Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1822-04-13
From the Pittsburgh Statesman.

from the Pittsburgh Statesman.
MAYORS coURr.--fe6ruary Term.
The Commonwealth Us. Abner updcgralf.
The defendent was indicted under the
act of 100, for blasphcmously declar-
ing "that the holy scriptures were Ia
BILE that they were contradiction ; and
although they contained many good
things, yet they contained great many
lies" II. M. CAMPBELL, WALTER
FoRwARp, and L. Is. DALLAS, Escrs.
were counsel for the commonwealth &
Ross WILKINS 5. S. MOUNTAIN, Esqrs.
for the detendent. On behalf OF the
commonwealth, great many witnesses
were sworn, who proved that the deien-
dent had, al different times, and in pub
lie meetings, spoken lightly OF the holy
scriptures, of Jesus Christ, and Of the
holy spirit. On behalf Of the dcfcndcnt,
some witnesses were called, who proved
thet he 7vas a man Of good morals, an
honest and Industrious citizen, and had
!given much towards building churches
in this city; in short, his character as
10 moral honesty svda unimneachable.
After the testimony had been gone
through, Mr.. Mountain entertained the
audience, which was numerous. with
speech of about three hours. He was
followed by Mr.. Forward, on behalf of
the commonwealth, when MIR. Wilkins
rose and spoke about an hour and
quarter, and Mr.. Campbell, the prose-
cutting attorney, closed the argument.
The counsel for the delendent contend
ed the law of 100, on which the indict-
ment was founded, was obsolete, because
it was founded on christianity; that our
constitution was NOT based on chriStian-
ty, and that the law in question was, and
that it was rendered imperative by the
constitution.
The recorder charged the jury. He
gave it as his opinion, that the prosecu-
ton should not have been entered in a
civil court, and quoted Acts, chapter V.
from the saith to the 3Sth verse.
"Then stood there up one in the
council, a Pharisee, named Gama.ieI,
a doctor Of the law, had in reputation
among all the people, and commanded
to put the apostle forth little space.
"And said unto them. Yc men Of
Isreal, take heed to yourselves what ye
intend to do as touching these men.
s'For before these days rose up Thud-
das, boas,ing himself TO be somebody I;
to whom number of men, about four
hundred, Joined themselves; who was
slain /; and all, as many as obeyed him,
were scattered and brought to nought.
"After this man rose up Judas OF
Galilee, in the days of the taxing; and
drew away much people after him he
also persisted and all, even as many as
obeycd him, were dispersed.
"And now say unto you, refrain
from the men, and let them alone; for
if this counsel or this work be Of men,
it will come to nought."
The recorder said, that christianity
was part of the law of the land; tina,
blasphemy was crime at common law,
in Pennsylvania /; that the act of 100
was in affirmance of the common law,
and that the constitution did not effect
or alter, in the smallest degree, the law
of 1900.
The Jury retired, and in short time
returned with virdict of gully.
The defendant was then sentenced &c
pay sum Of dollars, and the costs o.
prosecution and, in case of non-com'
pliance, TO be imprisoned for three
months at hard labour.