Sugar House Bulletin | 1947-12-05 | Page 7 | Attacked, Imprisoned because of Whiskers

Attacked, Imprisoned Because of Whiskers Between 1830 and 1840 in Fitch-burg, Fitch-burg, Mass., a Joseph Palmer was the target of the strangest persecution perse-cution in American history, says Collier's. Because he wore a beard against the protestations of the townsfolk, he was snubbed by his friends, sneered at by the tradespeople, trades-people, stoned repeatedly by small boys and finally attacked by four men who attempted to cut off his whiskers by force. Palmer put up a stiff resistance and finally escaped unharmed, only to be arrested later for fighting. fight-ing. When brought to trial, he was found guilty, but as he refused to pay his fine was sentenced to prison for more than a year.