LATEST NEWS FROM AMERICA.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 236, 2 April 1866, Page 3

LATEST NEWS FROM AMERICA.

4 By the barque Ceres, from San Erancisco, which reached Auckland on the 13th, American papers were received to the 24th January. Eor the following extracts from the San Francisco Morning Call we are indebted to the Southern Cross : — SENSATIONAL STORY OF AN INFERNAL MACHINE TO EILL JUDGE FIELD. Washington, 16th Jan. Three days ago — Saturday, 13th Jan. — the Hon. Stephen J. Eield received, through the mail from San Erancisco, . a package addressed to him, and mailed at San Erancisco in December — the date too obscure to be deciphered. ' On stripping off the wrapper, a small 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 was thus destroyed. The cause was then discovered to be a powerful torpedo, filled with Minie pistol bullets and powder, and doubtless so arranged as to explode by the friction of opening. Pasted to one of the fragments of the box was found a printed newspaper paragraph relating to the decision of October 30, 1864, in the Pueblo case of San Erancisco. The Judge had just received his San Erancisco mail of the 21st December, and Avas opening it in his room in the presence of Judge Lake, when the torpedo package came under notice. He opened the lid of the case about one-eighth of an inch, when he discovered that it appeared to be held by a wire. He then called Judge Lake's attention to it, and under the impression that it might be a torpedo, it was 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.