1879 - An instance of heredity in crime is furnished by Elias Phillips, of Freetown, Mass., who recently appeared as a witness in a burglary trial, having turned State's evidence.

He is a great grandson of Malbone Briggs, a notorious criminal, who was in State-prison with seven of his sons at one time. Brigg's ancestry is traced back in a direct line to a noted pirate in the time of Earl Bellamont, and his branch of the family has for over a century furnished noted criminals in every generation. Phillips has only the use of his left arm, his right one being withered, but he recently made two keys by which an Assonet store was burglarized, and he can sail a boat, shoot a gun withe effect, and do other things remarkable under the circumstances. - Exchange.