A website from the Massachusetts Historical Society; founded 1791.

Robert Treat Paine Papers, Volume 4

beta

Grand Jury notes

From David Cobb

20 November 1782
239
Indictment
RTP
November 19, 1782

Suffolk Ss. At the Supreme Judicial Court begun and holden at Boston within and for the County of Suffolk on the third Tuesday of November in the year of our Lord Seventeen hundred and Eighty two

The Jurors for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts upon their oaths present that Thomas Hastings of Newtown in the County of Middlesex Yeoman on the tenth day of January last past at Boston aforsaid with force and Arms unlawfully and injuriously at the public Market there did expose to sale and then and there did sell to divers some of the Inhabitants of this Commonwealth the Flesh and Meat of a Sow which had then lately died of a putrid and loathsome disease and Distemper as good and wholesome Swines flesh and Pork, the said Thomas Hastings then and there well knowing the same Flesh and Meat to be corrupt and unwholesome and that the Sow of which it was the Flesh and Meat died of a putrid Disease as aforsaid All which is to the Common nuisance and damage of the leige Subjects of this Commonwealth in evil Example to others to offend in like Case and against the peace and Dignity of the Commonwealth aforsaid And the Jurors aforsaid upon their Oath aforsaid do further present that the said Thomas Hastings on the twelfth day of September last past at Boston aforsaid with force and arms unlawfully and injuriously in public Market there did expose to sale and then and there did sell to some of the Inhabitants of this Commonwealth the Flesh and Meat of a Barrow Hog which had then lately died of a putrid and loathsome disease & mortal Sickness as good and wholesome Pork & Swines flesh, the said Thomas Hastings then and there well knowing the same Pork and Swines Flesh to be corrupt and unwholesome for food as aforsaid and that the Barrow Hog of which it was the Flesh died of a putrid Disease & mortal sickness as aforsaid All which is in evil Example to others to offend in like Case, to the Common nuisance & damage of the Inhabitants of this Commonwealth and against the peace and dignity of the Commonwealth aforsaid

R T Paine Atty pr. Repub a true bill Wm. McIntosh { Foreman not Guilty
240
Suffolk Ss. August Term at Boston 1783.

The said Thos. Hastings is set to the Bar & has this Indictment read to him he says that thereof he is not Guilty & thereof for Trial puts &c.

Att. Chas. Cushing Cler

MS (Suffolk Files, no. 103326. Massachusetts Judicial Archives, Boston, Mass.); endorsed:

Indictment vs. Thomas Hastings misd.

Process issued Decr. 10th. 1782 dd. Sheriff Baldwin

Ano. Warrant issued March 20th. 1783.

The Jury say Guilty of the last charge in the Indictment & not Guilty of the first.

Sentence that he a fine of £.12. for the Use of the Commonwealth findfind recognize in £.30. for good behaviour for a year with Suffict. Surety or Sureties to pay Costs &c