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History of Northampton, Massachusetts, from its settlement in 1654;

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1782.] REVOLUTION—ARMY SUPPLIES—SAMUEL ELY. 457<br />

swear. For some hours they swarmed about the Court-<br />

House, to '' the great disturbance <strong>of</strong> good order and the due<br />

adm<strong>in</strong>istration <strong>of</strong> Justice <strong>in</strong> great Terror to the Peaceable<br />

& good Subjects <strong>of</strong> this Commonwealth, <strong>in</strong> evil example to<br />

others."^ Some such movement as this must have been<br />

anticipated, after the demonstration by Ely on the first day<br />

<strong>of</strong> the session, and measures taken to protect the court.<br />

Capt. Allen was present with a guard, and prevented the<br />

mob <strong>from</strong> enter<strong>in</strong>g the Court-House.<br />

Testimony <strong>of</strong> an Jonathan Judd Jr. <strong>of</strong> Southampton was<br />

Eye-witness. present wheu this affair occurred, and he<br />

as follows :<br />

—<br />

writes <strong>in</strong> his diary, under date <strong>of</strong> April 12"",<br />

" About 5 o'clock <strong>in</strong> the afternoon, a Committee <strong>from</strong> the Mob came<br />

<strong>in</strong>to Court. About half an Hour after sent a Petition and before Dark<br />

came <strong>in</strong> a Body. But a Guard under Capt. Allen, prevent their com<strong>in</strong>g<br />

<strong>in</strong>to the Court House. Ely was soon after taken and Exam<strong>in</strong>ed and<br />

then bound to appear at the next Superior Court which took after Midnight.<br />

Elj' was <strong>in</strong> no ways Subdued but I Suppose the rest were."<br />

Ely Bound Over. The prisoner was promptly arraigned before<br />

the court he had endeavored to suppress.<br />

Plead<strong>in</strong>g not guilty, he was, on the evidence produced,<br />

bound over for trial to the next term <strong>of</strong> the Supreme Judicial<br />

Court to be holden at <strong>Northampton</strong>, on the last Tuesday<br />

(30"') <strong>in</strong> April. He gave bonds for his appearance at<br />

that time <strong>in</strong> the sum <strong>of</strong> £100, with Timothy Marsh <strong>of</strong> Had-<br />

ley, Samuel Wells and Daniel Dunham <strong>of</strong> Conway as sureties.<br />

Caleb Strong was attorney for the Commonwealth.<br />

His Trial. Ely rema<strong>in</strong>ed at large till the session <strong>of</strong> the<br />

court the last day <strong>in</strong> April. His case came<br />

up on the first <strong>of</strong> May. when his bondsmen surrendered<br />

him to the sheriff, and he was quartered at the jail dur<strong>in</strong>g<br />

his trial. An <strong>in</strong>dictment by the Grand Jury speedily followed,<br />

and he was brought up for trial on the 6'''. Not<br />

guilty yras his first answer to the <strong>in</strong>dictment, but this he<br />

afterwards retracted and plead guilty. He was sentenced<br />

to " pay a f<strong>in</strong>e <strong>of</strong> £50, suffer six months' imprisonment, and<br />

recognize <strong>in</strong> the sum <strong>of</strong> £200, with sufficient sureties <strong>in</strong> the<br />

1 Records Supreme Judicial Court.

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