The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1913-11-19

| Dlrth or preJudlCe against FRIENDS,
| as a result of their doctrine against |
war; of the crowded condition of
| the old jail at Salisbury, first |
| Wayne county seat; the 1912 earth
| quake; the first constitutional con-
vention in 1916, when Indiana was
admitted to the union; of the wri- |
ter's election as state representa-
tive, and of the letting of contracts |
for constructions of turnpikes, and |
canals, which placed Indiana's |
| financial condition in the sad |
straights, from which 1t has not, |
to this day, entirely recovered.
In the year 1912, war was declared
against England and strip of terri
tory, having in 1909 been purchased
from the Indians on the western part
of Wayne county and being in 1912
sparsely settled and the Indians being
then considered unfriendly, fear was
entertained for these new settlers It
was during this period that our coun-
| ty courts were organized and l re-
member as being one of the first petit
| 1urymen, ever empanelled and sworn
| In this county to try criminal case.
| The court room was a lot of woodland
belonging to Richard Rue, Benjamin
Park, of Vincennes presided.
A certain boy had stolen a pocket
knife from the store of John Smith,
who had perhaps 500 worth of goods
in his cabin, and after hearing the evil
dence and the charge, forcibly made
by James Noble. prosecutor for the
territory. we, the jury, retired into
the woods and there seated on a log,
read the indictment, that the said
boy, with force of arms, did felonious-
ly steal, take and carry away, etc.
When l put the question, whether we
would find the said boy guilty, as
charged in the indictment, jeremiah
Cox. who was one Of the panel, with
much gravely observed: That he sup
posed the boy did steal the knife, but
he did not think it quite so bad"
War Brought Troubles.
The war brought its troubles with
it, especially to the Friends, who re-
fused to participate in the defense of
the frontiers, General Harrison, who
was then governor of the territory,
addressed a letter to General George
G. Hunt, of Wayne county, Offering
him aid in men to guard our frontier,
if he General Hunt reque sted such
aid. In reply he informed General
Harrison that he could defend the
frontier of the county and furnish him
a company besides. In consequence of
this information, General Harrison Or
/ dered a company to be raised to join
| General Hull, at Dayton, o. A suffici-
ent number offered their services as
volunteers, but as such a move could
not include the Quakers a draft was
nr1n nd Iraq Pc 70
few Quakers, who, refusing the
| march, or furnish substitutes, their
| property was seized and sold and the
money applied to know not what pur-
pose. After marching to Dayton, they
| were ordered to return to the frontier
| of our territory. When the war COM
menCed the Quakers stood fair in our
newly settled country but when it was
ascertained that they would not fight
a general prejudice was brought to
| bear against them. They were viewed
as enemies. as Tories, and the finger
of reprobation was continually pointed
at them. At this period, 1t was or
dered by the military dynasty that
blockhouses be built at certain points
! on our frontier. Drafts were ordered to
| perform the service, and l, among 9TH
ers was drafted to perform an eight
! days tour. Being then a member of
| the society, compliance would have
! elected me from the church. and more
over would have brought trouble on
| the minds of my parents, who had
| taught me that all wars were anti
! christian and contrary to the doctrines
of Jesus Christ.
Fined For His Stand.
A court martial adjudged a fine of
| SIG against me and a sergeant drove
off my sheep and sold them. Others
were used more severe. Not having
| property on which TO levy, their bodies
were seized and cast into the jails at
| Salisbury in the dead of winter Here
! D. F. Sackett acquired to himself hon
| ors for which service he was hand
somely rewarded afterwards, being
three times elected county recorder
and had he used good economy might
now be among the most wealthy of our
citizens instead of an object of our
! pity.
! The Jail had neither chimney, stove
! or bed and DR.. Sackett carried and
handed through the gates, hot bricks
and coffee, bed clothes and etc. to
keep the prisoners from freezing. They
were for weeks confined in jail. but Ill
| timately discharged but not until pub
j lie opinion had begun to do its work
! of mercy.
Elliott Runs For Life.
An old man by the name of Jacob
| Elliott has spoken freely of the con-
/ duct of the military board-he was
arrested for treason, tried and con-
| demned to be shot, but in mercy an
| opportunity was given him to run
which he hastily embraced. The years
| 1898 and "a was the reign OF terror in
| France and on a small scale the year
| 1918 was the reign of terror in Wayne
/ county The military dynasty here
wished to eXterminate the Quakers
and had they possessed the power.
! confiscation of land. fire and fagots
would have been the means to crafty
| their malicious and hellish purpose.
| 1t was during the war that the rock
| ing of the earth was so sensibly felt
and their minds so fearfully alarmed.
! ii was in many cases as a call to pre-
pare for death and many could date
their conversion nd. acceptance with
| God from their convictions produced
| by the shaking of the earth.