Evening star., 1951-04-29


Brig. Gen. Randolph c. Berkeley
)cote Jailed a!
eschewed risks. She took them
because she felt she must-she
followed each cause with a fam
ing zeal and in most cases she
won. Yet, there were times when
her enemies fought back with a
strength that amazed her. When
she got herself enibroiled in an
argument with Washington
Presbyterian church, the issues
were not clear and the conflict
did not seem of vital concern.
Perhaps it would have died down
completely had not the members
of the church decided to smash
her career. So the charge was
made
| Mrs. Royal, then in her 60th
year. was arrested as common
scold!
| She knew the attack was COM
| ing. She expected 1t. "a scheme
had been laid among the godly
on Capitol Hill to convert me,
either with or without my consent.
To this end, holy mobs of boys
(black and white) would beset my
home with showers Of stones-yell,
blow horns. call me holy names.
This was usually at night when
the outpouring of divine goodness
is most powerful" These are her
own words.
The Evangelicals of Capitol
Hill went into conference and
Mrs. Royal was notified of their
gathering. "a friend Of mine who
attended the meeting could only
distinguish such broken sentences
as -cart-tail,' 'ducking STOOL Sab
bath school nuisance wen
tie her neck and heels wish
we could hang her. drowning
will do as WE'LL ;"
So Anne Royal was taken to
court. the only person ever to be
tried in the United States as a
common scold.
| Court Baff1ed
The District of Columbia au-
Ithorities were a little dazed
Frankly, they didn't know what to
do with the case for there was nc
law covering punishment for such
an offense. An opera comique
situation had arisen. Chief Justice
William Cranch Of District Cir
cult Court and his associates, JUS
Itices James S. Morsel and Bucknel
Intrusion, finally went back to ar
old English law under which duck
ling could be meted out as a legal
punishment for common scolding
Startled, they then combed the
statute books to find authority fol-
la fine or a jail sentence for they
didn't like ducking. But word ha6
gotten about and carpenters al
the Navy Yard had built a duck.
ing stool which was brought into
court. It was a show piece, in
deed, and attracted wide attention
Meanwhile older law books were
feverishly explored and the tria.
began under a doctored law. The
day it started. Mr.. Cox, Anne's
lawyer. said: Madam, yesterday
there was no law to punish you
To-day, it seems, one has been
found"
| Judge Cranch's dull opinion or
1.-THE case is as nothing compared
Ito Anne Royals own observations
land summations:
i "At length the trial came on
There were three counts in the
indictment: l. A public nuisance
II. A common brawler. 8. A COM
!; mon scold. The first two charges
were dismissed. The third was
Sustained and I made my courtesy
bow before their honors, Judges
Cranch. Thruston and a sweet
!, Morsel." She found Judge Cranch
face with a good of the pumpkin
} in it Though a friend said thr
: pumpkin was in his head)."
> Of Judge 1hruston she wrots
About the same age as Judge
Cranch and harder featured. HI
is laughing proof. He looks al
! though he had sat upon the rocl
:. all his life and lived on crab.
apples" Her sense Of comedy
: was superb. She proposed thu
S court scene be painted land pu
= in the rotunda of the Capitol with
our national painting" Naturally
Washington's curious m in d e {
stormed the courthouse. Th'
chamber was taxed to capacity.
Fined $40
:, At long last, Mrs. Royal ad
3 dressed the jury-all BladensbuI
= men-with her usual vigor. 81.
spoke after Secretary of W.
John Henry Eaton-Jackson's in
!, innate friend and husband Of IL
celebrated Peggy-testif1ed on h
v behalf. But the cards We
i stacked. She was doomed. T.
! jury declared her guilty and tt.
| court let her off with a SO fin
] She was admonished to keep tE
4 peace for IL months and told t
4 post bond of 5000.
This verdict was pumpkin pl
to Judge Cranch" Mrs. Royal
e wrote. ''The sweet Morsel (sh'
Always referred to Judge Morse