Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-08-04
verdict with few rariaticnsJ similar 10 Tie

rest.
The court adjourned.
LAST CLASS OF CASES,
Yesterday, the court proceeded to ,rv
William Chappels, charged under the Sd
indictment with robbing an american yes.
sci (the Superior of Baltimore.) This in.
dictment, as will appear from the ioImer
calculations, rests, not upon the act Of
1919, but Of 1890. The FIRST, reIsle, to
Foreign vessels; the last, by the decision
OF the Supreme Court, 10 our own.
Dir Stanard on behalf of the u. States
On that OF the prisoner Dir. ". Wickb.u,
and Mr.. James Riddle, Who at the re.
quest OF the court, assisted in de defence
Black, witness OIL tie part Of th. pro-
secullon, ana who had been first Lit, OF,
board the lrresi table, stated that The CAP.
tain OF The Superior came on board the pri
vateer, the captain OF which (Ferguson)
knev bun to be all American captain. IAN
acquaintance OF F's. at Baltimore tina, the
American captain told F. he had Spanish
passengers and property, on board his
schooner; and that F. then gave instruc-
tons to his boarding crew, to respect the
American property, but TO bring with them
all the valuabcs they could find on board
belonging 10 the Spanish passenger. Black
stated That he was told by F. that this cap
tain was an American captain; and says
that he himself saw the American register.
The counsel Tor the prisoner asked ii be
knew the register to be genuine one--to
which he replied he did not.
They then moved the court TO illstruct
the jury, lst, that to prove her TO be all
American vessel, it was necessary that her
register. or az authenticated copy OF It
should be produced in court; 2dIy, that
the capture of Spanish property in an Anne
rican vessel was not piracy under the &C;
Of Congress.
The Chief Justice observed, be had lit.
tie doubt SUCH capture was an act of pi-a-
cy in the eye OF the law, aud as 10 the o.
Their point, he should suspend his opinion.
But, if the jury should be inclined to think,
that the Superior was an American vessel.
he recommended it to them to bring 10 a
special verdict, reseruing the question
whether she could be proved 10 be An eri-
can property without the production of her
register, or a copy under seal--Ant that
they might also reserve the point as 10 the
Spanish property found on board OF her.
The jury retired, and brought in yer-
dict of nat gully.
The U. S. Attorney then stated TO the
court, that he had no further business for a
jury, and they were accordingly dischar-
ged--the witness recognized to appear at
the next term OF the court in November
next.
The other cases under the Sd indictment
will lie over until The prosecution can OBJ
tain the register, and other evidence as TO
the fact of American ownership.
The point growing out Of the act Of Con-
gress of 1919, and reserved in the several
special verdicts, will probably be adjourn
ed to the Supreme Court at Washing ton.
In the case of Thomas Watson mole
pros. has been entered up by the attorney
The other prisoners will probably remain
in jaI until the winter, to await their fate.
fc-We have taken some little pains 10
report these cases TO the public. The
scenes ofoutrsges on the high seas which
they deveIope. belong to the history OF the
times. Such scenes ought to be understood
To repress them, should be the wish Of e.
very American, who values bis country, her
character and her laws. We owe it 10 the
civilized world 10 arres. such lawless ou.'
RACES, perpttrated by vessels ana by crews
who have their equipment and their sarc'
tuary in our own ports. II the law be 30
weak that pirates can escape through rs
meshes, let US strengthen it. LetCongres
40 their duty, and not leave it tojudge'an'
juries to do it for them. Ethe Law then "
underlined in its provisions, let them gI's
clearer and more practical definitions.
New- York, July 81
MORE PIRACY!