QUEER GIFT TO VERMONT

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1058, 23 August 1930, Page 28

QUEER GIFT TO VERMONT

SKELETON OF HANGED LOYALIST Vermont, having received one of the oddest gifts, does not know what to do with it. The present was a skeleton of a one-time citizen of the place. Packed in an old oaken chest in which it had lain for more than a hundred years, the skeleton was brought to the Bennington Historical Museum on a recent afternoon, says the “New York Times.” The museum authities are perplexed. Whether to place the skeleton on exhibition in a glass case, or to bury it with some ceremony and mark the grave with a bronze memorial tablet, is being hotly discussed in the historic Vermont town.

It is the skeleton of David Redding, a man famous in the history of Vermont. He was one of the two principal actors in an episode . which looms large in the early history of the State, Ethan Allen being the other. Redding was a loyalist—Tory is the word locally used. On June 11, 1778, he was publicly hanged at Bennington,

opposite the tavern kept by Samuel Fay, famous as the Catamount Tavern because of the stuffed animal -which was mounted on its sign post in the days of the struggle with New York over the issue of lands grants and political jurisdiction. It was the first legal execution in the newlyformed State of Vermont, and, of course, Ethan Allen had a hand in it. The charge upon which Redding was tried and condemned was enemical conduct.” Perhaps that accounts for the local tradition that he was a traitor. He was not, at least, not in the judgment of John Spargo, head of the Bennington Historical Museum, and some other authorities. Like a great many other people in the neighbourhood, 'Redding was a loyalist. He had, Mr. Spargo points out, the courage of his convictions, and enlisted in the regiment of the Queen’s Rangers, a loyalist regiment commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Peters. His name is on the muster roll. That regiment participated in the Battle of Bennington on August 16, 1777, and, while it is not definitely known, it is a fair presumption, Mr Spargo holds, that Redding fought with his regiment upon the heights of Walloomsae on that eventful day. It is probable that he was one of the Tory prisoners who were marched to Bennington and confined in the old meeting house and in Elijah Dewey’s barns. His name is found in a list of British prisoners of war in the archives of the State of New York. Redding may have escaped from the ridiculously inadequate prison, as many others did, or he may have been among those released and sent home because their captors could not afford to feed them. Less than a year after the battle of Bennington Redding again fell into the hands of the Bennington patriots. He was caught red-handed stealing mus kets from the local militia storehouse, or arsenal as it was called, it being Captain Robinson’s barn. It was also charged against him that he communicated miiitary intelligence to the British at the north. Ths was the “enemical conduct” with which he was charged. Seized as he was taking the muskets from the storehouse. Redding was placed under guard. There was no regular gaol, so he was locked up in the harness room of the shed adjoining the tavern and a guard posted outside. Redding escaped once, but was brought back, convicted, and condemned to be hanged. The date set for the execution was June 4. 1778. Bennington and all the surrouudiug towns teemed with excitement. Not only was an enemy to be publicly hanged on a gallows built in an open field in sight of the meeting house, but on the same day the Legislature was to convene in Bennington. To crown all, Ethan Allen, who had been a prisonef in the hands of the British for nearly three years, was due to reach Bennington that day. The local Robin Hood would have received a great and demonstrative reception in any event. The three things combined to make a great gala day People flocked from points as distant as Albany, Pittsfield, Springfield, and Rutland. Allen as Prosecutor A hitch occurred in the programme. Redding's counsel appealed to the Governor and Council of State, asking that the conviction be set aside and his client given a new trial. Since Vermont had not adopted a law of its own. on the point, the English

common law requiring a jury of twelve must prevail. The argument convinced bluff old Thomas Chittenden, the Governor, and the Council of State. At the last moment, while the people were waiting for the execution to start, it was announced that a reprieve was granted until the 11th, one week's time, in order that the Legislature might pass upon the matter. In those days the Legislature of Vermont frequently exercised judical functions. Word of the reprieve reached the people and caused great indignation. There was real danger of a serious riot, with lynching almost certain. Fortunately, Ethan Allen’s arival created a timely diversion, and averted the disgrace of lynching. The Legislature approved the action of Governor Chittenden and ordered trial to be held, with a jury of twelve men on the day set, June 11. On the morning of the 9th the Legislature by vote appointed Ethan Allen to act as State’s Attorney at the trial. Jeremiah Clark was again the presiding judge, and there was a jury of twelve, with Ethan Allen as prosecuting attorney. Redding was again convicted and sentenced to death on the gallows.

In the forenoon of June 11, a strange procession made its way out of the yard in front of Fay's tavern. Redding sat in a cart, and by his side sat Sheriff Benjamin Fay, son of the landlord of the tavern. The guard, from whom Redding had once escaped, named Sackett, drove the team. In the presence of “a great multitude of people” the body of Redding swung from the gallows at the foot of Mount Anthony. The taverns of Bennington, which were numerous, did great business that day. The body of the unfortunate soldier was turned over to Dr. Jonas Fay, brother of the sheriff and one of the acknowledged leaders of the movement which had resulted in the establishment of the new State. He was the only physician in town, and requested and received the body for ■anatomical study. Mr. Spargo finds that there is an old local tradition that when in time Dr. Fay prepared and attempted to articulate and mount the skeleton, he never could get all the parts to “come together.” Because of that there developed a great deal of local superstition. People said that it was “a judgment of God”: that the inability of’ the doctor to fit the bones together was God’s witness that Redding had been put to-death unjustly. Dr. Fay kept the skeleton many veers, and then it passed to General William Towner, of Williamstown. Mass., who. in addition to being a gallant soldier with a notable record, was a surgeon and plivsician of considerable reputation. His practice extended to Pittsfield and Stockbridge. and to Troy and Albany. Dr. Trowner had no difficulty in assembling the skeleton. He used it to give instruction to his pupils. After his death it was owned hy his son-in-law and partner. Dr. Smith, from whom it passed to the latter’s son and to his grandson, also physicians. The last-named left it. to his son. Judge Clarence M. Smith, of Williamstown. who presented it to the Bennington Historical Museum. There it now reposes within gunshot distance from where the hanging occurred 152 years ago. Whether to exhibit the skeleton as a revolutionary relic or to enter it as the mortal remains of one of the actors in a famous episode familiar to every Vermonter is the subject of debate throughout Vermont.