Connecticut western news., 1873-04-18
ABBY FOLSOM IN COURT.

NS "~o Stu41LS Gl1C O0 the venerable Judge Thatcher in Boston that Abby Folsom, in the exercise of s her disposition, disturbed meeting devoted to religious worship. For this offence, she was arrested, indicted and arraigned for trial in the aforesaid Municipal Court.
 Abby was arraigned, and at once con- fronted with the question, "Are you guilty or not guilty p She promptly pleaded "Not guilty" and declared herself ready for trial. Judge Thatcher, Tn his blandest tone, inquired if Mrs. Folsom had any counsel to manage her case. The answer was ready and prompt. |" If your honor pleases, shall manage the case myself" The trial then went on. The witnesses were few, the testi- mony to the point, the cross-examina- t1on by the defendant amounted to noth- Ing, and in a remarkably short time the government rested its case. The court informed Mrs. Folsom, that she was at liberty to put any person on the stand to testify in her favor, or she might address the jury in her own behalf. She had no witnesses and it at once became apparent, that she intended to rely, not on evidence, but on argument. This was her strong battle ground. On th1s field, she had passed through many desperate struggle, and, at least in her own opinion, had never suffered defeat. The court therefore directed her to proceed. But the preliminaries must first be settled, and Abby in her most winning tone inquired, eff I do not finish my argument to-day, may I go on with it tomorrow ?'' The court was prepared for almost anything else. Here 1t was, about ten o'clock in the morning, and the query was, whetAer she might have the remainder of the day, and ego on tomorrow. Judge Thatcher was decidedly startled, and exclaimed, "To-morrowl why certainly not! you can't be allowed all of to-day!" Said Abby, "How long may I have ?'' The judge replied with some vehemence, Not more than an hour."
 Abby very innocently inquired, "Does your honor confne all lawyers to that time ?" This question was an- other desperate one for the court, a perfect snag. At that time there was not, certainly in this court nor, accord ing to the best of my information, in any other, any rule limiting counsel to any given time for making plea. I be- heve Judge Thatcher's hour rule has been adopted in some courts since that period. But 1t was not so then, and Abby Folsom and every other person in the room knew it, and Judge Thatcher was completely confounded. A few words passed in an undertone between the judge and the government attorney, and, without having the question an swered, Mrs. Folsom was directed to go on.
 Abby then commenced her plea. The argument do not propose to describe. It was in her peculiar style. She quoted the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, Shakespeare, the Bible, and whatever else came in her way. She went on, rolling in her eloquence, and rounding out her periods for full hour, to the great amusement of the audience and the evident perplexity of the court. At this point, however, the court decided to stop her. But she decided otherwise and concluded to go on. The court said, "No. We will have no more of it, and ordered Babbitt, the constable, to take away her papers. Accordingly Babbitt seized her papers, and bore them off in apparent triumph.
 For this new turn of affairs, Abby was better prepared than the court or any one else anticipated. She made no struggle, uttered not word of remon- strance, and made not motion, till the deed was accomplished. She then de- hberately drew from her pocket copy of the Constitution of Massachusetts,, and from the Preamble thereof read, Every subject has right to be secure from all unreasonable searches and seizures of his person, his house, his papers and all his possessions" She then commenced the cry, '" Give me my papers. Give me my papers. Give me my papers" " This cry she. continued, gradually raising her voice till it be- came scream. Still the cry went on, Give me my papers. Give me my papers" She said nothing else, ut tered no other sound, but in one steady stream at the top of her voice, con tlnued to cry, "Give me my papers. The court was evidently in fault, tion.. Mrs. Folsom evidently saw her advantage, and determined to make the most of it. The court winced, fdgetted, consulted and succumbed. Babbitt was ordered to give up the papers, and Mrs. Folsom was directed to go on as long as she pleased. The judge in despair threw himself back in his chair.
 Abby now had the floor to herself, and enjoyed her triumph immensely. She went on in her most eloquent style. She dealt her blows thick and heavy on society, on religious denominations, on fanatics, on the clergy, on the courts, on everybody. But the ordeal she had passed through, and was now passing, had produced an effect not described in her propramme The excitement had so wrought on her physical system, that her strength began to fail, and she was compelled to adopt change of base, 8 new man@uvre. She therefore stopped, complained of fatigue, and asked the court, that the case be adjourned, and she be allowed to go on tomorrow.
 Judge Thatcher was altogether too shrewd man, not to see his advantage in this turn of the case. He said, ''No. Go on, Mrs. Folsom. Go right on. We desire to hear you through. No better time than the present. We are anxious to hear you" At this time Abby's shrewdness seemed to desert her. Her cunning was in direct antagonism to her spirit of opposition. Partly from fatigue, but mainly from will, the last named force prevailed. She refused to comply and took her Seat. The court seized this advantage, and at once di- rected the attorney to proceed. He ad- dressed the jury very briefly, the judge charged with as few words as possible, and the jury retired.
 While the jury was out, Mrs. Folsom felt relieved from the pressure and ex- citement of her trial, it seemed as if her whole mental force began to droop,