12 SASSAMON. [BOOK III. sonal appearance of an Indian called Tobias before the court, to make further answer to such interrogatories as shall be required of him, in reference to the sudden and violent death of an Indian called John Sassamon, late deceased." This was in March, 1674, O. S. It appears that Tobias was present, although it is not so stated, from the fact that Tuspaquin and his son William entered into bonds of £100 for the appearance of Tobias at the next court in June following. A mortgage of land was taken as security for the £100. June having arrived, three instead of one are arraigned as the murderers of Sassamon. There was no intimation of any one but Tobias being guilty at the previous court. Now, Wampapaquan, the son of Tobias, and Mattashunannamo are arraigned with him, and the bill of indictment runs as follows: "For that being accused that they did with joynt consent vpon the 29 of January anno 1674, [or 1675, N. S.] att a place called Assowamsett Pond, wilfully and of sett purpose, and of mallice fore thought, and by force and armes, murder John Sassamon, an other Indian, by laying violent hands on him, and striking him, or twisting his necke vntill hee was dead; and to hyde and conceale this theire said murder, att the tyme and place aforesaid, "did cast his dead body through a hole of the iyce into the said pond." To this they pleaded not guilty," and put themselves on trial, say the records. The jury, however, were not long in finding them guilty, which they express in these words: "Wee of the jury one and all, both English and Indians doe joyntly and with one consent agree upon a verdict." Upon this they were immediately remanded to prison, "and from thence [taken] to the place of execution and there to be hanged by the head + vntill theire bodies are dead." Accordingly, Tobias and Mattashunannamo were executed on the 8 June, 1675. "But the said Wampapaquan, on some considerations was reprieued until a month be expired." He was, however, shot within the month. It is an error that the jury that found them guilty was composed of half Indians; there were but four, while there were twelve Englishmen. We will again hear the record : "Itt was judged very expedient by the court, that, together with this English jury aboue named, some of the most indifferentest, grauest and sage Indians should be admitted to be with the said jury, and to healp to consult and aduice with, of, and concerning the premises: there names are as followeth, viz. one called by an English name Hope, and Maskippague, Wannoo, George Wampye and Acanootus; these fully concurred with the jury in theire verdict." The names of the jurymen were William Sabine, William Crocker, Edward Sturgis, William Brookes, Nath'. Winslow, John Wadsworth, Andrew Ringe, Robert Vixon, John Done, Jon. Bangs, Jon". Shaw and Benj. Higgins. That nothing which can throw light upon this important affair be passed over, we will here add, from a hitherto exceeding scarce tract, the following particulars, although some parts of them are evidently erroneous: "About five or six years since, there was brought up, amongst others, at the college at Cambridge, (Mass.) an Indian, named Sosomon; who, after some time he had spent in preaching the gospel to Uncas, a sagamore Christian in his territories, was, by the authority of New Plimouth, sent to preach in like manner to King Philip, and is Indians. But King Philip, (heathen-like,) instead of receiving the gospel, would immediately have killed this Sosomon, but by the persuasion of some about him, did not do it, but sent him by the hands of three men to prison; who, as he was going to prison, exhorted and taught them in the Christian religion. They, not liking his discourse, immediately murthered him after a most barbarous manner. They, returning to King Philip, acquainted him with what they had done. About two or three months after this murther, being discovered to the authority of *The same called Mattashinnamy. His name in the records is spelt four ways. This old phraseology reminds us of the French mode of expression, couper le cou, that is, to cut off the neck instead of the head; but the French say, il seru pendu par son cou, and so do modern hangmen, alias jurists, of our times. |