The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1826-04-26
GCorcfster:
TRIAL or THE SHAKERS
WEDNESDAY, April 2G, 1926.


In consequence of the interest which has
oeeh manifested IN relation to the charges a.
galnst the Society of Shakers, in Harvard. we
have made report Of the trial of several of
the Society, which took place before the Su-
preme Judicial Court, in this town, on the 2oa
| inst.
The indictment charged the defendants
john Warner, Caleb Crouch, Piinv Blapcb.
ard, Seth Blanchard, Thomas Hammond. Uo.
sea Winchester, John Orsment, and John Ors-
ment, Jr. who are he head men of the Socie-
tty, with having falsely imprisoned one Seth
Rabbit, from the year 1923 to the fading of
the Indictment, and with having. at sundry
times during that period, violently assaulted
and beaten him. The cause was opened. on
the part OF the government, by the Solicitor
General, who briefly stated the nature of the
offence, with which the defendants were
charged, and proceeded to call the witnesses
as follows:
Hhan1ar Wallard.-Between the 18th and
goth Of June last, | accompanied the Select
men of Harvard TO the Shaker village, to as
certain the situation of Seth Rabbit We
found him confined in building l2 by 10 feet
square, the part which he occupied being s
by IL feet square. and separated from the rest
by joist partition. 1t was very warm wealth
er, and there was no window open. A vault
in one corner of the room made it very often
ave. Pliny Blanchard thought t an un-
suitable place to converse, and we went wi,.:
him to the office. When we first to
Dabbit-s place VI confinement, he sat on his
bed with nothing but his shirt on. saw no
signs of arrangement | asked him if he
could walk, but he did not reply. We then
raised him by his arms, but, as he did not in
cline to walk, we sat him down again. The
door of his apartment was confined by an iron
bar.
After we came to the Office, Pliny Blanch-
ard said, if the Selectmen would come on
day which he named, they would satisfy them
that Rabbit had not been misused. At the
time agreed on we went, but Blanchard re-
fused to let US see him, and VIC went away.
Thomas BigeiOw.- Went, with other inhab-
itants of Harvard, to Rabbits place of con-
fnement, on a very warm day, and found the
door closed, and the air in the room so often
sive, that we were obliged to retire. The
room occupied by him is by 10 feet square,
and no window in it. The joists by which
it is separated from the other part, are so near
together, that a person could not pass be-
tween them. Rabbit was not chained. in
quired Why they did not let some air in, and
they then opened the windows in The front
part of the building. | saw Rabbit not long
after, and asked him if he would like TO 90
away; he made no answer, but griped my
hand very hard and shed tears.
jonathan WetheT6ee.- About the 23d of
June last, the Sclcctinen Of Harvard, of which
| am one, went to the Shakers village at the
request Of the inhabitants. We went with
Piiny Blanchard and Caleb Crouch to Bah
bits house, and found it closed. Rabbit was
confined as has been described. The studs
which separated his room were or 8 inches
apart. lie sat beside his bed with nothing
bit his shirt on; seemed embarrassed and did
not incline to answer our queries. nquir-
ed the cause Of his confinement, and Plny
Blanchard said he was dangerous man to be
at liberty. committee was chosen, at the
request Of Phny Blanchard, to hear their de-
fence. AT the appointed time, three Justices
attended with us, and heard them After the
committee reported, they wanted to know VIVA:
proposals we world make. | proposed he
should be boarded month in private family,
TO ascertain it he was deranged, which was
declined, they saying that, if they had got to
take care Of him, they would do it in their
own way, and let the law take its course.
Gross eranained.-.It was proposed that
Babbit should be boarded at the expense Of
the Shakers. Pliny Blanchard proposed he
should be boarded out in their village, which
we declined. no offer was made by us to
board him at the expense of the town. At the
| time they refused to let Rabbit be seen, there
was great crowd, say or 800 people present.
The first visit we made was without the pre-
vious knowledge of the Shakers. Plny Blan-
chard said, if any body thought they could do
letter by Rabbit than they had done, they
were welcome to do it.
jonathan Ciark.-Lived among the Shakers,
and lodged in the same room With Rabbit, in
1922. lie being heavy gross man, we had
separate beds. lie is 60 years old. ! always
found him a peaceabIe man. One day Seth
Blanchard and John Orsment, jr. came into
our room, and chained him down to the floor,
beside his bed. lie could get into bed, and
put his feet TO the stove with the chain on
but could not take his pantaoons off. He Of
ten cried and complained of his usage. con-
tinued to live with him till, one day, he request
cd me TO unchain him, which refused, telling
him, IL took them of OF him, ! should get
chained myself. After left the room Rabbit
turned his stove over, and broke II to pieces,
J and threw them through the window. Think