Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1854-12-09
TIE WORCESTER RIOT.

yrs cnaTBcu Win rlOt, III the case OF y. y. BGtman,
of Worcester, occupied near ton days, and resulted
in binding over Mr.. Foster and five other individu-
ais Tor their appearance before the Court of Common
Pleas, in January. Mrs. Foster and the wife of
one Of the other accused, desired permission to sit
beside their husbands, and aid them as counsel
during their trial. But the Cour. refused them
permission so to do.
The Liberator gives tho following account of the
conclusion of the examination:
The preliminary examination of the alleged riot
ers in the Butmnn outbreak, at Worcester, was
terminated on the ninth day.
Messrs. Stoddard, lIoar, Chapin and Thayer
submitted their cases to the Court without argu-
ment.
5. s. Foster proposed to offer a few words. in
explanation Of his position in this case, and of his
relations to the Government. lie declined to &C.
knowledge the jurisdiction Of this Court, because
he had, years ago, severed himself entirely from
the government under the authority of which it
was established. lie drew n distinction between
living under q government, and having u connection
with it. He 81 d ho was willing, as Il matter Of
expediency, to bind himself TO appear before an.
other tribunal, and to submit to such penalties as
it might see lit to impose upon him but, while he
was willing to DO So, he would still maintain, 80
far rs he could, his perfect independence Of such
t ibunal. He had declined to a lduco defensive
NNANh9i'O N'ha'i'i9 |" NhAS NtNti Ntb NNh1s
not do SO at any stage of it. lie relied
upon his past life aud character as his defence
against charges OF riot and violence. lie believed
the present prosecution to he a wicked and mali.
cious one, got up for the purpose of harrassing and
troubling the defendants. lie believed that the
case had been prejudged, and, under this belief,
he had crus,-examined the evidence Of the prose
cutiOn, simply that he might present to the public
mind the bias and ialsity Of the tcstimuny-whcth.
er designed To bc So or otherwise, he would moi
say. lie was ii hon-rcSistant, and had been so foi
years but he declared, that if he ever could be
converted to the doctrines Of violence, he would,
upon the issue of slavery, g for II bloody revoiG'
ton.
Joseph A. lIowland said that, so far "a he could
understand, this case had been prGiudgCd, and
for this reason he dtd not put in any defence.
Mr.. Matthews submitted the case for the govern
mcnt without argument.
Judge Green summed ~. lie held that all Tie
yiolefice which took place on tn 30th was the re
suit of the proceedings at the American House or
the 18th. lie compared the action of Messrs. Eos
ter, Rowland and Thayer to that of inccndiaries
who had set fire TO their neighbours house, ant
then, when they saw that it was likely to bo con
sumcd, attempted to cxtinguish the flames. lIC
held that they intended to excite others to violence
on the goth, and although they helped to rescue
Butman, it was too late.
In relation to Mr.. Moody, it was proven that h
was at the American House about his Legitimate
business on Sunday night-that he accidental,
met the crowd on Front street on Monday-anc
'rat We uu All ne couio 10 protect bGtman altcr IL
S"l ihtp inc crowd IN answer u the statement
Oh MeSsfs' I os'er ana loWiaiu that they cohsid
erea 'nelr caSGs prcluused from the beginning IN
oortani NO, vor, c W. ~ ,ontarn E, tLn Tnrr 80
rho ry conId J,nly spy thot i had orGcororo,
- +" trr tLo coso friiiy' , ~ 'fairir ,r;,Ion, nrnindio,
" bias. ThorCourt then went into q defence .
Wossrs F,s,nr and U,riSnd os con,sni ond sto+o,