The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-09-19

w Iltot elicp pGtlilN Jul eti4NS'NN- -
one on whom the cares of state made
little or no impression, nor did he hun
ger and thirst after righteousness very
strenuously. He did not even have a
sitting" in that Westinghouse Whlch
required watching that the girtsS ny
not out" But he did enjoy the rare
distinction of being the only public otii-
Ger not a church member! There was
no overproduction in the shambleS OIL
men of his profession, and lest the ia
brio of church and state should come
tumbling about their heads If the
drummer de-materialized, the pillars
were compelled sometimes, we fear to
their humiliation, to temporarily bpy
! his birthright of independence With
sundry messes of pottage; in fact 1t
must be confessed to the scandal OF the
\ grim old general court, that Bassett
had what unregenerate politicians have
denomina ted as pull" Otherwise he
would not have been a-Bassett!
In 1913 he bargained with Mr. New
man for a house near the creek
This building was to be paid for on the
"installment plan" Notice when this
sweating process began in New HaVen.)
1t had not been occupied long when an
incident occurred in and around II
which came near putting our hero in
eclipse 1t did partially obscure him.
1t happened Quoting from the colony
reeords) that the crew of a ship in the
harbor drifted up to his domicile one
evening thirsting for ''sacke' Thls
was a harsh Spanish wine much affect
ed by Engishmen. Bassett in defiance
of the law and the prophets catered to
their wants so effectively that braWl
was on in little time. The watch was
called, who queled the feverishness by
driving the jewellers back to their boat.
One returned shortly, however, and de-
manded more ''sacke," which 1t seems
was given him, whereupon, with the
gratefulness which usually follows such
favors, he began to abuse Bassett's wire
hnd child. The narrative says, 'Roo-
ert, being moved, fell on him and thrust
him out of doors, and told him II he
had him in the right place he would
beat out his teeth" Moreover, while
thus engaged he clothed these senti-
ments in language sometimes employed
by the children of this world, which,
coming to the ears of the authorities, he
was brought to book for swearing
The court sat August /, 1913. The in
dictment read:
THAT upon the sixt daye last weeke
nftersunsett their was disorderiy
meeting and drinking at the house OF
Robert Bassett, which continued, as
was conceived, till betwixt tenn and
eleven Of the clocke, wherein there was
several miscarriages, to the great pro-
vocation of God and the disturbance of
We peace"
The defendant did not deny the allie
cation He confessed that he had not
seen the like since he came" which
statement, taken in view of his jolly
Yorkshire nature. must have been in
dicative of a highly raritied atmos-
phere.
The evidence showed that our pro-
genitor had overstepped legal limits. |
None without license could sell liquor I
or furnish a place to drink 1t in. The
prisoner did both. There were ten OF /
the party at his door and in ''smalle I
PARCELS he sold them six quarts Of |
sack" But it was not for this viola /
ton he was punished, but rather be- !
cause by his ''ungodly speech" and his +
"unholy wages" he had brought re-
proach upon a state whose design was
religion" So they fined him e5 and, as |
a gentle poultice to draw it out, allowed |
him time for paying it, but he either !
strove to avoid settlement or was just
little short, for month later we read,
1.-THE court orders the marshall to look
after Robert Bassett that he pay his
fine"
Notwithstanding the lenieney with
which Bassett was treated by the au-
he was frequently in collision
with them. This | conclude was more
the result of carelessness than vicious
ness. He was jovial, happy-go -lucky
individual, easily persuaded, never
hasty in temper and entirely
unconcerned about the morrow. He
endorsed what a companion declared as
his defence when brought before the
magistrates, eff we We're in Old Eng
land we could sing and be merry"
The harness in which puritan New
England expected men to draw the Ark
IF the Covenant to the Lion they hoped
to build chafed Bassett lightly al first
but as the burden grew heavier so did
his "contumeliousness" increase until
alter open warfare resulted. -
LII lo43 NIT. buSSetl SHOOK the aust OIL |
New Haven off his feet and gat him to
stamford. The tolls of the law had
been slowly tightening around him,
md there was less yielding on the part
IF the magistrates than formerly. 9th
ars were learning to drum! He was
lispossessed of his house for non-pay-
nent of installments, Liquidation of
)ecuniary obliga tons was considered a
means of grace next to church member I
hip, but as he seemed disinclined to be
saved by either agency his case in the {
yes of the venerable fathers appeared
hopeless He was frozen out.
In 1861 he became land holder In the ,
lew settlement of Stamford That he ,
arried with him thither certain bitter !
of his sojourn in New ,
haven we may believe for it was not :
ong ere he took the bits in his teeth 3
nd "at the instigation of the Divelle"
'egan fomenting trouble "by stirringe I
ppe to raise volunteers to goe against Z
he Dutch The story of Hollands 1
gsression is too long for this chapter. =
to say that nation thought | :
he time opportune to demand the ter :
tory and the towns along the shore
f the Sound The colony thought 9TH a
rwise and by arms was prepared to I
efend her opinion, but proposed to do | h
in an orderly manner. Bassett insist Il
d on the little settlement of Stamford | c
hrowing off allegiance to New Haven a
nd making war on itc o,yr,, oooo,,,+ |