The Sun.
London, England, 1823-12-20 00:00:00

ADMIRALTY SESSIONS.---(Tins DAY.)

John Stevens was convicted of stealing one
gallon of rum on the high seas.
IV Ilium Little was indicted for murder, in
having shot, on the high seas, a seaman, named
John Masan. From the "evidence, it appeared
the prisoner was Commander of the Manta, which
was sailing on the coast of North America in
June last, when a quarrel arose between two
seamen about splicing some ropes, in which Mason
made himself very active. The prisoner inter.
posed his authority, but Mason insulted him and
seized him by the collar ; a scuffle arose, and the
Captain was knocked down. lie got up, and
sent for his pistols, and, as the deceased conti-
nued to insult him, and followed him to his
cabin, the prisoner tired, and Mason died soon
after of his wounds. ft appeared that Mason
was drunk, and his conduct appeared likely to
cause a mutiny.—The Jury found, by direction
of the Learned Judge, a verdict of Nut Guilty.
Waters was indicted for manslaughter,
in having 15 years since struck a seamen, named
Griffiths, a blow which caused his death. The
prisoner was chief mate of the ship -4/exandrzo,
and the deceased was a seaman ; they quarrelled
while on deck, and the prisoner knocked him
down the hatchway : he was brought on deck,
and died in a few hours. The prisoner in .his
defence declared he did not touch the deceased,
but that lie being in a state of intoxication fell
n the hatchway. The Jury acquitted the
prisoner.

Yesterday, Aaron Sagtlz was put to the bar on twoindictments,
the first charging him with having with others combined, anti
against his Majesty's liege subjects having seized, unlawfully.
two vessels, the first the Vi Norio, value about 32,00(1/. ; and
the second, the 14.41. Industry, on I heir homeward bound voyage
to England, on the 7th of Aug-ust, 1a224, ttbz•.4,:,;;;vcr, Laguto
distant from the isle t (Won.

Mr. LAlrrs read the indictment, and Sir C. Rostssolf
briefly stated the facts of the case.

The Avrottxxv.6ENEltAt. called 'Air. .Edward Sadler,
chief mate of that Victoria, who stated that he had sailed in the
above capacity onboard the Victoria during the last year, in the
course of which they sailed from London to Jamaica, Mr. W.
'lettuce was master of the vessel. They left Jamaica on the 27th
of July, and on the 2,1 of August were tiff the Isle of Cuba. Thei a
was a brig in company; hot she was nearer in shore than the
Victoria. A schooner was le-head, and a boat was sent from
her on board the Industry, at which time several shots had been
tired front the schooner. The boat that came alongside was
manned by four men, and the prisoner had the'command of her.
Ile, in fact, steered her The boat's crew then came on board
the Victoria, at which time they were armed with pig knives,
muskets, and pistols. The witness then detailed- the circum-
stances that took place, namely, the transferring the men to
the Industry ; -the giving orders to hoist the jib and let fall the
foresail; the transferring the cargo (rum) to the Industry, and
the directions given to the two crews of the Victoria and indus-
try, who had been put into time latter vessel, to set sail.. In the
course of the detail he stated, that on the moreing after time ves-
sels had been captured, the crew of the schooner held a council
of war on hoard, and one of them taking a enflame; by the point,
presented it to the. prisoner, who, ever after, gave orders to
those on board, who paid the most, exact attention to them.
After breakfast, the prisoner told Capt. Ilealice that he wished
to give up the vessel to him, but as nil hail a yoke, he could
not do so, and conseuently they (the crew of the Victoria)
would be sent on board the Industry, from which vessel they
were then moving, the cargo. Captain Ifeance then requested
the register of the ship, which the prisoner went below for
and gave him. The witness then stated that be had lost
considerable property, which he had never since seen. The
witness was examined by Mr. WJI,LIA M atul the Court,
and, in addition to the above, meted that the crew t f the boat,
appeared to be Spaniards; that the Victoria was incapable of
defending itself, having only two guns on board, and no
poivtln, and also that the schooner was within pistol shot all
the time, and if any thing had occurred, contrary to their
wishes, could have sunk the-vessel.
hlr. Win. S. licence,' time master of the vessel, was mat ea-
mined, and gave evidence tt the same Wren as the former
witness. lie produced the register of the vessel, which prov..
ed to belong to Messrs. Cohen, an:l her value to be at least
32,000/.

Other Corroborative witnesses were called to bring the ell:It-2;e
home to the prisoner.
The prisoner was then called on for his defence, whieh he
read from a written paper ofeonsiderable length. Ile had, be
stated, been forced front the Zephyr trading vessel, against his
will, by the pirates, and after the most unheard of cruelties tn.
wards him he was compelled to act as lie had done. lie had
been threat( nhl, not with instant death hut torture that no
individual being could be to table of suffering. lie had been
lashed to the mist, fired at with muskets, surrountle4 with
gun-powder, which was set fire to, and his clothes li erally
blown off his back before be would consent to act u d
the pirates, and then he did so with a view of mitigat-
ing the sufferings of his fellow-countrymen. If he had shot
at anyore .it was with the view of deceiving the pirate Cap.
Who was a most brutal 6.111.1 w :wed wretch, and a fellow
who cared for nothink lie catieltitivd by calling the atteo.
lion •:f the Jury to the feet of his never having received one
shilling of the booty, and the marks still visible on his legs front
the effects of the gunpowder. lle then called great number
of witnesses to prove the truth of his statement, mouogst whom
were the son of one of the owners of the vessel., the surgeon, and
others. Amongst them there was also a fel oule, whose situa-
tion excited the deepest interest. She ;fare her name Miss
Knight, the daughter of a licensed victualler, and identified is
letter received from the prisoner shortly before the time in
question. That letter bore data the 7th of June in the last year.
She was to have been married to him on his returo; 74.,-+
noes bi can e so extreena •ly agitated as to be -led out of Court,
and the prisoner who had, though labouring .tuat, r severe in-
disposition up to this period, maintained the utmost fortizude,
burst into tears. The witnesses, without one exception, gave
the prisoner a most exemplary character, some of whom had
known him many years both at sea and on shore, amongst
whom were several Captains anti Masters of vessels.
Mr. Baron o,tonow conintenced summing up the evidence
to the Juryonintraely, remarking on the Almon, pow?, as they
arose, and having stated to them the law as it affected the pri-
soner, put it to them to pronoune 011 his guilt or innocence.
The Jury, without .a Moment's hesitation, found hint Nct
Guilty.' • •