Document: Proceedings against Thomas Hall

Cornelis van Tienhooven [ ] by virtue of his office, plaintiff, against Thomas Hal, defendant; the plaintiff says that Thomas Hal brought or had brought into Isaack Allerton's house a good quantity of English malt, which was not reported to the official, according to the ordinance. Consequently the seller or buyer, Thomas Hal, has attempted to swindle and cheat the government out of its revenue, in violation of the ordinance passed in New Netherland on 4 July 1647.[158] Therefore, the fiscal requests that the director-general and council declare the aforesaid malt to be confiscatible. The defendant, Thomas Hal, confesses at the session that he bought 184 skipples of malt from Mr. Willett and paid him 3 guilders per skipple. He furthermore requests a delay until the next court session in order to speak with Mr. Willett, and offers himself as security for the value of the aforesaid malt, which is granted him at the fiscal’s request, and pursuant to the ordinance the attachment is declared valid. Thus done at the session held in New Amsterdam, 8 September 1654; present were the honorable director-general, Mr. Nicasius de Sille, and Mr. La Montangne.