The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-01-06
2 Ute 2
Great Trials
HiStOru
THE TRIAL OF WILLIAM PENN

w liilum Pcnn, tho QuaRCT, whose
name Is so closely linked with tho
carly colonization of our country, and
for whom pennsylvania was named. !
had Il stormy time OF IT during GER
tain period of his life. owing to his
Puritan principles and his insistence
In expressing his views ut times and
places not in accord with tho law.
Aside from his persistence in speak !
ing his views he also published
number OF tracts. which were indus
triously distributed.
A public disputatiou with the Pres
byterian. Thomas Vincent. occasioncd
the once celebrated tract, Sandy
Foundation Shaken" in which he as
sailed tho Athanaslan doctrine of the
Trinity, and the Calvinistic theory of
justification. It's publication without
license was visited by his committal
to the Tower under u warrant dated
December IL. 1868. 1t was while thus
confined that Penn wrote, mo Cross,
no Crown nm eloquent and learned
dissertation upon tho Christian duty
of self sacrifice, which has been fire.
Quently reprinted.
Penn's confinement was close. and
he was told he must recant or re-
main n prisoner for life. MY prison
shall he my grave before I will budgo
q bit" said Penn. Ho was, however.
able TO obtain his releace through tho
, Incuiallpli OF inc OuKC OF ] OiIN. but q
year later. because he insisted on adj
dressing his Quaker congregation in
tho open air he was arrested with VIII
liam Mead ana was committed TO New
gate on August H. 1870. Penn claimed
that he had broken no law. When the
recorder OF the court asked Penn to
plead guilty TO his Indictment, he re-
piled: Tho law has no foundation.
and unless the court can show me ana
the people what ground the indictment
is upon, it Will be Impossible for tho
| jury to agree TO bring In Il verdict"
Penn was ordered 20 be taken to the
| Bale dock. The trial occurred on the
| first TO the nth of September, 1879
! The Indictment read as follows:
| That tho said William Penn md
| William Mead, with divers other per
! sons to the number of 500, on the 1iti
! of August, in the twenty year
! OF the King, did unlawfully and tu-
| multousl% assemble themselves to-
Rethcr in Grace Church. street to the
! disturbance of the peace; and that tho
said men did there speak and preach,
| whereby n great concourse and tumult
was made and continued. TO the great
| terror and disturbance Of his Majestys
iiego people, and against the peace"
When they were brought to tho bar
Of Justice they appeared with thoir
hats on their heads and tho recorder
was tho Kings Court, and why they
did not pull off their hats and pay
the respect 10 il they ought?
Penn answered lie knew it TO be the
court and he supposed 1t to BIO the
Kings, but he did not think the re-
movnl of n hat showed any respect.
Then the court fined them forty marks
apiece for their contempt. Refusing
to pay tho fino, they were ordered TO
be taken 10 tho hole at Ncwgate, the
ATHEIST place of all prisons In Eng
land.
The jury retired 10 small room, and
after an hour and n half had passed,
eight OF them came into tho court and
said that they could not agree. The
four outstanding men were called into
the room and reprimanded and then
all were sent back again. After q
longer time they were again brought
back. as were also Penn and Mead.
Howell asked them II they had reached
Il verdict and the reply was yes"
The verdict was guilty Of speaking IN
the Grace Church Street" Tho court
asked ii that was all. nd the fore
man replied: THAT Is all have in my
| commission"
The jurors were sent out the third
time, and again returned q verdict.
written in pen and ink. that was the
same as the first, convicti1g Penn and
ncouitting Mead. This was not ac-
ceptcd, and the Jurors were sent out
and were not given food. water OF
tobacco. After II day and night they
were returned TO the court. but the
same verdict prevailed. Thereupon the
fourteen men wore sont to Newgate
From his chamber Penn wrote TO his
father, who was dying at the Penn
home.
Eleven days had passed since the
trial when PENIS father died leaving
all his lands and belongings to his son
Fearing that unless his son were up
held and supported by powerful friends
his life would be ono continual act OF
inartyrdom. Sir william sent from his
deathbcd 10 both the King and tho
Duke of York petition to solicit Al
their hands those offices to his sor
which had been always extended tc
him.
The trial shows the great courug,
and patience that Penn possessed
was such trials ana hardships as thes,
that enabled him to gain the trust anc
respect OF the people. PENIS work Il
America followed this trial at ole
Bailey.