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Story
March 20, 1777
The Newport Gazette
Newport, Newport County, Rhode Island
What is this article about?
A satirical anecdote from 1777 recounts a man accused of being a Tory before a revolutionary committee. He wittily claims his head is Whig, heart Tory, and arse a committee-man, leading to a mock hanging sentence that's interrupted before completion.
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OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
From the NOVA SCOTIA GAZETTE!
January 14, 1777.
A.B.C.D.O.T.L.
None of the Resolute provinces famous for instituting Committees and Committee-men. A certain case was apprehended and brought before Messieurs Moore's the Committee, accused of being a friend to Government, and a Tory. Pleading his innocence, &c.
His honour the Chairman, as to his principles, respecting the present affairs of America, which the Gentleman answered in as proper a manner as he was ask'd. After questions and answers were mutually exchanged for some time. The Chairman says, Gentlemen of the Committee, Look here now M----e We didn't want to know 'bout them things we want to know whether you are a Whig or t'other you are a Tory, and having put the question among the Brethren two to one voted, that he shou'd satisfy them. The gentleman being push'd hard upon, at length told them, his Head was a Whig; his Heart was a Tory, and his Arse a Committee-man.
The Gentleman was order'd to be hang'd immediately, which sentence was executed by the mobility, on an apple-tree hard by, but at the intercession of a friend the rope was cut, before he was quite expired, and a Surgeon being procur'd, after some work he in part recovered.
January 14, 1777.
A.B.C.D.O.T.L.
None of the Resolute provinces famous for instituting Committees and Committee-men. A certain case was apprehended and brought before Messieurs Moore's the Committee, accused of being a friend to Government, and a Tory. Pleading his innocence, &c.
His honour the Chairman, as to his principles, respecting the present affairs of America, which the Gentleman answered in as proper a manner as he was ask'd. After questions and answers were mutually exchanged for some time. The Chairman says, Gentlemen of the Committee, Look here now M----e We didn't want to know 'bout them things we want to know whether you are a Whig or t'other you are a Tory, and having put the question among the Brethren two to one voted, that he shou'd satisfy them. The gentleman being push'd hard upon, at length told them, his Head was a Whig; his Heart was a Tory, and his Arse a Committee-man.
The Gentleman was order'd to be hang'd immediately, which sentence was executed by the mobility, on an apple-tree hard by, but at the intercession of a friend the rope was cut, before he was quite expired, and a Surgeon being procur'd, after some work he in part recovered.
What sub-type of article is it?
Curiosity
Historical Event
What themes does it cover?
Deception
Justice
Misfortune
What keywords are associated?
Tory Accusation
Committee Trial
Witty Response
Mock Hanging
American Revolution
What entities or persons were involved?
The Gentleman
The Chairman
Where did it happen?
One Of The Resolute Provinces
Story Details
Key Persons
The Gentleman
The Chairman
Location
One Of The Resolute Provinces
Story Details
A man accused of Tory sympathies before a committee cleverly divides his loyalties among head, heart, and arse, leading to a hasty hanging order that's halted by a friend and surgeon's intervention, partially reviving him.