the officers came and arrested me. I was put in Paris look-up on the 22ndJof June, and on the 23rd I got my trial,Jand\^aii fined $3. I then left Paris and came to Brantford, and whitewashed with Mr. Curry and another man named Thomas Anderson. Whan that was over, I went to sawing wood at seventy-five cents per day. My rent was'so high, and everything so dear, that I could not keep out of debt. I was then forced to sell a part of my things, and quit house-koeping. Then I got ac- quaintod with John Moor, and we all lived toflrether in one house. Moor and myself worked together whenever we could get anything to do; but the times got so hard that we could get no work, and we had no money, but we bad to live. Inllast December we were for two days without anytbinj; to eat ; and one evening I asked Moor to'go with me down the street, to which he agreed. We passed down Queen Street until we came to Front Street, then wo came on Market Street, and looked to sae what we could get. I first got a hog's head and a piece of pork about -12 pounds, and then we went home. In a short time after thai we went into the country and ; got some potatoes out of a pit. Im a few nights after that, Moor and I came together up to Lowe's, in East Brantford, Jooking for something to eat ; there we found a span of horses and wagon belonging to a farmer. I went up to the wagon to see what was in it, and found five bags of fluur. I got Moor to help me to take out one of the bags, which I hid until the people were done pass- insf, when we took it home. We wort, then out of meal, and we went and robbed some hen-houses and lived fast. I was then put in gaol for 20 days for the scrape I got into in Paris, not having paid the fine. I served my time, and was out only three days when I was again taken up for stealing a cloak that I and Moor took. I confessed that 1 stole the cloak, but did not say anything about Moor. I was tried a-^'l imprisoned one month. On the 11th of April, 1S59, 1 got out. That same day I went to John Moor's, to get him to go with me to rob an Indian. He and his partner agreed, and wo started the same day ; but we could not find the place, and returned. On the 13th we agreed to rob the mail, and on the next day we carried the plan into effect; but, unluckily, wa committed murder. On the 16th we were all arrested ; shortly after we were committed, and all sentenced to be banged on the 7th of June, 1859. I warn'all young men and boys who have fathers and mothers, not to leave them or disregard their advice. Whoever reads this I hope will listen to these lomarks. Younj^ men, I advise you all to keep out of the company of gam- blers, -night-wajkers, and robbers ; for if you practice these things, you will surely come to your ruin, and then you will say — " Oh ! if I had listened to my father ; oh ! if I had listened to my mother ; o'l ! ii I had listened to Armstrong's advice — I would not have been here ; " butitwdl be too late then. Now, while^you^have your liberty, is the time. As the poet says :— " While the lamp holds out to burn, The vilest sinuer may '•'^turn ; This is the time that God hath given, To escape from hell, and fly to heaven." O ! my dear friend, as you read this page, I hope you may take this to your- »elf. If you are not in the path of peace, oh ! let me beseech you to turn before it is too late. Parents, do not let your Children run abnut at night. Never be too severe with the rod, for there is a medium to go]by m raising a ^ -»--H i -..l.Li.- 18 family. You can be torj hurd or not hurd «noiii(h. The best" plan with a rudu child is to talk and coUtlael with it. Any per.xon will be led further than driven. When h ohild gets to bo 14 or 15 years of age, if you are too severe with the rod, the Dtjvil will urga it ni:?hfc and dayjto run away ; he will tell it all manner of tine tales, and hold out all sorts of inducements, uutil'the child leaves its parents. But ah ! my youn« friend, that is the first 8te{) |'o your ruin. Let me advise you, my dear younir friend never to take that thought, for the Devil is only getting you into his net, and when he gets you nicely in he will pull, and then you will soon find you'self in prison for some crime.— Then you will regret havinjj left your friends ; but it vvilljbe too late then. Now is the time, while yon are at home and have your friends to Stalk with. While you have your liberty, let me advise you to turn to God, with all your heart and soul, and he will ^uide you through all trouble and danger. Who' ever reads this I hope v/ill take counsel by it. May God be with you all, is the prayer of JOSEPH A. ARMSTRONG. SKETCHES OF OVER AND MOOR. OvEd says he was born a Slave in Virginia. His mother was a West Indian, and his father African and Spaniard. He escaped from Slavery about 10 yeara ago and is in his 28th year. He is a small man, has a low receding forehead, and appears to be iavorably organized for the commission of all sorts of crime. His countenance generally wears a sort of malignant scowl, and even his smiles appear more to indicate the contemplation of evil, than a calm, pleasant feeling. When the writer last conversed with him, he admitted having buried some of the money, but declared he should never tell any person wtiere. << It," said he, "may rot in the ground at the same time that I do — I shall be punished for taking it, and it shall benefit no person after I am out of the world." ' Moor is a lighter Mulatto than Over, and appears to be of a more gentle disposition. He gives his age as 23 years, and says he was born at Stamford, Canada West. His ancestors were slaves, and his father obtained his liberty by being his master's own child. His family are pious, respectable people, and reside near VVindsor. He baa admitted on one or two occasions, when separated from Over, that Over shot Adam^, b'lt when in the call with Over he says he does not know which it was, but thinks it was Armstrong. He is evidently very much under the influence of Over. Printed at tho " Herald" Office, Brantford. ^jfljr