 The Cavalcade of America, presented by DuPont. The Story of Mehitable Wing. Adapted for radio from a story by the noted American author, Carl Carmer. With Jeanette Nolan in the role of Mehitable Wing. Tonight, the DuPont Company, makers of better things for better living through chemistry, bring you the story of a valiant heroine of 18th century America, Mehitable Wing. Here's Dr. Frank Monahan, professor of history at Yale University. The Cavalcade of America's historical advisor, Dr. Monahan. It seems to me that history has too long neglected Mehitable Wing. Tonight, we are going to remedy that injustice. We are fortunately able to do so because of discoveries made by Carl Carmer while writing his recent book called The Hudson. The woman to whom Cavalcade now plays tribute made one of the most remarkable horseback rides in American history. I think that her ride is as notable as the Midnight Ride of Paul Revere. Beyond its inherent dramatic charm, the story of Mehitable Wing is symbolic of an important movement in American history. The struggle of the people to own the land upon which they live. Oh yes, oh yes, oh yes. Our sovereign Lord the King strictly charges and commands all manner of persons to keep silence upon pain of imprisonment. His lordship, Justice Portmandon. This day, the 6th of August in the year of our lord, 1766, the court of King's bench is in session. It is mid-summer in the Hudson Valley, the year 1766. The little courthouse of Poughkeepsie is throng with excited valley farmer. One of their neighbors, William Prendergast, is on trial for his life. On the prisoner's bench is the handsome Irish born, William. Beside him, in gray Quaker dress, is his wife, Mehitable. Go now, my wife. Here's the judge. I want to stay by thee, William. Beside there's no other seat empty. It is not fit for you to stay here and speak out so freely in the court. The judge didn't mind. He has kind eyes, William. He smiled at me. Little pigeon, it is not for the judge I want you to sit down in court, but for the prosecutor. Plain he resents you. Well, I can't admire the King's counsel, William. We'll need both our wits against him. Better I stay close by thee and hear his words plainly. I ask indulgence from the jury and the King's counsel for this delay. My hashing there was in full, and I trusted no hand but my own to pretend the business. Let King's counsel proceed from point of interruption. My Lord, the prisoner has not yet pleaded to this indictment. Please, my Lord, my husband and I have been advised by our friends that his case is bound up with other farmers in the valley. We hope this is for his advantage. My Lord, is there nothing I can plead besides guilty or not guilty? There is no other plea. Your Lordship's wisdom will be deeper than the King's counsel. My husband wants a plea in the middle, sitting for an honest man who has done a thing for which he is neither guilty nor not guilty. This quaker woman does waste the court's time, your Lordship. The prisoner will not see a or nay. William Pendergast, you're accused of having uttered seditious words, of having incited honest men to riot and rebellion, of having set yourself up as captain of a rebel army, of having broken into prison, of having inflicted outrage upon the King's office holders, of fevering and property of property earned high treason. How plead you guilty or not guilty? So be it. Not guilty. Here's a pity, Your Lordship, that the law forces William to plead in such a way. Your Lordship, I've moved that the prisoner's wife be removed from the court, lest she too much influence the jury. She does not disturb the court, nor does she speak unreasonably. Well, Your Lordship, I do not think she should speak at all. I feel her very looks may wrongly influence the jury. Denied. For the same reason you might as well move the prisoner, cover himself with a veil. I thank thee, Your Lordship. Your Lordship, as counsel for the crown, I will prove beyond doubt this is the clear case from beginning to end. We have witnesses to... But, Your Lordship, it is not a clear case. It is as we tell thee, William is neither guilty... Your Lordship, we have witnesses to establish every charge in the indictment. We will prove that the prisoner did... William is neither guilty nor not guilty, Your Lordship. We must hear our story, for it is the truth. I object, Your Lordship. This woman has no standing in this court. She is not counsel for the accused. I do but wish the court to hear the truth. Someone must be here. Since slain the king's counsel does not know it. Your Lordship, must King's counsel enjoy these constant interruptions, which serve only to confuse the jury? Would it not be better to let her have her say and be done with it? Mrs. Prendergast, the court will allow you to tell your story if it has relevance. Does King's counsel wish to question her? The crown, Your Lordship, can quickly dispose of this matter, for his plain she knows little of it. First, let us consider the plea. May I know, Prendergast, you intimate that the prisoner's plea is inexact. If this is so, why has he not thrown himself upon the mercy of the court? I suspect others here would answer as I say. We look upon thy face and find no mercy in it. You see, Your Lordship, she but delays the court with digression. Answer my question. I cannot, sir, if he interrupts me. Perhaps there will be fewer digressions with Mrs. Prendergast. Tell her story in her own way. Well then, I must go back to the morning William proposed to me. No, my hittable, such a thing has no place at this trial. But it has, William. Elsie would not be here. Mrs. Prendergast, address your words to the court. Yes, my Lord, but my husband would not be in this trouble but for me. Your Lordship, I long in this this obvious attempt to gain sympathy for the accused. Leonard, the witness may proceed without interruption. Thank you, sir. Well, here is exactly how it was. On the morning I speak of William came to Quaker Hill and held private converse with my father. Snow was falling outside. I was in the kitchen. It was early in the morning and I was cooking porridge on the heart. I heard William standing in the snow from the street up. Good morning, my hittable. Good morning, William. Come, sit by the heart and make that self warm. Would be like some hot porridge? I have no appetite for it, my hittable. I have just left your father with part of an anger. Anger? Oh, William. What did he say to him? I asked his permission to make him my wife. He refused it. Oh? Well, I thank you for telling me of it, sir. Oh, my hittable. Your eyes are like a lake I once saw in the woods. Would you have said yes to me, my hittable? I would have said yes to you, William. Then my pigeon will wed without your father's blessing. Oh, no. I cannot depart my father's house in anger. He said I had no way to take care of you. Thy strong hands can build our world. He has not spoken fully to father. I told him plainly I'd wed no other and I meant it, my hittable. No, no, I mean about the land we could rent from the manor lord Philip. Did they talk of that? What land? That is on woodland at the foot of the hill. That part by the brook they told me would be further. Yes, it would be. If I chopped away the trees. Yes, timber for a cabin. But are you sure Philip will lease it? My father said so, William. I think I'll have another talk with your father. Wait, William. Wouldn't it be better to see manor lord Philip's first? Have the lease in thy pocket and then speak to father. Yes, yes, my pigeon. That's exactly what I'll be doing. I'll go to my lord first and then I'll be here your father And so gentlemen, after our little talk several days passed and then William leased a few acres of land for manor lord Philip and we took each other with joy and care. But we had come by our lease without realizing some of the terms set down on the paper and when we finally realized what they meant we saw that they were unfair. So one day we went to manor lord Philip's great house and waited long before we were admitted to see him. He was alone at his desk and it was late in the afternoon. We wanted to tell him why we thought the lease was unfair. To ask you manor lord to change our lease. Change your lease? Yes manor lord. Now why do you take me for a friendly guest? You're four pounds twelve shillings due today. Well, we're a pound short manor lord for the poor crops. You would cheat me out of a pound eh? And expect me to change the lease? It's not a question of cheating. The terms of that lease are unbearable. Well you sign it and you live up to it. I'll take your wife and yourself off my land. That is the law and you know it. Here's an unfair lease manor lord. And we protested. So you protested miss this friendly guest? Well, now what's that commotion out there? My lord. What is it Terry? Lieutenant manor who's been evicted from his farm manor lord. He and two others demand to see you. Manor eh? Well what do I pay you for? Get out. What do you mean breaking in here like this? We ask you to give time your manor oh his farm back. Yes. And lower all our rent if you will manor lord. Why you bitches. I should arrest you for trying to get out of your just debt. But please manor lord. They are not just debt. We are honest men manor lord. But is it just to make each of us pay you more rent than you pay to the county? Just. I am the one to decide justice here. Sign those leases and you'll abide by them. And for a lot less than 50,000 acres. 4 pounds 12 shillings for 50,000 acres. Is that all he pays? Hear these beggars out of here. Out of my house I say enough of my premises. You two friend or guest. And take your wife with you. Go on clear out. And don't forget friend or guest. You still owe me for the rent. We'll see about that. You heard you heard it all in there. For our little farm he makes me pay 4 pounds 12 shillings. And he holds 50,000 acres. I heard it all William. Ask me what I'm going to do. I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll tell every farmer along the Hudson of this robbery. I'll take to the road. I heard William. But I heard him too speak of the law. The law. It is as he says. No good can come of breaking it. We had to believe I love you. But this is no time for turning your quaker cheek. No I'll tell my story at every farm house and crossroads from here to the end of the valley. That's now are you with me? Come on come on let's not wait with a lot to do. You go up the river. Go back into the hill. Don't you take the King's road. And the men agreed with William and what he said. That is the truth your lordship and the way it was. You see your lordship. Mistress Pendergas admits her husband's treason. As the woman still insists on continuing. If I may your lordship. Proceed. William said goodbye to me. Over the cover would come. He wrote off that day with his men. And I knew he would not be back by sundown. But I heard later what happened. And this is the way it was. Ah then Mistress Pendergas. You admit you were not present at what followed. No I was not but it is the truth. I object your lordship. This evidence is only here sir. Subjection sustained. But William was there. William retell of it. Well I Pendergas. Is it not true that you gathered hundreds of men in the army? Well maybe it was hundreds. But it was no army. Only honest farmers who felt his eyes that we had been set upon. We make the soil sweet by our own labor and want to pass it on to our sons. And isn't it true that with this army you attacked the jail at Prokipce inflicted outrage upon the king's office holders. Well I. You choose to be the answer to the question. Maybe we did that too your lordship. We. Don't know what good the talent of this will do for me. But. It seemed good at the time. At any rate we went to the home of Justice Peters who was thrown many an honest man into jail your lordship. Well a couple of the lads and myself give them a duckin' in the pound town pump that's all. And if I do say it your lordship the old billy goat needed it badly and that's the truth. I. I must warn the accused not to refer to the esteemed Justice Peters as an old billy goat. That's all your lordship. If I may continue your lordship. All this while I was waiting at my father's house. For it was my time. Then I learned the king's troops were hunting for William. William and his men were in hiding on Quaker Hill in the meeting house. So in the night I went there and I asked William to give himself up. I told him that even if everything else in our world was wrong truth should prove him right That's probably all there is to our story your lordship. I. I thank you lordship for hearing this. Does the king's counsel wish to introduce further evidence in this case? No your lordship. Mrs. Pendergat has proven every charge in the indictment. The crown rest. As there is no regular counsel for the defense the court will now proceed with this charge to the jury. At this time the republic points the jury should consider when it retires for its deliberation. In the first place the stress and motives of these times and the people of the Hudson Valley are of such character and turmoil with the elements of passion and I know the jury will set me free. They must. They must but will they. There's a better difference in the words of my pigeon. But I know they will. They'll be honest and fair. They can find but one way William and that is for the. That we'll see. To remember the juryman of farmers all in their own land not on leases like us. And this is the court of kings bench. William. I pray it's for the. It must be. The court of kings benches in session. His lordship justice horseman. The jury has completed its deliberation gentlemen of the jury. Are you agreed of your verdict. We are. Look upon the jury. The jury. Look upon the prisoner. I'll say you. Is the prisoner at the bar guilty of high treason whereof he stands indicted or not guilty. Guilty. No. William. No they can't. The prisoner will come forward to the bench. William. Have you anything to say before the court passes sentence upon you. I have nothing to say your lordship. Very well. William Pendergast. You stand convicted of high treason against his majesty. For your offense you will be hanged by the neck until you are dead. This sentence to be executed on the 26th day of September. In the year of our lord. 1766. God have mercy upon my soul. Court is adjourned. No. No William. Come along Pendergast come along. Goodbye my pigeon. William no it can't be true. I'll speak to his lordship wait. This way Pendergast. Goodbye my hittable. Goodbye. Your lordship. Your lordship. Yes. Oh yes Mr. Pendergast. I would speak with thee. Here here in my chambers mistress this way. I thank thee. Your lordship. Sit down mistress. Rest yourself. Your lordship. Is there any way they can save William. I am sorry but the verdict is guilty. The weight of the evidence is too damaging. The sentence is prescribed by law. But the truth must be right. I have told William so many times. It is why I persuaded him to give himself up to justice. And why he believed me your lordship. Is there no way to save him. Pardon from the king. Pardon from the king. Governor Moore is the only man who might effectively petition the king. And he's in New York 70 miles away. Then can't we go to him. I'm afraid not. Anyway I've heard he's ready to start on a long journey. I'm sorry. There is no way mistress. There must be a way. Heaven helped me to find it. 70 miles away. 70 miles down the shores of the Hudson River. Is the residence of the royal governor Sir Henry Moore. 70 miles to the tip of Manhattan Island. And a strider white horse. Onward through hour after hour of suspense and fear rides mehitable. Down the king's road. Past winds swept Tapan Bay. Past kings ferry and tarry town. On and on until mehitable pulls up a planting charger at the Harlem River. Then the long gallop over the farmland of Manhattan Island. On down to the governor's residence and finally. One and desperate. Mehitable stands before Sir Henry Moore. Please. Please Excellency. Mistress I've told you I have no time now. I'm sorry but you must see me at the appointed time for the hearing of petition. I'm preparing to leave New York. There are many things to do. Come back another time. Excellency I beg thee. Please. I came by horse all the way from Poughkeepsie. You rode here? For what reason? To beg thee to save my husband's life. He is. He is William Prendergast. Prendergast? Is the trial over? My husband has been sentenced to death. I'm sorry for you, Mistress. Sorry Prendergast happens to be your husband. But there is nothing I can do for you. I rode to ask for you to spare him. Oh be merciful to us. But how can I, Mistress? Facts are facts. And the king's justice is the king's justice. William is impetuous Excellency. Yet what he did he thought was right. There are hundreds of farmers who feel as William that it was no wrong. The wrong is the rents we pay for our little farms. We speak of the king's justice. If William is hanged all these farmers will lose hope in justice. If there is to be a peace in the valley we must have true justice. Yes. Perhaps. Perhaps the king might. I am treaty. Have mercy. Petition his majesty for William's right to live. Mistress. I must go. I must go. Mistress. I am much impressed by what you say. You are a loyal and brave woman. Your husband shall not suffer. Oh thank you Excellency. Thank you. I will send his majesty a petition for your husband's pardon. And in the meantime you have my assurance. Directly. Rumor has come that the valley farmers are rising again. Valley farmers rising for what reason? They resent the outcome of the Prendergast trial. We suppose they will seize the jail and free him. Oh no. I am sorry. If William Prendergast leaves the custody of the king's officers. And takes one step outside the jail door. There is absolutely nothing I can. Or will do. Your husband will hang. I won't let him. I won't let him leave. I promise. And thank you for thy understanding heart. The Poughkeepsie jail are lighted in the glare of torture. The surging mob of valley farmers surrounds the building. From the farmlands up in the hills and beyond the back road. They've risen and come that night by wagon, by horse and on foot. Enraged and determined to set their leader free. To the men now. Wait William, wait. Don't go. Stop. I won't let him. I won't let him leave. I promise he. And thank you for thy understanding heart. The Poughkeepsie jail are lighted in the glare of torture. The surging mob of valley farmers surround the building. Please, William. First you get me to surrender. Now you want me to stay here till I swing. Oh no my pigeon, not this time. William, I have a promise. Promise. From the governor. What do you mean? He'll have a pardon from the king. But not if he leaves this jail tonight. By heaven. Men, men listen to me men. I'm not going with you. My wife here says the king will consider my pardon. I think I'll stay in jail a little while longer until the pardon comes. So it'll be best if all of you go now. Thanks. Thank you my friend. You heaven bless you all. Hold me closer. Closer. There now. No more flying away from you over the land my pigeon. You're in my arms now. And you'll stay here. Yes William. I love you. So it came to pass that through Mahitapal's heroic ride for love of her husband, His Majesty the King of England, Granted Farmer William Prandegas' pardon. Tonight that gallant woman, Of the days when America was just beginning its long struggle to achieve political and economic freedom, Takes her rightful place in the cavalcade of America. Thank you, Jeanette Nolan. And now before Dr. Monaghan tells us about next week's program, We have a story from the wonder world of chemistry. A rare Swiss chemist named Brandenberger, Employed by a rayon manufacturer in France, Was annoyed by a dirty tablecloth and a restaurant. He thought how fine it would be to have a cloth so smooth, That spilled food could be wiped off without leaving a trace. The idea struck him, Why not coat fabric with a liquid cellulose compound used in making rayon? Well he experimented a long time, But failed to produce a practical stain proof tablecloth. Yet he did find that his solution could be made into thin sheets. He thought it might be good for wrapping packages. After years of work, he at last got what he wanted, A flexible cellulose film that was transparent. Now this film was so costly to make, It could only be used to wrap perfumes and other expensive items, In the early days in France. In America, the DuPont Company, Recognizing the need for a packaging material That would allow people to see the product underneath, Yet protect it at the same time, Bought the rights to the manufacturing process, And the trademark cellophane. With all its advantages, this early cellophane Lacked important properties. So DuPont Chemists finally succeeded In developing an entirely new type, Moisture proof cellophane. Here for the first time, With a transparent material that sealed freshness in, And kept contamination out, Thus filling a real need. From the very beginning, Growing demand made it possible To bring the price down time after time. A few weeks ago, DuPont announced the 20th price reduction on cellophane. Today, because of continued research, The plain type is a much better product, And costs only about one eighth As much as when first manufactured here. The moisture proof type has been reduced At an even faster rate. DuPont now has factories in three different cities, Busy making cellulose films, And another plant is being built. But that is only a small part Of the new business created by this industry, That sprang from the test use. Think of the range of products From pies to pianos, To the many articles made with it From clothes bags to Christmas trees. Think how much this means In added employment throughout the nation. Surely you will agree That cellophane is another fine example Of the DuPont pledge, Better things for better living Through chemistry. And now, Dr. Monaghan. In the fall of 1620, The Pilgrim Fathers first landed in New England. But not many of us know The full story of how the first New England settlers managed to survive. The Pilgrim next week. Following our cavalcade custom, Let me ask the question about next week's program. How did a kidnapping English sea captain Help save the lives of the Pilgrim Fathers At Plymouth Rock? Thank you. Tonight, the orchestra and musical effects, As usual, were under the direction of Don Vorey. Next week, Cavalcade of America will present The noted star of stage and screen, Mr. Sam Jaffe, In an original radio drama, This is Thomas Thomas saying good night, And best wishes from the DuPont Company. This is the National Broadcasting Company.