The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1854-11-25
A Curi,us Experiment.

"A NuIi' Us IApfIihtHts
The Lowell Adcertistr of the 2sth ult
contains the following examination at the
criminal term Of the court Of common pleas,
Judge Bishop presiding. 1t is amost singu-
lar affair, and will make people open their
eyes:
/ The case on trial was the Commonwealth
vs. Michael Roardon, for rape District at
torney Train for government; B. q. Butler
| and Daniel Needham for defendant.
/ II. C. Snow, of Groton, having testified
| for the government, Mr.. Butler on cross
/ examination, asked him the following ques-
ton
/ o you belong to a secret society popular
/ " called know nothings?
| Mr. Snow having denied that he did, and
stoUt'y yeysis'jHg in the denial, the question
1 was put in different form, when he was
| finally driven to the wall, and asked leave Of
/ the court TO consult counsel. This liberty
was politely granted by Judge Bishop, who
| gave the Jury a recess Of ten minutes on ac-
count Of the delay.
When Mr. Snow again took the stand, the
/ question was again asked, upon which he
/ promprlyjrcplicd ~ cannot answer tlat
question without eliminating myself, and
sublccting myself to punishment Again
/ and again was the question urged by the in
/ gcnious counsel for the dcitnlari eysry
, time assuming some new form, buC bearing
the same fearful visagc TO this disciple of the
secret order, until, at last, having detained
the court inuro than two hours, and eXhaus-
ted every bodys patience, he reriied-'I
DO"
7 Question. How long have you belonged
to il: Answer. About four or five months.
@ Is il a secret sOciet,y \. II is. q.
Did YOU take any oath or obligation in join
Ing that society: A. Ibid take an obliga.
ton. q. How was it administered toyou-
/ did you hold up your hand when il was ad
ministcrcd? 4. ibid. Q. Did you call
upon God to witness the obligation, \. !
I think did.-"So help me God were the
/ last words. Q. Are there different degrees
in that society," A. There arc. q. How
many have you taken: A. Two. q.
Docs DR.. Norman Smith "a witness in the
case) belong to that society! \. | have
seen him at the meetings. q. Have you
ever seen John 4. Gardner (another wit
ness at the meetings of the society? \. |
have. q. Have you ever seen Deacon John
\. Pingrce (anothcr witness) at the meetings
of the society? A. | have. q. What is
the form of the initiation: a. | shall not
tell, as it will criminate me and expose me to
punishment.
Here the court remarked to the witness
that he had right to protect himself lfhc
had taken an oath contrary to the law, he
was not bound to crimnate himself. But
said Judge Bishop this is a startling reycla
/ t;n,, that tnln al. ',fratinpS in
cicties, which are regarded by them as OF
higher authority than those administered in
this court
A. NJ. Gage was then called. lie testified
in frank, numerous manner, that he once
joined the order, but left it three months
ago. Mr.. Butler called his attention to au
exposition of the oath, published in the Bos
ton PoSi of Oct 2jth, which Mr.. Gage seem
"a to think was about the kind ofoath admi-
nistcred to him, though he did not know ex-
actly. From his testimony, we judge he be-
came diSgustcd with the order, and exposed
its secrets without any misgiyings.
DR.. Norman Smith called. q. Do you
bcleng to secret society opposed to aliens !?
4. do to society which is calculated to
exercise political influence q. Does it
not also exercise religious influence? A.
Some think it does. q. Can Roman Ca
tholic join that society? A. Not il he is a
foreigner q. Can he ifhc is an American
born citizen? a. No. g. Can he if his
wife is catholic and he n protestant. A.
No. Q. What is the object Of the society,"
The doctor, drawing himself up to his full
height, and extending in a statesman-likc
manner his right arm, replied with great el
oqucncc, "To protect our liberty, sir" at
the same time bringing his right hand, with
great violence, down upon the Judges bench,
and making the court house echo with the
sound of his hand, as well as the music of his
voice.
@. What is the form of initiation, and
what the character of the oblgatioh you
takcg A. lcannot tell you. q. Why?
A. Because have bound myself not to.
@. But have you not sworn here before this
court to tell the whole truth and nothing but
the TRUTH A. shall not tell unless am
obliged to.
The court here asked the witness il he
thought by answering he would expose him.
self to punishment to which he answered,
yes.
Q. Did you assist in getting up the lodge
at Grotong A. did. O. Are you an
officer in the lodgcg A. lam. Q. What
Office do you holdg \. cannot answer
that question without eliminating myself,
and exposing myself to punishment.
We have clipped out during the past few
days now and then pun or clever concct,
or well expressed thought that has fallen
under our eye as we were glancing over the
papers. Some will excite laugh--somc