The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1827-07-18
GEORGE + MEEMs

The subject of this notice, who has of lat,
attained so unfortunate a notoretv, is, we be
lieve, native of Virginia, and a nephew o
NJ L. Weems, the biographer of Washington
During the last winters session ofthe Genera
Court, he boarded at Col Hamilton's Exchange
Coffee House. He was young man of fine
talents and genteel manners, though some
what eccentric. He was reputed to be cler-
gyman of fair standing, and it was understood
that he had officiated in that capacity, accepta.
bly,, in Boston and some of the neighborinu
towns. But while at Col Hamilton's, publ.
cation appeared under the authority of some Of
the ministers Of Boston, in which he was rep.
resented as an irnpostor, and the public were
cautioned against being deceived by him. The
manner in which this was received by him will
appear in another part of this article Some
little time after, two females of i'll fame were
arrested by the police for having in their pos
session articles which had been stolen from a
store IN Boston. On examination they stated
that the articles were received as presents from
the Rev. Mr.. Weems! This led to his arrest
and examination, when, on opening his trunk
at the police office, great coat was found be-
longing to William Felt, Esq. Representative
from Med6eld, and several books which had
been taken from the Salem Atheneum, togeth-
er with some articles belonging to other per-
sons. Under these circumstances he was COM
mtted to prison to await his trial
Several bills of Indictment were found against
him, and, OH the 18th inst. he was brought to
trial before the Municipal Court in Boston, on
the charge of stealing, from the hall of the
Representatives chamber, on the 2lst of Feb
ruary, blue camblct coat belonging to Will
liam Felt, Esq. Of Medfeld J. L. Austin, ESQ.
opened the case in behalf of the Common
wealth W. Felt, Esq. testified to his great
coat having been stolen from the State House
on the evening of Feb 81, and of its being
found sometime afterwards, in the trunk Of
the prisoner. Col. Hamilton testified to the
taking of the coat from prisoners trunk at the
police Office. The prisoner had boarded with
Col II. about six months, was a gentleman in
his address and department, and was on terms
of intimacy with his other boarders Messrs.
Lincoln, Washburn, and about twenty other
members of the Legislature also boarded there.
The defence was opened by Andrew Dun
lap, Esq. He did not think the prisoner could
be convicted ON the testimony which had been
offered. The coat was lost on the night when
Mr.. Jarvis made his speech on the bridge ques-
ton. 1t was time of great excitement The
coat might have been accidentally worn to the
Exchange, by some other person, and then
heedlessly thrown into the trunk by one of the
servants, or IL might have got there in thou
sand G'fferent ways, without imputing any
guilt to the prisoner. Weems is young man of
pious and highly respectable connexions
Some of his family have been insane, and he
appears to inherit the same terrible malady
He is not raving maniac, but testimony will
be adduced to show that his mind is disorder
ed-unsound, afflicted by disease which may
one day terminate his existence in mad house,
but which, trust, will never send him to the
State Prison
Rev, DIR. Gardner, sworn. Have been
acquainted with prisoner about three years.
Visited at my house, and conducted with
SISuI Plop1lCly anu uSCOIulIIs DuI i SOOlL
was satisfied that he was somewhat de-
ranged. His address was that of gentle
man; but after awhile the ladies ofmy family
he entered the parlor would leave him with
terror. In his conversation, he passed
from subject to subject with rapidity and
incoherence. His eyes would roll strange
ly at times, and his language was strong
and his tone of expression wild and inco-
herent. He was eXtravagant in his youth
and has expended his patrimony. He
studied medicine previous to his coming to
this city-and for six months of his time,
while studying divinity, l understand he
conducted with the utmost regularity. He
was a young man of talents but seemed
to possess considerable vanity, and once
Showed me some manuscript sermons,
which he said lady of his acquaintance
advised him to publish. | afterwards as
certained that the lady had never convers-
ed with him upon the subject, and had little
or no acquaintance with him. He seemed
to have great ambition to get into the pull
pit and on one occasion informed me that
the Rev Mr. Wayland had requested him
to officiate in his desk. He was eccentric
in his manners and inconsistent in his con-
duct; but never had any reason to doubt
his integrity.-Phineas Blair, Esq sworn
Prisoner boarded at the Exchange at the
same time did, he seemed to me like a
person disordered in his mind. lie used
to roll his eyes strangely, and thought
! him to be under the influence of deep re-
| ligious gloom; and several times observ-
ed to some of the bcalders, that should
not be at all surprised if he destroyed him
self in twenty-four hours.-Rev. Mr.
Pierce, of Reading. Prisoner had preach.
ed for him. His discourses were serious
and of more than ordinary excellence
Had no impression himself that Weem:
was insane, although his family had diff
ferent opinion. Had no doubt of his being
clergyman Of education and talents
Rev. Mr.. jerks sworn. | had a slight &C
quaintance with the prisoner. The cir
cumstances that led me to be acquainted
| 10 I'm my