The Massachusetts spy, or, Thomas's Boston journal. [volume] (Boston [Mass.]) 1772-1775, 1774-02-03
THURS Y, FEBRUARY 3, 1874.

bllAI IC Has HOI pCSi dOiS W 49,
for long time neither did the children
eicape the fury of thole determined execu-
tors of civil juitice. The whole family
Jared alike, probably that all might De alike
proceeded againR, as riotous oPPoieTs Of
lawful authority. However, on Mr.. But
rs declaration they all went oft together:
md faid Hathon being conitable returned
the writ lerved, though Butler never knew
he had one till fome time after.
In about an hour Cumming and ION
came back to Mr.. Buffers with near thirty
other people, under command of one VIII
fon, who was iaid to be deputed by Hathon,
and commanded the people who were with
him as aaifants, to take MIR. Butler and
all his family for breach of the peace and
laid Wilton entered the houfe brandiihing
a naked lword in his hand, attended by
Noah Sabin, Efq; one of the aflittant jul
tees of the county, who told Mr.. Butler
that if he did not furrender ne would raiie
the whole county.
Mr.. Butler hereupon furendered, and
they let one Deacon Parker to guard Mrs.
Butler, though Che was unable to fit up on
||S.her bed, by realon of the battery fhe had
RtSivcd of Hathon. Having done this,
b rhey hook Mr.. Butler and iomc of the chill
/ dog and carried them to Cumming shouie,
Where they took bail for their appearance
at the court next to be holden for the
county.
JuAice Sabin alto told MIR. Butler that
in cafe his wife and the other child did not
come and give bail within three days he
would fcnd for them and happening with
one of them, a young Lad, on the road he
took him up himlelf and confined him
whole day, without giving him any account
why he did it, or pretending any warrant
whereby he was held prifoner.
What renders it very lulpicious that all
this cruel and vexatious treatment of Mr..
Butler is to drive him from his place is, that
one Malachi Church was all this time watt
ing at Cummings to warn him of the
land.
Another Circumstance hardly demonltra-
tive of the greatea impartiality in the jui-
tice, was, bis refuGng, with an air of con-
tempt, warrant requelted by MIR. Butler,
againR the perions who had committed 10
evident an outrage upon his family. The
Juifice indeed made pin at their luffer-
ings, as a matter worthy of no regard, ard
afterwards Eaid they were all priloners and
had no right to have their complaints no
ticed, or warrants granted in their favour.
Fine doctrine this Juitice Sabin
The ifue of all this law work was this,
that Mr.. Butler was committed TO Jail, for
FIX months, his wife for one week, and fen
fenced to pay ten pounds York money !
and the poor old couple before mentioned
were ALTO fined for breach of the peace.
N.B The court would fuffer no law
yer from MaGachuletts or New-Hampihirc
to defend this action.
Another remarkable was, that on trial
the Judges asked Mr.. Butler and his wife,
if they pleaded guilty! They anfwcred. no J
but it ieems this did not anfwer their end,
as they urged them oalter their plea to that
degree, that at length they both coniented,
declaring however, that they coniented to
a falfe plea, and they were not guilty,
though they had coniensed to be called 10.
Ouere, WAS not thisexpedient necciiary
to help out want of evidence in the fuP-
port of an action, againa pcrfons Aecping
in their beds, at the commencement OF an
outrage upon them, as being guilty OF IL
otous breach of peace upon the ai.ailants.
A further inifance of the tenderness OF
this humane court was, that when Mr.. But
Ter and his wife were ordered to Pri!on, the
Sheriff found the woman had young H.