Documentary History of the State of New York, Vol. III
Justice Jonatlian Whitehead is a Common Pleader for money at the Petty Coui'ts ol Justices what jnconveniencies hereby Accrues to the poor Subject we submitt to your Excellency when a justice attorney Plead before a Brother Justice, we can name the person he has Confest to he makes MO per annum by this gainfull Trade : 2 : he has Taken upon him to Assess his Majestys Subjects of New Town for a Debt he'ailedges the Town owes him, and keeps Dayly Teazing and vexing the people before petty Justice Courts : wJio Refuse to pay him according to his assessment (3) Such a Lover of Cards is he that lie has proplianly Enough Exprest himself tliat it is as Lawful to play at Cards as to read the Scriptures (4) he has attempted the Rescue of a Prisoner out of the officers hands (5) he has not kept the kings peace when he might and ougiit by his personall presence to have done it: Justice John Smith as is a man of a very small and Inconsiderable Estate, soe it can be proved that Contrary to his oatli [of] office, and Duty to King George, he has taken no notice of the jnformations made him by Credible Persons against a fellow for treasonable and Execrable speeches against King George and tlie prince of Wales, the fellow was Liver in Jamaica ; but hearing that the Kings Attourney was jnformed of his villany, and of the justices neglect fled. He the said Justice has given in the same action and Cases wherein he was sole judge, a Contrary judgment once for the plaintifie and again for tlie Defend' by this procedure, overthrowing all solid Grounds of Hope for Justice in the aggrieved subject. Justice John Clement has done a tiling in the County, till this day never before heard oif Perhaps in all America In a justice Court held before him : Where justice Wliitehead was plaiutiffe, and a N^ew Town man Defendant the Defendant Refuseing to pay what Whitehead had assessed him, was Tossed from town to town and