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Crime News Stories |
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Crime News Stories |
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New York, Nov. 18 (1826)
The circuit court of the U. States adjourned yesterday the 17th instant. On Tuesday, eight slaves were tried for having murdered the captain and mate of the schooner Decatur. One of them only was convicted, named William Hill; he was yesterday sentenced to be executed on the 15th of next December. The circumstances attending this affair were as follows:
In the month of April last, 33 slaves were shipped from Baltimore for New Orleans on board the schooner Decatur, Galloway, mater, the slaves to be sold at New Orleans. On the passage the slaves threw the captain and mate overboard and then appointed one of the crew to act as captain and another as mate and directed them to make for St. Domingo. These seaman, unable to navigate the schooner were compelled to make a signal of distress, when the ship Constellation hove in sight, they were boarded by a boat from that ship. The constellation took out of the schooner the women and children slaves and two of the seaman, the other two seamen remained in the schooner with the slaves, expecting that the Constellation would keep company with them but in the night they parted. The schooner was next day overhauled by the brig Rook, which took out 14 of the slaves and brought them in here. The Decatur brought in two, the remainder were carried to Boston by the Constellation. – Mer. Adv. Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania November 29, 1826
A singular circumstance took place in the course of the trial of John Smalley on a charge of forgery. A satisfaction piece, which was alleged to be forged and upon the indictment was founded, was missing. Search was made for it, on the table and among the papers of the counsel, but it could not be found. Nobody had seen it for some time. A constable came forward, holding up a handful of fragments of paper and inquired if that was the instrument in question. It was immediately pronounced by several persons to be the satisfaction piece and the officer was asked where he had found it. He answered under Mr. Smalley’s chair. A great sensation was immediately produced among the bystanders. Mr. Smalley, however, stated the pieces of paper were only the fragments of a note that he had just received from a witness informing him that he could not attend on that day. This, on a careful examination, proved to be the fact; and further search being made the satisfaction piece was discovered to be with the copy of the indictment handed to the judges for their inspection. This is another instance of the danger of pronouncing hastily upon the guilt or innocence of an individual from appearance. – NY Post [Republican Compiler, Gettysburg, PA, February 24, 1829]
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