1ai or "Big Thunder" and the Anti.


Renters, at Hudson.

Court OF Oyer and TermIner.
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Court OF Oyer and TermIner.


HUDSON, Monday, March a. 1876


Pfesen-Judgs Parker. nss.tsd by County Judges Hol
bridge Martin, Pack and Wilcoxson.


Tne Court was opened At IL o'clock, A NJ The Jury
was called over ali their names the rannel
as hxed on Friday evening to try the tho People
| os. smith Boughon on the indictment for robbery
A.ron Hallenbsck, Of Hillsdale. BENZ lmn Beckwth


Chatham, Gorge W richmond, Hitisdaie; Sylvester
Parmenier, Of Livngx gxon; John Collins OF CIathsm
Jshn Otes OF Austeriz; Jlmes u. Leggett. OF Client
| hook ;::Frapklin r. Miller, o. CIaverack


District Attorney MILLER arose to open the for the
prosecution He said that he much regretted the


Columbia, on such grave and solemn charge. Although
my 0hs nry) we're somewhat aware OF the nature Of
the clse he thought advisable to advert to of its


saures After reading the clauses Of the satno from the
hevlsed Statutes applying to The case ne commented
made no whether the crime Of
mted hy the open hghwayman at the hour Of midnight
or was perperated in open days whether by absolute
to which the law applies the term Of robbery, which
injury to the person was not necessary to constitute
the present charge be would quote from Russell pp s.
and &c. to show that acts OF violence not requisite
to auosanste charge Of robbsry nor was It necessary
even fear OF personal violence should be proved
the law would presume the existence If fear in the
appropriation Of property. He read from 70 some
request the part Of one of a mob to get money,
was held to be robbery; also from page seventy -four
u


Mr. Grundy was spplied to Tor money, by Of mob
accompanied with the threat OF damage his house if it
was not complied with. Mr. Grundy to avoid the appre-
hcnded danger gave them nine and half guineas
as he said Afterwards upon evidence through fear of
ger to himself but Of injury to his house and property


fature time. In this the prisoner convicted
robbery This case he (the District Attorney thought
ap? cable bnfahor ofth gravity present charge
ios there was No Disgusting no deadly weapons used


while IN the there were both not to destroy pc


perty but to take life necessary ana deter the legal Of.
hcers with threats Of aagrant character In the cases
ofthst msjeyot the law Legislative
wsdom had enacted to secure the rights Of person and
v'cton Of the Importance Of their understanding the na-
ure OF the Law in the The prisoner stands
conssng Of three dstress warrants and one declaration
on the subject For weeks prior the commission
Of the offences, considerable excitement prevailed in Co
lumtia what is called anti-rensm caused by c


xens Of the county, but by others who
and having no connection si aities with it, Similar
exciteman, had prevailed other counties but although
this Nhe case to alarming extent Columbia was
calm and quiet as tn lake, until invaded by tn
70 ., s ,s and BE- sad with


Of New York nor in the Union which presented case o
greater absence OF crime and oence and OF the crime
part until previous to the spoken Of shortly
alter the last fall election. the efforts of those


disturbances, began show their escts the aams hurst
forth, and quiet and unoandir men induced by
either the Or tS.s,t. Of the prisoner and bis


hostility TO Il peace fths hitherto trsnquil community
Meetings W. re heh-nrms tought up-funds collected
and dangerous combinations effected until last,
such crimes the present perpetrated and the life
o an ionocent and Tending citizen taken. In
bar :-On the nth December last Miller had in his
possession certain official papers, Sheriff Of the County
Of fcolumbia one was distress warrant contrac,
entered into for Ian for years the deputy Sheriff had


straned and given notice Of sas to take place the
Jlth. according to law anohsr was dsress warrsnt


third upon eass Of the against Coonradt
Vcsbnrgh to sell under which he repared Copake
ths morning ma ned When within half mile Of Copake
passed man whom he knew, who turning back they
proceeded to the fats together and und large number
Of armed and disguised men, whose Appearance merely
rss calculated to excite alarm Some were not armed


lnd were kno to him; hut at all events, there


fearful array of assembled for good purpose In
this land Of Law and liberty, il grievances be


dressed is by disguise M; for in thi,
happy country it was their glory and happiness sup
por their laws and institutions in the gbn the isc


vi the civilizsd world No crcumstances then, could
Justify such hostile array He noticed among


he crowd Walter Shaver. one of his depute,. with
he objects of the assembly. Ar going into .
room, eight disguised individuals followed drawing
the personsge called Big Thunder, who demanded il the
sheriff Of Columbia there and aske what his in
tended course on that occasion. Every act Of these


armed men showed that they resolved to prevent
the sale that day The Sheriff informed he went
down to the place Of sale he must 20 under
the Indians; and accordingly, against his will they
rounded his carriage and escorted him with music.
attempting 20 feet the SALE after arriving at voshughs
er He suppo ed then he would be permitted TO depart
in peace but such was not the that criminal he
hoped to prove him the prisoner with drawn pistol p
his hand presented 1t at the Sheriff Who declared he ws
not prepared to give his papers end would do only
from fear Of personal violence Big Thunder saiJ be
pale faces Whist say you" He would ask the jury il
of them were situoted the Sheriff. surrounded by


o. sc With blood
submit to- personal injury he thought proper to
deliver them. suppose he had resisted thcm at all
consequences and that In the struggle he had lost his
fc how many in this community pectable citizens


there present merely for curiosity would have forfeited
heir lives accessories in murder7 In the ordinary
nature of things such might have taken p, CO


md caused universal gloom in the County Of Columbia
was he cante ded cause Of qualification that he
Sheriff acted as he did Tho papers delivered and
he marched back to Cop ke To- request to be left By
himsel, they replied by burning the papers publicly


The evidence Of George Shaver who rode down with the
sheriff, would describe what he witnessed that
public ofic and sysenatc opposition to the law. Ap


pi,ing the law, developed In the read, wha,
doubt could there be that these transactions to
create fear and alarm Talk of the mobs Of Engand-of
Birming ham vi London but what they in formd
ablenesa 10 ths mob Of Disguised armed and excited In
dians7 In referen the Defence he thought right
to inform them that efforts would be made to show the
Sheriff gave his papers voluntarily but he d.hed them
in the face Of the evi IA contemplation Of their dan
gerous combnaon-their threats of violence-to make
out their delivery the effect Of the voluntary action


he human mind in any way different from the attack
70 give them up the Law called robbery and the jury
were bound to constiue the law with due and egma ate


ento 20 inc operation Of those threaeninRs and hos


lie manifestations A to another pontthe Identity
the prisoner at the bar with the persouage called Big
Thunder-he felt confident that he would prove il ncon-


siby and presumipg that the main point Of the defence
would rest on this question Of identity he prepared
TO sdduce evidence of such q nature would foil
any attempts 20 avert the charge sgan the accused
and would rest with the defence to prove thai the pr


soner was not before they could escape from
VIC ion i rests with defence in view of the strong


oofs OF identity TO be adduced 70 show he not the
nan Having to the jury the main facts Of the
case be wond say that this prosecution was not carried
on IN consideration Of any man of any question of title
any regard for individual interests Such motives he
d'scl,imed He came there clothed with the sovereign
Of the people to maintain the supremacy Of the
law. and hold u. mrjesty end all depended upon
free and full operation for the day cams when II,
inadequate to guarantee the saey Of citizen in
person and property they might bid farewell all that
now formed their glory snd pride Not only the supre
pro ecutons. and he called upon The jury to dis
charge their duty, and him Of


he criminal conduct with which he the prisoner stands
charged and in very orcible language c sed with the
hesiny Of hese prosecutions past and lu timas


haul rlo ,ho rauv torH