Cl. of the Cr. Daniel Sutton, hold up your hand. You stand indicted by the name of Daniel Sutton, late of the town of Ingatestone, in the county of Essex, for that you by inoculating, and causing to be inoculated, and by means of certain secret medicines and modes of practice, unknown to this College and to all other practitioners, not having the fear of the College in your heart, do presume to preserve the lives of his Majesty’s liege subjects; and that more especially during the three years last past, you have inoculated, or caused to be inoculated, twenty thousand persons, without the loss of one single patient by inoculation, contrary to the statute in that case made and provided.
Then the twelve jurors were sworn and counted.
Cl. of the Cr. Cryer, make proclamation.
Cryer. O yes! If any one can inform, &c.
Cl. of the Cr. Daniel Sutton, hold up your hand. Gentlemen of the jury, look upon the prisoner and hearken to his cause.
Couns. for the Cr. Mr. President, and gentlemen of the jury, this indictment is for the high crime of preserving the lives of his Majesty’s subjects by means of inoculation, and particularly by modes of practice and the exhibition of certain medicines unknown to this College, and to all others who practise the art of healing.
Gentlemen, with regard to the first part of this charge, namely, that of preserving the lives of the King’s liege subjects, we shall prove, beyond all possibility of doubt, that in twenty thousand, whom the Prisoner hath inoculated, not one single patient hath died, whose death could be fairly attributed to inoculation. We shall then shew, that he constantly enjoins a certain unusual regimen to be observed by all his patients, previous to, and during the time of, inoculation; and lastly, we shall convince you, by unquestionable evidence, that he administers to his patients diverse medicines, the composition of which is an intire secret to this College, and to the whole faculty.
Gentlemen, it were needless to expatiate on the heinousness of these crimes. Your own sagacity, and regard to justice, will be your best guides. We shall support our allegations by incontestible proof, and I make no doubt that you will find the Prisoner guilty of the crimes and misdemeanors specified in the indictment. If the Court pleases, we will now proceed to examine witnesses. Call Mr. Robert Houlton.
Mr. Robert Houlton was sworn.
Couns. for the Cr. Do you know the Prisoner at the bar?