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Browsing named entities in a specific section of Medford Historical Society Papers, Volume 24.. Search the whole document.

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Massachusetts (Massachusetts, United States) (search for this): chapter 27
The Turnpike highwayman's Fate. In History of Medford, the chapter on Crimes and Punishments deals only with those of Colonial and Provincial days. It has been suggested that there were some happenings in Medford (from murder downward) in later (not to say latest) days, which a faithful chronicler might mention. But is it known to people generally, that a century ago Massachusetts had just enacted a law making highway robbery, when accompanied with threat, violence and exposure of a deadly weapon, a capital offence? Such was the fact, and there are those who, on account of recent increase in crime, and the facilities of escape offered by the automobile, think it would be well if such penalty was restored. The recent hold-up of Boston bank messengers in Chelsea is cited as an example. One, nearly related to Medford, is mentioned in the Register, Vol. XXIII, p. 9, which must have caused much excitement in our old town just one hundred years ago. The Columbian Centinel of A
Charles (Massachusetts, United States) (search for this): chapter 27
his desperate attempt. He told the sheriff that he prayed to God twice on his knees, that the blow he was about to inflict on the keeper might not prove fatal. Twelve days later (Thursday, December 20) the sentence of death was executed. A vast concourse of people assembled at Lechmere Point to witness it. East Cambridge was not then a network of railway tracks and closely built factories, and the scaffold was in plain view of the state prison at Charlestown, and of Boston across the Charles River. The Centinel of the 22d gave a graphic account of the same, mentioning the appeal of the sheriff to the assembly to maintain respectful silence and order while the last offices of religion were performed to the unhappy man by the attending priest, stating The request was complied with and the regularity and decorum with which [the execution] was conducted must have made a deep impression upon the great body of spectators which witnessed it, and inspired them with a suitable awe f
Chelsea (Massachusetts, United States) (search for this): chapter 27
which a faithful chronicler might mention. But is it known to people generally, that a century ago Massachusetts had just enacted a law making highway robbery, when accompanied with threat, violence and exposure of a deadly weapon, a capital offence? Such was the fact, and there are those who, on account of recent increase in crime, and the facilities of escape offered by the automobile, think it would be well if such penalty was restored. The recent hold-up of Boston bank messengers in Chelsea is cited as an example. One, nearly related to Medford, is mentioned in the Register, Vol. XXIII, p. 9, which must have caused much excitement in our old town just one hundred years ago. The Columbian Centinel of August 15, 1821, thus tells the story:— Wednesday, August 15, 1821. Daring Robbery. On Monday evening, before nightfall, as Major John Bray of this town, was returning from Medford in a chaise with his lady, he was stopped on the turnpike near the Ten Hills Farm, by
Winter Hill (Massachusetts, United States) (search for this): chapter 27
and said to have been Mike Martin's, but which was a revolver. Another writer, perhaps with some reason, gives the Devil's Den in Menotomy Rocks park at Arlington as his hiding place, giving a minute and interesting account of its features. The date of this latter cannot be fixed but, as before stated, perhaps was 1886. Another haunt of Martin's is said to have been on the slope of Central hill, where was (and still is) the spring, just northward from the railroad station known as Winter hill. But neither Martin nor any one else ever dreamed of a railroad then. The sheriff doubtless had then and there good reason to ask of the assembly respect of the rites of religion, but it is a sad commentary on some phases of modern civilization that, after the lapse of a century, the chief executive of the commonwealth has found it needful to appeal to our citizenry for respect of law and order, or that younger men than Mike Martin can commit more daring crimes in daylight and succeed
Springfield (Massachusetts, United States) (search for this): chapter 27
covering the horse, which the robber rode, but the highwayman is not yet taken. It was said that on that evening Governor Brooks gave an assembly at his mansion on High street, which afforded the highwayman the opportunity of waylaying the returning guests, who were of the class most likely to be victims of plunder. It was told that after the robber's escape from pursuit up High street, he found refuge in a cave in the woods at West Cambridge (now Arlington). From thence he went to Springfield, where, a week later, he was arrested and brought to the jail at East Cambridge. The Centinel of August 22 said The highwayman taken. Yesterday Michael Martin was examined at Cambridge on charge of being the person who robbed Major Bray on the Medford Turnpike. He was fully committed to take his trial in October next. The file of the Centinel consulted is incomplete, but from another source we learn that he was convicted on October 9. The Centinel, October 20, said, The
F. W. Waldo (search for this): chapter 27
wood-cuts of the criminals and their execution. In the archives of the Massachusetts Historical Society is the story (third edition) of this case (70 pages) by F. W. Waldo published by Russell & Gardner, 1822. This contains the story of his life as confided to that writer by Martin, whose real name was not Mike but John. There is also a smaller pamphlet by Mr. Waldo which is a detailed report of the court proceedings as reported by him, and by the same publishers, in 1821. Still another, probably elicited by the first named, deals with the publicity given to the reputed penitence of criminals, and is a careful exposition and defence of the then existson's Pictorial of the '50s. As his work was twenty-four years later, it is evident that whatever reality of the tale there was, he derived from the earlier one of Waldo, With his vivid imagination and ability in embellishment, there was a woman in the case, and Durivage's work, like many others, is very readable, but not altogethe
Michael Martin (search for this): chapter 27
ngfield, where, a week later, he was arrested and brought to the jail at East Cambridge. The Centinel of August 22 said The highwayman taken. Yesterday Michael Martin was examined at Cambridge on charge of being the person who robbed Major Bray on the Medford Turnpike. He was fully committed to take his trial in October neCentinel consulted is incomplete, but from another source we learn that he was convicted on October 9. The Centinel, October 20, said, The sentence of Michael Martin, convicted of highway robbery has not been passed upon him. His counsel have moved an arrest of judgment for misdirection of court matters of law and the courfirst sentence under the law before alluded to. His counsel made every effort in his power, but to no purpose. The Centinel of December 5 said, No doubt that Martin would be executed. But with the fatal day drawing near, Mike Martin undertook to do something for himself. On the morning of the eighth of December, as the k
Isaac H. Gardner (search for this): chapter 27
ed in escaping he would probably have gone back to his former life. In the foregoing it will be observed that the quotations are from the Centinel, a leading semi-weekly of the time. It was then the custom to print (in pamphlet form) reports of capital and noted trials, sometimes illustrated by wood-cuts of the criminals and their execution. In the archives of the Massachusetts Historical Society is the story (third edition) of this case (70 pages) by F. W. Waldo published by Russell & Gardner, 1822. This contains the story of his life as confided to that writer by Martin, whose real name was not Mike but John. There is also a smaller pamphlet by Mr. Waldo which is a detailed report of the court proceedings as reported by him, and by the same publishers, in 1821. Still another, probably elicited by the first named, deals with the publicity given to the reputed penitence of criminals, and is a careful exposition and defence of the then existing law. A later publication o
Mike Martin (search for this): chapter 27
d. But with the fatal day drawing near, Mike Martin undertook to do something for himself. On eeper entered his cell bringing his breakfast, Martin gave him a stunning blow, rushed through the dpose of enforcing a respect of law and order. Martin was described as a young man of twenty-seven ytory of his life as confided to that writer by Martin, whose real name was not Mike but John. Thepublication of forty-eight pages, in 1845,— Mike Martin, or the last of the highwaymen. A Tale of is book was illustrated by a wood-cut, showing Martin upon a horse, overtaking his victim in a chaise Historical Society, and said to have been Mike Martin's, but which was a revolver. Another wr stated, perhaps was 1886. Another haunt of Martin's is said to have been on the slope of Centraload station known as Winter hill. But neither Martin nor any one else ever dreamed of a railroad th of law and order, or that younger men than Mike Martin can commit more daring crimes in daylight a
George K. Russell (search for this): chapter 27
he succeeded in escaping he would probably have gone back to his former life. In the foregoing it will be observed that the quotations are from the Centinel, a leading semi-weekly of the time. It was then the custom to print (in pamphlet form) reports of capital and noted trials, sometimes illustrated by wood-cuts of the criminals and their execution. In the archives of the Massachusetts Historical Society is the story (third edition) of this case (70 pages) by F. W. Waldo published by Russell & Gardner, 1822. This contains the story of his life as confided to that writer by Martin, whose real name was not Mike but John. There is also a smaller pamphlet by Mr. Waldo which is a detailed report of the court proceedings as reported by him, and by the same publishers, in 1821. Still another, probably elicited by the first named, deals with the publicity given to the reputed penitence of criminals, and is a careful exposition and defence of the then existing law. A later pub
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