Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1849-09-29

.Nead.--The Lord Judge between me and
thee in this matter
Then he was put into the bail-dock, and
the Recorder directed the jury, which,
while he was doing, Penn and Mead cried
out from the bail-dock, that it was illegal
to direct the jury in the absence of the
prisoner, and quoted Coke's second insti-
tute on the chapter of Magma charta.
Rec.-Why you are present, you do
hear, do you not! ...
Then the prisoners cried out they had
several other things to offer, and that they
had been violently thrust into the bail-dock,
and not suffered 10 make their defence.
The court ordered the jury 10 90 togeth-
er, and after half an hour, eight of them
came down, and the court sent for the other
four and demanded if the prisoners were
guilty.
The foreman answered that Penn was
guilty of speaking in Gracechurch street.
Rec.--You had as good say nothing.
Id. .Nlyor.--Was it not an unlawful
assembly? You mean he was speaking to
tunut of people there.
Forem1n.---That is all | have in commits
sion.
Rec.---Go and consider of it again.
After some time the jury returned into
court.
Cie1k.--How say you, is William Penn
guilty in manner and form, as he stands in
dicted!
Then the foreman rendered the follow
ing paper to the court, signed by all the
jury. ....t..
We, the jurors hereafter named, do find
William Penn TO be guilty Of speaking or
preaching TO an assembly met together in
Gracechurch street, the l4th of August last.
1870 And that William Mead is not
guilty of the said indictment.
Some OF the bench were for accepting
this verdict, but the evidence being as full
against Mead, as against Penn, the court re-
fused it.
Id. .Nayor.---You have heard that he
preached, that he thereby created atumult.
and that Mead abetted him, and they not
only disobeyed the martial, but the civil
power.
Pean.---We did not make the tumult,
but they that interrupted us. We were by
force and arms kept out of our lawful house.
and met together in peaceable manner as
near to it as the soldiers would give US
leave. ...
The court swore an officer 10 keep the
jury without meat, drink, fire or candle,
and adjourned until next morning; when
the jury came into court again.
Cierh.---ls william Penn guilty.. SC.
Forcm sQ.---Wiliiam Penn is guilty of
speaking in GmcecLurch Street
Lord ,Ntgor.---To an unlawful assembly.
JYror.---No, my lord, we give no other
verdict than that we gave last night.
Id. ,Magor.--~You are furious fellow
and course ought to be taken with YOU.
Rel will have positive verdict, or
you shall starve for il.
Peaa.---Have they not found William
Mead not guilty Is not that verdict!
Rec.---lt cannot be verdict because YOU
were indicted of a conspiracy, and one be-
ing found not guilty, and not the other, it
cannot be verdict.
Penn.---The consent of the jury is ver-
dict, and if William Mead be not guilty, it
follows that | am clear: for | could not
conspire alone.
The court adjourned until next day, and
directed the jury 10 be kept as before; but
when they returned into court the next
morning, they gave verdict that The pris-
oners were neither of them guilty.
Whereupon the court set a fine of forty
marks upon the head of every one of the
jury, and ordered them TO be imprisoned
until paid.
Pcno.---I demand my liberty, being ac-
quilted by the jury.
Id. .4ayor.--No, YOU are in for your
fines, and contempt OF the court.
Then the jury as well as the prisoners
were commanded TO be carried TO Newgate,
and the court arose.