The Portland gazette., 1819-01-05

BOSTON, DEC. 0U.
TRTaL FOR MURDER.

TRTAL For .MURDER
On Monday last came on in the Circuit
Court Of the United States, before Judge Sro-
kY and Judge DAVIS, the trialot John WiL-
t'ams, John P. Rog, Francis Frederick, Niles
Peterson, and Nathaniel Wtlte, on an indict-
ment for the murder Of Mr. Thomas BAYNARD,
supercargo OF the sch. Plaasburg, of Bati,
more, in July 1916, on the high seas, 10 a
voyage from Baltimore to Smyrna. The
prisoners were also indicted for the murder OF
the Captain and first mate Of the schooner,
and for piracy. The second mate of the
Plattsburg, and the steward, being admitted
as witnesses, the whole proceedings of the
bloody transaction were developed. The
prisoners called no evidence but their Coun-
sci managed their cause with great energy
and ability. Judge SToRY summed up the
evidence with bis usual perspicuity and i'm
partality, anu charged the jury with great in
dependence. AT four o'clock, the jury return
ed verdict that Williams, Rog, Frederick
and Peterson, were GutIy and that White
vas Not Guilty. The convcts were then
renamed and White ordered to be kept in
custody, as there are five other indictments
against him for murder and piracy.
The prisoners throughout the Trial exhibi-
ted great indifference as to the result III
lians calls himself an American, and appears
10 be hardened offender-Petersoa is a
Swede Frederick German, and Rog Prus-
sian. They are young men, but appear to
be hardy mariners.
On Wednesday morning the convicted
prisoners were brought into Court, when MIR.
BLAKE, the District Attorney, after teciing
the trial and conviction, moved The Court
IN very impressive manner, that sentence
of dea,h be- pronounced on the II. The
prisoners were then seVerally asked, what
they had 10 say why sentence OF death
should not be pronounced upon them !;
when Htlhanls addressed the Court for
bout half an hour-giying a minute history
Of his life, in which he stated, his having
been born in Vermont, near the Canada
border having been brought up in Mon
trcal, part Of the time in lawyers office J;
and that he had since followed seaman's
lite.--in narraling the transactions of the
mutiny on board the Plattsburg, he assert
ed his innocence OF the murders, which he
declared were perpe,rated by Stromner anu
others oil the crew,who are not in custody :;
but admitted his participation IN the piracy
and plumber of the vessel. AT tile close OF
his harrang0e. he declared, that Whife( alias
Glass; had no hand in The murders. The
other prisoners, except Rog who is Dane
and does not speak English lntelligibiy, al
so gave some account of themselves, and OF
The particulars of the muiny in which,
though they attempted to exonerate them
selves from the murders, they charged their
fellows with activity in them.
The Hon. Judge SroRy, after remarkinc
that nothing which they had said lesscned
he justice oftheir conviction, and was so
as not TO be Untitled 10 any at
tentlon, exhorted them 10 a review of ,heir
lives, and sincere repentance Of their
crimes, before the few days they had 10 live
we're closed upon them /; and then, in a ,e-
ry impressive manner, pronounced The sen
tence Of the law, that they be hanged by The
neck, as pirates, until they are dead and
that the sentence be executed on them on
Thursday the 2 st Of January current, be.
tween the hours of 10 and ? o'clock.
A full account of the trial being now
preparing TOR the press of Messrs. Russell.
and Gardner, we shall merely give an out
line Of the horrid transaction, as narrated