The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-04-14
ABBY FOLSOM IN COURT.

hunlclphl OOntt.
Abby was arraigned, and at oncc con.
fronted with the question, care you
guilty or not guilty?" She promptly
pleaded "Not guilty." and declared
herself ready for trial. Judge Thatcher,
in his blandest tone, inquired il Mrs.
Folsom had any counsel to manage her
case. Theanswer was ready and prompt
If your honor pleases, l shall manage
the case myself" The trial then went
on. Tho witnesses werc few, the tcsti.
mony to tho point, tho croGs.examina.
tion by thedefendant amounted TO moth
ing, and in remarkably short time the
government rested its case. Tho sourt
informed Mrs. Folsom, that she was at
liberty to put any person on tho stand
to testify in her favor, or shG might
address the jury in her own behalf.
She had no witnesses; and IL at once
became apparent, that she intended to
rely, not on evidence, but on argument.
This was her strong battle ground. On
this field, she had passed through many
\ desperate struggle, aud, 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, "If 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, whether
she might have the remainder OF the
day, and Ego on tomorrow" Judge
Thatcher was decidedly startled, and
exclaimed, "To-morrowl why certainly
notl you can't be allowed all Of to.dayr
Said Abby, "How long may I have ?"
Thejudge replied with some yehemence,
Not. more than an hour"
Abby very innocently inquired,
"Does your honor conhne all lawyers
to that time? ?" This question was an-
other desperate ono for tho court, n
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. be-
lieye Judge Thatcher's hour rule has
been adopted in some courts since that
period. But it 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 60
on.
Abby then commenced her plea. The
argument do not propose to describe.
It was in her peculiar style. She quoted
the Constitution, tho 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 tho 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.
STRANGE, and made not motion, till the
deed was accomplished. She then dc.
liberately drew from her pocket q copy
Of the Constitution OF Massachusetts,
and from the Preamble thereof read,
Every subject has a right to bc 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 II be-
came a 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 ono steady
stream at the top Of her voice, con-
tinued to cry, "Giye me my papers"
The court was evidently in fault,
though acting under extreme proyoca-
tion. Mrs. Folsom evidently saw her
advantage, and determined to make the
most OF It. The court WINGED, fidgetted,
consulted and succumbed. Babbitt
was ordered to give up tue papers, and
Mrs. Folsom was directed to go on as
long rs 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 tho 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 programme. The excitement had
80 wrought on her physical system, that
her strength began TO fail, and she was
compelled to adopt q change Of base, q
new manmnvre. She therefore stopped,
complained Of fatigue, and asked the
court, that the case be adjourned, and
sue be allowed TO 20 on "to.morrow.
Judge Thatcher was altogether too
ehrewd a man, not TO sec hiS advantage
IN this turn Of the case. He said, mo.
Ho on, Mrs. Folsom. Go right on. We
uoslrc to hear you through. No better
.Lme than the present, We arc anxious
70 hear you." Az this time Abby's
snrcwdncSs seemed TO desert her. Her
cunning was in direct antagonism TO her
spirit NJ aanastt{a.. pa.ki., f.a,,.