SENSATIONAL STORY OF AN INFERNAL MACHINE TO KILL JUDGE FIELD.

Otago Witness, Issue 748, 31 March 1866, Page 14

SENSATIONAL STORY OF AN INFERNAL MACHINE TO KILL JUDGE FIELD.

Washington, 16th Jan.

Three days ago — Saturday, 13th Jan. — the Hon. Stephen J. Fitld received through the mail from San Francieco, a package addressed to him, and mailed at San Francisco in December — the date too obscure to be deciphered. On stripping off the wrapper, a sma'l box was disclosed. A peculiarity in its appearance attracted attention ; and it was taken out of doors and burst open by being thrown against a stone pillar. All means of determining its mode of construction were thus destroyed. The cause was then discovered to be a powerful torpedo, filled with Minie pistol bullets and powder, and doubtless so arranged aa to explode by the friction of opening. Pasted to one of the fragments of the box was found a printed newspaper paragra ph relating to the decision of October 31, 1864. in the Pueblo case of San Francisco. The Judge had just received his San Francisco mail of the 21st December, and was opening it iv his room in the presence of Judge Lake, when the torpedo package came under notice. He opened the lid of the case about oneeighth of an inch, when he discovered that it appeared to be held by a wire. He then called Judjre Lake's attention to it, and under the impression that it might be a terpedo, it wes taken out of the room and opened in the manner above mentioned. [A curious story, to say the least, and in our estimation to be taken cum grano salis. — Eds. Call.}