The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1826-04-26

TINS was in February. then took another
room, and the windows were boarded M. and
he was kept through the winter without FIRE.
My room was above, and often heard thert
beat him, and heard him cry. He used 10 nro-
pose that we should return TO our farms TO re-
side. demonstrated against their usage Of Rim.
and thereby incurred their displeasure There
were no windows in the room where he was
last confined, and the stencil was very disa-
greeabIe. | never supposed he was crazy.
His conversation was very regular. lie often
complained bitterly that he had given up all
his property to the Shakers, and, in return.
they used him thus. They are under the gov.
eminent OF John Warner, whose orders must
be obeyed, whether the person thinks them
right or wrong. The confinement must have
been by his direction.
Cross eramined.--I lived with Rabbit after
he was chained till he broke the windows.
near month, when | refused 10 continue
with him any longer. While with him made
him as comfortable as | could. INasnol in
full communion, as retained my properly
was there about Eve and a half years. For
merly was in full communion with Them
went there when | was q years old, and
staid II years, when, being dissatisfied, left
them and staid away ill my wife died. and
then, having daughter there, returned again.
After Babbit was in his new place, one dav.
getting little chaled, as any other persoy,
acould aho cas confined in such a place for
nothing, he got hold of my jacket and tore Il
all OF IF me. One time Rabbit told Inc that
young man, named Sweetng, counted his
VINE before he married her, and he sunposad
ne was then IN another room talking with
Ne H'ed win Rabbit or months in The
square mouse oeIore he was chained. lie was
a. ,esutar as any other man. Formerly new
er heard him swear, but lately hoard him
say that those who had cot his pToner,v wore
pack of id rascals.
Moses ". Hanmond.-I was ACQUAINTED
with Rabbit from 1910 to 1924, when left
the 9hakers. When first went there he was
trustee ana deacon, and had the manage.
,heht OF me property. About 1915, having
iost some OF The property, he was removed
One day, in consequence of getting his Csot
wet, he took violent cold, which was sue.
ceeded by paralytic shock. Ne afterwards
had another. Rabbit had box. prior 10 The
paralytic shock, containing GO dollars. This
was taken from him, and he complained much
OF Il. In the fail Of 1899 or '23, saw him
chaIncd as has been described. His windows
were boarded up, but the boards were go far
apart that could look in between them. and
see al! about the room. often saw him there
demonstrated against the nhumanity of his
confinement. Hosea Winchester had the care
OF HIM that winter. The witness then con-
hrmed the statements made by Clark.
CT0ss-eTGn1tned.-Onc when was glazing
q window, Babbit came 10 me, and wanted
me TO do some trfling thing, which refused
TIL had done the window; whereupon he
clenched me, and we had scuf1e. durino
which we fell, and | came uppermos., NV
brother, who is an elder, then came I'D. and
gave him into his charge. At another time
Rabbit got shave from Winchester and de.
clared he would break his chains and get
away Winchester, in attempting to recover
1t, got his hand cut. then took stack and :
raped his knuckles, and succeeded in getting
1t from him. have repeatedly seen Rabbit
when suffering from cold.
Charles HanlnaOnd-I was acquainted with
Bahbit from 500 till left, 8 wears since
He once shook handspike ove- nv mead
AMI threatened to knock me down. He after
wards came into room where several of us
were: and threatened to knock us down with
a rake. This was while he had the manage
neht OF The business. saw him chained. as
mas been described, the day he broke the stove.
After he was removed to the small building.
prepared Tor him, often saw him when the
air was so offensive that could not stay in the
room. saw Seth Blanchard have Rabbit on the
floor beating him severely with a large stick.
about the size of walking stick, in Inc sum
mer OF 1922 or 20, | think the latter, | do
not recollcct what conversation passed he
tween them, as did not pay much attention
to IT. have often heard him use rough
threatening language, both when first went
there and since, but more frequently of late.
since his authority has been taken from him.
He frequently had disputes and quarrels.
When he was confined and Geo. w. Priest
had the care of him, he got saw, Priest
and myself tried TO induce him to give il I'D
les; he should saw off the studs and get out,
but, he refusing, we went in, and took it from
him by force, during which Rabbit got Priests
thumb in his mouth and bit it badly.
Leri Babbit-Shortly after Seth Bahbit
was removed TO the small house and confined.
went up to see him, and saw Eleazer Rix and
Seth Blanchard, have him the floor tying
him, they tied his feet to the studs, two feet
from the floor, pinioned his arms TO his side.
and then beat him with a piece of lath.
They took him by the collar and would raise
his head and beat it back again upon the floor,
After they had bound him fast they threatened
him with other more serious violence than
was actually committed. At another time
saw Seth Blanchard stand outside of the
studs and throw Tore over Rabbits head.
to draw him up and tie him to the studs, but
Rabbit would throw il off again. At another
time, saw Hosea Winchester strike him with
a horse-whip, and then throw him on the
floor and strike him again. understood tho
reason Of Rix and Blanchard's treatment Of
Rabbit to be because he had torn the lath of
of the room. have sometimes had scuffles
with Rabbit, in consequence Of using aggra-
waiting language towards him. At one time
Grove Blanchard told me ought not 10 as-
gravate him.
Geo. W. II. Priest.--When Joined the
Shakers, lived in the same house with Bab-