Document Type
Judgment
Publication Date
2-6-1770
Article Footnote
Article 1, footnote 51
Book Footnote
Chapter 2, footnote 15
Abstract
Peter Pearse had an encounter on a New Hampshire street with Clement March, a J.P. whom he had just seen inside the courthouse. Pearse asked March “what reason he had to call him a chattering fellow in the Court,” and “added that the said March was a Blockhead as much as any in a Barber’s Shop and called him a Rogue afterwards.” March responded by having Pearse presented for contempt to his own inferior court, which denied requests for counsel and jury trial, summarily convicted Pearse of contempt, and ordered him imprisoned until such time as he could provide sureties for good behavior. His incarceration lasted approximately 8 hours.