The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1821-1823, 1822-04-03

those seats DeIng approprIaLeds as the
whole current of testimony on both sides
showed, to ministers, elders, overseers,
and aged and venerable persons, who are
invited to sit there-other persons sit
there only on particular occasions, when
the house is crowded, &c. The defend
ants have also been in the habit of
speaking in the meetings, much to the
dissatisfaction Of the audience, and it was
very manifest that their words were not
always g fifty spoken" This practice
also was proved to be contrary to The
rules and orders of the Society--but the
offence charged against the defendants
consisted mainly in taking the Ministers
seats, and occupying them wroDgfuily.
On the 14th Of February, at meeting
for business, this disorder was repeated,
which constitutes one of the offences
charged in the Indictment. The over
seers of the Society met for the purpose
of devising measures to prevent the like
disturbances in future.-On the morning
of the nth, Sabbath day, the defendants
were severaily warned and cautioned
not to take the Minister'S seats, and
the overseers who waited on them, en-
deayoured to convince them of the i'm
propriety of such conduct. The warn-
Ing was in writing, and contained the
reasons of the course they were pursu-
ing, among which was some profane and
opprobrious language, which one of the
defendants had uttered in meeting, and
who declared to the overseer who warm
ed him, swell be as strong as you.n--
At the usual time of meeting on the
morning of the nth, it appeared that
John Alley came in with sword girded
by his side, attended by Jonathan Buff
fun, and made his way towards the high
seats-he was stopped by one of the
overseers, and after considerable strug-
CLING and disturbance the sword was Ia
ken from him by cutting the belt. The
cry of "let him alone,'' was set up and
repeated by his adherents, and the high
seats were in fact occupied by the de-
PENDANTS and one Daniel B. Alley, who
is not indicted-the defendants occupied
those seats during the forenoon service,
and no other disturbance was stated to
have taken place In the afternoon the
defendants took the same seats; Bufum
declaring to the overseer, who again re-
quested him to sit on the floor seats, that
he ''would take a seat where he pleas
ed."-After they were all seated, Isaac
Basset, one Of the oyerseers, addressed
them, stating that they had had time to
reflect on what they were about, and
desired them to come down from those
seats. No one replied, except Bulfum,
who bid the overseer sit down, as he
was disturbing The meeting Friend
Basset then addressed the meeting, say
ing that the overseers had found it ne
cessary 10 make stand against the pro-
ceediEgs Of the defendants, and request
ed all present to remain silent and keep
their places, except such as should be
called upon. He then requested three
Friends, by name; to take Benjamin.
Shaw and remove him from the meet
ing as quietly as possible, and keep him
safely till further measures could be la
ken respecting him-then requested
three others TO take John Alley and car
Sy him out in like manner When the
Friends took hold of Alley; Buffum inter-
posed, and took hold of his arm, saying,
let this man alone" As soon as they
were brought down TO the floor, there
was great crowd from the seats pressing
into the aisle and iuterposing between the
persons who were taking out the defend
ants and the door-some crying, & this
is too bad" and some, among whom was
Prescribed Sprague, laying hold Of the
clothes Of The carriers, and forcibly hold
ing them back, and endeaYouring to pre-
vent them from carrying the men out.
They were, however, all taken out Of
the meeting, and detained at the neigh
bouring houses: after which the meeting
was resumed and continued quiet.
Much evidence was alsointroduced on
the part of the prosecution, showing that
the uniform practice among the Friends,
not only in this State but in several 9th
eys. is to appropriate the high seats as
they have been at Lynn.
The defence which was set up by L.
Saltonstall and ID. Cummins, Esdrs. con-
sisted of evidence Of insanity, SO far as
respects Benjamin Shaw, and as to the
others, a denial Of the existence Of any
such usage as the Commonwealth
counsel had attempted 10 prove. Sew