170 years ago today - Jan 14, 1848

[Hosea Stout]
... Mr Long now that he found he was in no danger about stealing Calkins girl, had began to boast about what he had done. That he could outwit even the police &c

We concluded to give him a round on the subject of outwitting tonight. So several of the police ... [got] a pint of whiskey as an excuse but to arrest Long. He went in got the whiskey & started and as it happened Long came out with him. Not proceeding for Miller took hold of him saying "You are my prisoner. We entend to learn you what it is to kidnap young girls in this place as you have doneyou now have got to atone for it now before you leave this place". This spoken in an austerere and commanding tone had the desired effect. It scared Long almost to death[.] He trembled like a leaf in the wind.

... At length he was taken into Cox Shop where we were assured at the same time that his time had come[.] He need not expect to have friends to help him now. The atonement must be made. He must go before the Council & stand his trial but pretending to have some sympathy for him they undertook to plead with me not to report him if he would do anything fair.

After a long consultation in which all agreed that they would not divulge any thing that had passed we agreed to let him go in case he would pay four gallons of whiskey which amounted to 3.75[. ]He gave Calkins orders to let us have it & he would pay it

After all this was over & the bargain fairley made we ran upon him without mercy to suppose that we cared anything about a man marrying a girl whenever they could agree themselves. That we only wanted to let him know that we could outwit him. He was badly plagued & confessed that he did expect to die. We were bamboosing him around in this way till midnight.

[Source: Diaries of Hosea Stout]

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