Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1884-10-15
Jeil'reys' Bloody Assize.

The cruelty which characterized the
sentences passed by tins hateful Judge
(Jeflreys) upon the prisoners brought
before him was always apparent. Never
did he once err on the side of mercy. If
he condemned a man to the gallows or
to transportation he was always caro-
full to add TO the severity of the SEN
tence by some brutal remark or ribald
jest as to the prisoners antccedents.
When his victim was allowed to escape
out of his hands no one doubted that
the Judge had been freely bribed, or
that by sno manner OF straining could
the law be called upon to dead out pun
ishment. From the monstrous record
of his pitless ruling on this occasion
history has taken care to pick out u
few of his decisions rs indicative of the
| Temper and conduct OF the man. Upon
| lad, still in his teens, who had been
convicted of uttering ''seditious words, F"
sentence was passed of imprisonment
for seven airs, with whipping during
that periou OF once n fortnight at the
| different market towns in his county.
The Clerk of Arraigns had the courage
to intorpose in mitigation of this awful
| Judgment, while the women in the gal
lery sobbed audibly out OF sympathy
with the prisoner. 1.-The punishment
is not half bad enough for him."
growled Jeffreys; mot all the interest
in England shall save him. Fortunate
ly the lad was seized with smallpox,
and, soflcned by ruinous bride, the
Judge remitted the sentence. One
OF the girls who had been found
guilty of embroidering the colors given
to Monmouth ut Taunton was so para
lived by the fcrocty with which judy
ment was given against her. that scarce
ly had she returned to her cell than she
fell on the floor corpse. Seldom was
woman sentenced to n whipping with
out some coarse joke being made as to
the exposure that must necessarily en-
sue. at may be cold morning to
strip in," said he, "but we shall try
and keep you warm, madam. See
that she Is whipped-whipped soundly
till the blood runs down! Well tickle
YOU, madam A prisoner with some
knowledge of tho law made q technical
objection to the course being pursued
at his trial. "Villain rebel" cried
Jeifrey's IL think / see thee already
with halter round thy neck" The
prisoner was convicted. ''Let him be
| hanged the first" laughed the Judge,
'.Tor ii any with knowledge of The
law como In my way / shall care to
prefer them" One rebel begged for
: merry on the ground that on the eve Of
Sedgcmoor Inc had sent important in
formation to Favcrsham, the General OF
s the Kings forces. "You deserve q
{ double DEATH" said the Judge, no,
, without reason; lone for rebclling
against your sovereign, and the other
for bctraying your friends" We are
, told that he particularly piqued him.
self upon this bon mot To repca the
| stories rs to this circuit which history
, has preserved would be to fill goodly
9 volume. Chroniclers differ with respect
5 to the number of Monmouth's follow
5 ers hanged aud transported after thi:
{ western revolt. According TO the Of
$ fetal list before me, forwarded TO III,
Treasury, three hundred and twenty
, were sent to the gallows and eight hun
0 dred and forty transported. = Genue
@ naan's Magazine.