Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1850-01-31

~ WV SNOu dhu PCuOCuDlC SuDJCIpI
in this province; the accusers being very posi-.
tive that if the accused were weighed in scales
against Bible, that the Bible would prove too
heavy for them, or that if they were bound and
put into The creek they would swm-the said
accused desirous to make their innocence appear
voluntarily offered to undergo the said trials, if
two of the most violent of their accusers would
be tried with them
Accordingly the time and place was agreed
on, and advertised about the county; the ac-
cusers were one man and one woman; and the
accused The same. The parties being met, and
the people got together, a grand consultation
was held, before they proceeded to trial; in
which it was agreed 10 use the scales first and
committee Of men were appointed to sear h
the men, and so also the women, 10 see if they
had any thing of weight about them, particular
ly pins.
After the scrutiny was over huge great BIZ
be, belonging to the Justices Of the peace, was
provided, and q lane through the popuace was
made from The Justices house to the scales
which were fixed OIL IA calows for that purpose
opposite to the house that the Justices wife and
the rest of the ladies might see the trial, with
out coming amongst the mo; ; and after the
manner of Moorfelds, large ring was also
made Then came out of the house, a grave,
tall man, carrying the Holy Writ before the sup
posed wizard, &C., as soemny as the sword
bearer of Londor before the Lord Mayor.) The
wizard was first put into the scales and over him
was read chapter out of the book Of Moses
and then the Bible was put in the other, (which
being keIt down bcfore,) was Immediately lei
go; but to the great surprise of the spectators
flesh and bones came down plump, and out
weighed that great book by abundance.
After the same manner, the others were serv
ed and their Jumps of mortality severally wer'
too helvy for the big book.-plump they CAM
down.
This being over, the accusers and the mob
not satisfied with this experiment, would hav
the trial by water accordingly most solem
procession was made to the mill pond, wher
both accused and accusers being partially strip
ped of their clothing, were bound hand and foo
and severay placed in the water lengthway
from the side of a blrge, having for security
rope about the middle of each, which was hel
by some IN the barge. The accused man hein
thin and spare, with difficulty began 10 sink
last; but the other three swan very light upo
the water. A sailor in the barge jumped oil
upon ,lle back of the man accused, thinking
drive him 10 the bottom but the person boun
n, anna time before Il
other. The woman accused being told that
she did not sink, she would be ducked secor
time; when she swan as light as before. Upc
this she declared that the accused had bewitcl
ed her to make her so light, and that she woul
be ducked hundred times, but she would due
the devil out of her. The accused man bein
fdent of his innocence as before, but said, I" If
am witch il is more than know" The mo
thinking part of the spectators were Of the opi
ION that any person so bound and placed in tt
water uness they were mere skin and bone
would swim unless their breath was gone, al
their lungs filled with water. But it being tt
general belief of the populace that the lit
clothing which the accused had on helped
support them. it is SAID they are to be tried aga
the first warm weather, entirely divested of it.