Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 129, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 May 1920 — GOT RID OF MALCONTENTS [ARTICLE]

GOT RID OF MALCONTENTS

Pilgrim Fathers Had a Highly Effective Way of Dealing With the Colony's Undesirables Deportation of “undesirables" is not an innovation in this country. The Pilgrim Fathers, confronted with the problem of dealing with malcontents among them, shipped the disgruntled ones overseas. Governor Bradford’s story of the Plymouth colony shows how things were dbne In tbose days. According to Bradford's story the “reds” in the Plymouth colony were represented by John Llford and John Oldham, who conspired together, both against the church and the government of the colony, endeavoring to entice others with them. Oldham refused duty when called upon by Captain Standish, whereupon it was determined to place Oldham and Llford on trial, all the members of the colony being present They were convicted, the court ordering them expelled from the colony, both being deported ultimately. Oldham name once again to the colony and created a serious breach of the peace, whereupon “they committed him -till he was tamer, and then appointed a guard of musketeers which he was to pass through, and everyone was ordered to give him a thump on ye birch, with ye butt end of his musket and then was conveyed to ye waterside, where a boat was ready to carry him away. Then they bld him goe and mende his maners.”