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Brooks, Henry M. (Henry Mason), 1822-1898

"The Olden Time Series, Vol. 5: Some Strange and Curious Punishments Gleanings Chiefly from Old Newspapers of Boston and Salem, Massachusetts"

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_THE SUPREME JUDICIAL COURT_
Was held at Ipswich on Tuesday last. At this Court the noted
Josiah Abbot was found guilty of knowingly passing a forged and
altered State Note, and was sentenced to pay a fine of 40l. in 20
days; if not then paid, to be set in the pillory.--[_The penalty
of such an offence against the United States is_ DEATH.]
The same person was found guilty of a fraud, in stealing a
summons, after it had been left by an officer, by reason of which
he recovered a judgment by default, and was sentenced to pay a
fine of 15l. in 20 days; if not then paid, to be whipped.
_Salem Gazette_, June 25, 1793.
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In a paper of 1819 is mentioned the singular case of a man literally
condemned "to eat his own words."
_INCREDIBLE PUNISHMENT._
"A great book is a great evil," said an ancient writer,--an axiom
which an unfortunate Russian author felt to his cost. "Whilst I
was at Moscow," says a pleasant traveller, "a quarto volume was
published in favor of the liberties of the people,--a singular
subject when we consider the place where the book was printed.


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