The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1813-10-08
~ TRIAL FOR PIRACY.
BRITISH RIG II COURT or ydDMr.
IN

- TRIAL FOR PIRACY.
BRITISH HIGH COURT OF ADM
RAL7'Y,
Yesterday the high Court of Admiralty,
Tor the trial of offences Committed on the
high seas, was opened before Sir W. Scott,
III the Justice Hall Of Newgate, with the
accustomed solemnitSs.
PIRACY.
John Wiltshire alias Jonathan Bowers,
alias John Wright, alias John Ry'ey, a ma
tive of PlymoutA, and Charles Cuholly, a ma
tive of Ireland. stood indicted for having
practically sailed in. a priv,teer called the
True Blooded Yankee. under color OF an
American. commission, on the high seas
where they aided, Rssised. and comfort, q
divers armed men in the captGre of vessels
appettsming to the sovereign or the sub.
jects of England.
Itappeared that the True plooded Van
kec was lifted out as Amefic an priyateer
by Certain citizens of Boston, in the Harbpr
OF brest. about the commeucement OK tie
| year. She was armed with I6 guns, & car
ried complement OF IFS men, so of whom
were French. About the latter end O. Dec.
Z. Connolly entered on board of his own
free will, and on the 2Sth March, the pr
soner Wiltshire was put on board by two
armed men, under the name of Ryley. On
the first day of March. 1913. this privateer
/
she gave chase to a MERCHANT ship, fired Sc
veral guns after her, but she escaped by SUI
perior swiftness of sailing. They proceeded
TO the coast OF Ireland, where they chased
and captured vessel before The iiehss of
wicklow, called the Margaret. and put au
American prize master, with six sailors on
board, and removed the greater part OF her
crew. The two prisoners at the bar were
OF the number put OH board; Wiltshire car
RED dirk concealed about his clothes, and
sometimes managed the helm. ConotIy
was unarmed, but performed duty in com-
| mon with the other sailors. They procee-
ded for Morlaix, when they were can.
tured by the Nimrod cutter, and carried in
to plymouth. There they were put on
board the Salvador del Mundo, where they
were suspected to be natives of Britain. by
Mr. tarhau, the master at arms, but they
both denied the circumstance.
Two persons proved the identity of Wilt
shire as an Englishman. Concerning the
birth iPlace OF Connolly, there was no evi
dence. ~
The prisoner, Wiltshire, iu his defence
SAID, he had been confined three years in
French dungeon, and anxiuus to sea the
light of day, he pretended that he was an
American, without being conscious of war
being declared, upon which two armed men
carried him on board the priva,eer, where
fney left hun his modification wastintoie-
rabie when ne discovered he was 20 be ar
med against his native country, and ne sail
ed with sore heart. When the Margaret
was captured, he, with six others, were put
II board, and he formed the design nj car
rying the vessel into Liverpool, which ne
communicated to the helmsman, who disco.
Vered it to the prize master, and he was
most carefully watched in Consequence. He
had served his country long. had shed and
lost blood in her service, and hs prayed for
the mercy of the court.
Connolly said he was native Of ireland,
and he had been carriedto America in his
youth.
Justice Chambre, in summing up the evil
dence. pointed out the necessity of acouit.
tlnS Connolly, inasmnch as there was no
proof OF his being native Of either Britain
or Ireland
The jury Immediately found Wiltshire
guilty, and acquitted Connolly.
Sir William Scott in passing sentence Of
death on the prisoner. SAID that the cirrunl
stances which ne had mentioned in e1;tenu
alton of bis guilt should be Represented to
those from whom mercy, nndcr his present
situation, could only fow--the prisoner bow.
/ ed and retired.