On the appointed day, Ethan rode into the county seat, where he found more than a hundred Friends assembled—men, women, and older children, all obviously concerned about their leader. He was one of the few non-Quakers who was to testify, although Herman Husband and a few other Regulators were there. As one of the listed witnesses, Ethan was seated near the front of the courtroom and watched as Maddock was brought in and placed in the defendant’s stall. He refused to take an oath, simply stating that he would tell the truth. After some consultation with the attorneys, the judge ordered the questioning to commence. After Maddock had identified himself and described his role as a miller, he answered the prosecutor’s questions as succinctly as possible.

“Did you organize a meeting at your grist mill on the first Saturday of this month?”

“No.”

“Was such a meeting held?”

“Yes.”

“Why was it held at your place?”

“It is a convenient and well-known site, and a number of groups have used it for meetings.”

“Who called the meeting?”

“I don’t know, but Mr. Herman Husband and two other gentlemen asked me if they could use the mill house for a meeting.”

“Did you know it would be on behalf of the group known as the Regulators?”

“Yes.”

“Did you know that their purpose was to disrupt the orderly government processes of the county and state?”

“No.”

“Did you hear what was said at the meeting?”

“Yes.”

“Did you not hear treasonous remarks made by Mr. Husband and others?”

“No. I understood that the comments were almost the same as those expressed in the petitions made last year to the state government and to the Parliament in London.”

“Were there any calls for violence or illegal acts?”

“No.”

“Was any liquor or other alcoholic beverage sold by you or anyone on your premises?”

“No.”

The judge called the prosecutor to the bench, and they consulted for about five minutes. Then the prosecutor sat down, and the judge announced, “The court finds that the defendant is not guilty of inciting other citizens to commit treasonous or illegal acts, but permitted his premises to be used by men who stirred up dissension in the community. I have here an affidavit from Mr. Edmund Fanning, who is present in the court, certifying that inflammatory statements were made and that Mr. Maddock, as proprietor, did nothing to stop the proceedings or to ask the people to leave. Therefore, I find the defendant guilty of participating in disturbing the peace, and fine him fifty pounds.” Pounding his gavel, the judge adjourned the court.