The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1847-06-10
John Wadleigh's Trial.

Calais to Matamoras. 1t was written origin
ally for the New York Illustrated Magazir
and is thus condensed by an exchange paper
John Wadlcigh, the hero, was addicted t.
sleeping in meeting, an offence in those day
which brought the unluclSy sleeper under th'
notice Of the ustice Deacon Winslow whc
had been overreached by WadIeigh in tho
sale of COW, watched him closely for a mum
Der of Sundays, but was unable to get any
positive evidence asto the matter. Though
John always appeared to be asleep at the close
of the sermon, yet when the congregation rose
up to prayers, he always managed to be up
with them, though with a flushed face and
ruiltv countenancc. The Deacon suggested
to Parson Moody that on the next sabbath he
should, at the close of the Sermon, sit down
quietly, for three or four minutes, las if fatigued
and see whether Wadleigh would sleep on
The plan was tried, but without any very
satisfactory result. John held his head down
for about half minute after the parson had
finished his discourse, and then started sud
denly, rose to his feet, looked confusedly fora
moment and sat down again.
The Grand Jury finally indicted john
We pass over the account Of the opening of
the Court, by Deacon Winslow, who was JUS
ticc, as well as Deacon, and quote the follow
ing account of some Of the proceedings Of the
trial. In the first place, however, Squire
Chandler made point that the prisoner
should prove his innocence If he was not
asleep, lot him prove his alibi. May it please
your honor" said Chandler, al take that
ground, and there l stick ; | call upon the
prisoner to prove his allb" The Justice de-
cdal against Squire Chandler and Solomon
Young was sworn.
Question by Chandler Do you know that
John NVadlcigh sleeps in meeting?
Witness: guess faint no secret don't !
know any body but what does know it.
Chandler: Well, do you know it? That's
the question.
StebbinS objected to the question. 1t was
leading question, and they had no right to
put leading questions to the witness.
Chandler: Well, then let the court put the
question.
Justice Winslow Whatdo you know about
John Wadleigh sleeping in meeting?
Witness: | know all about it, faint no Sc
cret, / guess.
Justice Then tell us all about it that's
Just what we want to know.
Witness, scratching his head, well, the long
and the short of it is John Wadleigh is hard
workin' man; that is, he works very hard do
ing nothing; and that's the hardest work there
is done. 1t will make Teller sleepy quicker
than poppy leaves. So it stands to reason that
|Yadleigh would materially be a very sleepy
sort of a person. Well, Parson Moody's sar-
mons arc sometimes materially pretty long, and !
the weather is sometimes materially consdera-
BILE warm and the sarmons is sometimes rath-
or heavy like,
Stop stop, said Squire Winslow, no rehec-
tions upon Parson Moody; that is not what
you were called here for.
Witness: don't cast no reflections on Par
son Moody, was only telling what | know
about John Wadleigh's sleeping in meeting
and its my opinion, especially in warm wealth.
er, that sarmons that are heavy like and two
hours long, materially have a tendency
Stop, stop, say, said Squire Winslow, if
yor repeat any of these reflections on Parson
Bloody again. I'll commit you to the cage for
contempt Of court.
Witness: l don't cast no reflections on Par
son Moody, was only telling what | know
about John Wadleigt's sleeping in meeting
Squire Winslow: Well 90 on and tell us
all about that. You warn't called here to
testify about Parson Moody.
Witness: That's what am trying to do, if
you wouldn't keep putting me out. And its
my opinion in warm weather, folks is consid-
cradle apt to sleep in meeting; especially
where the sarmon--I mean especially when
they get pretty tired. | know find it pretty
hard work to get by seventhly and eighthly
in the sarmon myself; but if / once get by
there, l generally get into a kind of waking
train again, and make out to weather. it. But
it isn't so with Wadlcigh I've generally nc
tlced that if he begins to cape at seventhly
and eighty, its gone goose with him before {
he gets through tenthly, and he has to look
out for another prop to his head somewhere,
for his neck it not stiff enough to hold it up.
And tO civ has 4
dead as a door nail till the amen brings the [
people up to prayers, and then Wadleigh {
comes up with a jerk just like opening a
jack knife. 5
Stebbns, cross examining the witness: Mr..
Young, how do you know that Wadleigh is {
asleep on these occasions {
Witness Cause hei is. Every body says he !
is. t
Stebbins; That won't do; we don't want t
you to tell us what every body says. You
must tell us how you know he is asleep.
Witness Well-'cause he begins to cape =
at soyenthly and props his head up at tcnthly
and don't Stir again till the amen,
Stebbins: Well, how do you know that he 7
is asleep at that time
Witness. Cause, when | see him settle 7
down in that kind of a way, and cover his face |
up so can't see his eyes know he's asleep. y
Stebblns: That's no proof at all the wit .
ness only knows he was asleep because he
couldn't see his eyes.
Jonathan Staples, blind man, was sworn
and examined:
Chandler: Now, Staples, doyou know that
John Wadleigh sleeps in meeting? O
Staples: Yes do. "
Chandler: Do you k1ow it. i,
Staples Yes do. :,
Squire Winslow; How do you know it, h
Staples Why, | hear him sleep every Sab !,
bath. "
Chandler; What is the state of your hear
;ur