The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1847-06-10
Squire Winslow Do YOU know him to be

Squire Winslow Do you know him to be
asleep at these times
Staples Yes, l guess I do; don't see how
| could help it, | know him to be asleep az
well as l know I'm awake,
: Esq. Stcbbins did not elicit any more infor-
nation by cross examination. Staples per
sisted that he knew John was asleep We
omit the speech of Stebbins in defence, he
thought the case was not made out, and there
was no need of argument Esq. Chandler up
on this rose and spoke as follows:
May it please your honor, (said he) am
astonshed, | am amazed at the hardihood of
my learned friend, the counsel on the oppo-
site side of this cause. Why, sir, fever there
was case made out in any court under heav-
en-, by clear positive, and irresistible evil
dence, it is this Sir, | say, evidence as clear
as sunshine and irresistible as thunder. First
sir, an unimpeachable witness swears to you
that he sees this eulprit, the prisoner at the
bar, gaping in meeting, and exhibiting all the
signs Of going to sleep; then he secs him flat
tening away and nuzzling about to find prop
for his head Now, sir, men don't want a
prop for their heads when they are awake
it is only when they are asleep that they
want prop for their heads, sir. Well, sir,
now, sir, follow the prisoner along little fur
Their, and what do we find sir? Do we find
him wide awake sir attending to the service
as christian and man ought to do No sir.
We find him, from tenthly up to sixteenthly |
as;dead as Il door nail Whatne sir? Why |
then the witness swears to you that when the |
congregation rise up for prayers, Wadleigh |
comes up with jerk, just like opening a |
jack knife Them's the witnesses very words !
sir Now, sir, persons awake don't get up in
that sort of style. It's on them that's walked |
up out Of a sudden sleep that comes up with
sudden jerk, like opening jack knife, sir
What stronger proof do we need, or rather,
what stronger proof could we have, of all the
signs of sleep, than we have from this
witness. | affirm, sir, it isn't in the power of
human testimony to be more to the point, more
full or stronger than this
Well, sir, then we have another witness,
blind Staples, who swears to you equally
strong with regard to the internal evidences
Of sleep. He swearS to you that he hears
Wadloigh asleep every Sabbath. That he
'an tell when person is asleep or awake by
lis breathing, as easily as he can tell whether
lc's asleep or awake himself This witness
wears to you that during the first part of the
exercises Wadlcig h has waking breath
And when the minister gets along to seventh
y ttili SlSlttlO iiS btSlilo ~ nave SlCCp1 |
,reath. Well sir, when the minister gets to
entity, the witness swears to you that Wad-
egh commonly goes it like a porpus. Yes {
if, so sound asleep, for that's the inference
hat he goes it like porpus. Sir will not ,
ay another word. | will not waste words up Z
n a case so strong, SO clear, and so perfectly :
lade out. If this evidence does not prove 1
he culprit Wadleigh to be a common sleeper
\ meeting on the Lords day, then there is
o dependence to be placed in human testi-
lony. Sir, have done. Whether this man
J to be convicted or not, clear my skirts
nd when posteritory shall see the account of I
his trial, should the culprit 60 clear, they
lay cry out Judgment has fed to british
casts, and men have lost their reason :" but
ley shall not say Chandler did not do his
uty. Il
The effect of this speech was very great !
After pause Of several minutes, Squire Win
low spoke.
This is a very clear case, said he, there can
"a no question of the prisoners guilt and he
sentenced tie be confined in the cage four r
lours, and in the stocks one hour. Consta-
lie Cleaves will take charge of the prisoner,
nd see the sentence properly executed