Elizabeth-Town gazette. [volume] (Elizabeth-Town, N.J.) 1818-1821, 1818-12-29
From the New-York Columbian.


TRIAL OF ARBUTHNOT.
E1traets from the documents on ttct sub
iett communicated by the President 10
Congress.
William Hambly, witness on the part
of the prosecution, being duly sworn, and
commencing statement OF VIVA; be heard
the chiefs say, and the prisoner objecting
to hearsay evidence Of that kind-the
court was cleared in order to take the
question; when they decided that the
prisoners objection was not valid. The
witness was therefore released, aud stated
that fifteen or twenty days after the pris
oner arrived at Ocklocknee, the Seminole
Indians began TO steal horses from the u.
States settlements, and committed MUIR
ders 90 the SatiIla river, which he was
informed by them was at the instigation OF
the prisoner.
The Chiefs of the little villages in wit
ness neishbourhood, then desired him to
write few lines to the prisoner, stating
those reports, aud that he did not know
that those Indians he was exciting had
long been outIawed, and cautioned him
against such proceedings, or he might be
involved in their ruin. This the witness
did j; when the prisoner wrote him long
and insulting letter, which was lost, up
braiding the witness for calling those In
dams outlaws, and accusing him of excit
ing the Indians to cruel war. The wit
ness was told by Chiefs and Indians who
Gad seen the prisoner, that he advised
them to go to war with the United States,
il they did not surrender them the lands
which had been taken from them, and that
the British government would support
them in it.
The Indians that took the witness and
certain Mr.. Do, lie prisoners, which hap
pened on the 18th Dec. last, told them
that it was by the prisoners order; and
on their arrival at Mickasuky Gas prison
ers) King Hljah and all his Chiefs told
them it was by the prisoners orders they
were taken and robbed-on their arrival
at Suwaney they were told by the Indians
aud Negro Chiefs who sat III council over
tiem.that the prisoner had advised that he
should be given up to five or six ChoctaM
Indians who were saved from the Negro
Fort, who would revenge themselves for
the loss Of their friends at that place. On
their return from Suwaney, the Chief King
Hijai told them that he had got the pris
oner to write several letters Tor him, one
to the Governor Of Providence, one to the
British minister al ashinston, one to the
Secretary of State in London, and one to
the American Agent for Indian Affairs,
protesting against the proceedings Of the
Commanding officer at Fort Scott
While The witness was at Suwaney, the
Indian Chiefs told blm, that tie prisoner
had arrived at that place with tea kegs oil
powder on board his tsseI; and willis al
Fort ST. Marks, sometime in March, Hill
lisaja or Francis, brought an order from
the prisoner to the commandment for two
kegs of powder, with other articles which
were in his possession.
Cues. by the Count. Were any muir
ders or depredations committed Oh the
white settlements by the Indians previous
TO the prisoners arrival at Ocklocknee
Ans. None except one murdered at Fort
Gaines, which was before or about the
time of the prisoners arrival.
QaeS How long have you resided a.
mong the Indians state to the Court
whether you are acquainted with the In
dian language, and how long since you
learned it?
Ans. have resided among them four
teen years, aud have understood their
language twelve years.
Ques. Do you believe the Seminoles
would have commenced the business Of
murder and depredations on the white
settlements, had it rot been at the instiga
ton OF the prisoner, and promise on his
part, Of British protection?
Ans. do not believe they would, with
out they had been assured Of British pro
lection.
The further examination of Handy is |
not particularly interesting.
(No.
Letter from Arbuihnot to Gen. Mitch
ell, 10th Jan. 1918, stating, that as the
Americans are aggressors Oh the Indians,
ii they in return commit excuses, Gen.
NJ. would overlook them.
The evidence on the part Of the prose
cution being closed, the prisoner request
ed as witness Robert C. Ambrister, as
one OF bis witnesses, against whom crimi-
nal charges had been filed, and who was
in custody IN account thereof to which |
the Judge Advocate Directing, The Court !