Case Name: CASE OF JOHN WILLIAMS, MEMBER FROM DEERFIELD
Court: Massachusetts House of Representatives
Jurisdiction: Massachusetts
Decision Date: 1786
Citations: 1 Rep. Cont. El. 19
Docket Number: 
Parties: CASE OF JOHN WILLIAMS, MEMBER FROM DEERFIELD.
Judges: 
Reporter: Reports of controverted elections in the House of representatives, of the commonwealth of Massachusetts...
Volume: 1
Pages: 19–20

Head Matter:
CASE OF JOHN WILLIAMS, MEMBER FROM DEERFIELD.
Where it appeared that a member of the house in 1785 — 6 had been indicted in Í7S3, for the part he had taken in the then late war with Great Britain, in favor of the latter, and had been discharged from such indictment, as justly entitled to the benefit of the sixth article of the treaty of peace ; it was held that the member’s right to a seat was not thereby invalidated.
The eligibility of a member, as affected by his character and conduct, may he inquired into on motion, and the statement of evidence, by a member,

Opinion:
John Williams being returned a member from the town of Deerfield, Mr. White, of Rochester, laid before the lion.se a copy of an indictment, found against him at the supreme judicial court, held at Springfield, in September, 1783, for sedition.
The subject was referred to a committee, who reported, that at the supreme judicial court, held at Northampton, in April, 1784, Mr. Williams was arraigned upon the indictment, and pleaded that he was not guilty thereof, and also suggested to the court, that he was indicted for the part which he had taken in the late war, in favor of Great Britain, and that he was justly entitled to the benefit of the 6th article in the treaty between Great Britain and the United States, as adopted in a late law of the commonwealth, and prayed that he might be discharged from the said indictment: whereupon, the court, considering his case within the said article, discharged him. The committee therefore recommended that he be permitted to hold his seat. The report was agreed to.
Same, 57.
6 J. H. 70.