Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1825-12-02
RICHMOND, DEG. Q.
FEDERAL COURT.

~~S&@ AVA IN IL, LEO. z.
FEDERAL COURT.
The Circuit Court of IL. United States has
Deen some days in session in this city.-ChieI
Justice Marshall and Judge Hay presiding.
Vm. ~. 'dndretcs, clerk in the Post Office at
foin'' was uied under an indictment for pur-
ioining money from letters which passed through
ua' ounce. Inc evidence conclusive, and
the jury brought in verdict OF e;u,1ry. The
years imprisonment.
JOAN b. -d"iedey--The trial of this individual
mas created much interest in our society from the
nature oil the offence with which he was CHARGED
re was commander and owner of the schooner
Pacific, OF Boston, and cleared out from that nor,
IN July 1874 Tor the Baltic, and was lost in the
n'uish ohahnei. lie was arraigned under two in
uic'ments, charging him with fraudulently and de-
sisnedly scut,ng and sinking the said vessel. and
win the view oil piejudcns the insurers of the YES
sci and OF the cargo. The prosecution wa, con-
quoted Dythir. Stanard the District ATTORNEY for
,he y u and the defence by Messrs. LEIGH and
Johnson.
The act of Congress upon which the indictments
rested, Is IN these words
" Sect g. BE IL further enacte, Tba, ;s an,
person shall, on the high seas. wilfuly and cor
rup'Iy cast away, burn, otherwise destroy. any
snip or vessel OF which he is owner i'm part or in
whole, or IN any wise direct or procure the same
10 be done, with intent design to prejudice any
person or persons that hath underwritten or shall
uhuerwrite, any policy policies of insurance
thereon, or u amy merchant merchants that shall
oao Soous thereon, or ii any other owner or owners
OF SUCH ship or vessel, the person or persons Of
lending therein, being thereof lawfully convicted.
shai be deemed and adjudsed guilty of felony, and
shall suffer DEATH "''N
Inc prisoners counsel demurred to the four
counts IN the hrst Indictment, which charged that
he had destroyed the vessel with intent 10 nreudce
the insurers oil the cargo and commended that such
an ACT was not an offence under the law. The
word u Gas italicized above,) was probably in
tended to be of, but standing as did. il made tba,
member OF the sentence unintellieible and il was
not competent Tor the court 10 supply the
OF Congress This subject was argued at len,th
oy counsel but The court sustained the demurrer :;
and the trial then proceeded under the counts in the
Indictment charging that the vessel was DESTROYED
win Intent 10 prejudice the Underwriters of her
only. Sixteen witnesses from Boston and two
rom new York, were examined, and variety
documents submitted to the jury. II appeared
,hat cargo was put on board of little or no value
out that false bills OF lading were signed for cargo
valued at aoont 3 10000, and assurances effected
both In London and Boston. The shipper of this
fictitious cargo was j. p. Frodins, then Swedish
cohsui al Boston. 1t is unnecessary to enumerate
'ne FRAUDS anu decep'ions by which the details OF
sailed, and when in the English channel within a.
bout twenty miles of land, the plugs were knocked
our OF the holes previously bored for that purpose
and the vessel sunk. The officers and crew escan-
Ell 10 The British shore in their boats, and entered
me usual protest. Froding, who was then in En-
gland, is said to have received the amount of in
surance from the London Offices and he gave draft
on -this country 10 the prisoner fo s 5000. Ii
appeared that the captain and two seamen were in
persons has been convicted and sent TO the Penen
tI'ry oil Massachusetts. The other who sailed with
the vessel In the character of mate has been sense
tne under arrest, and IN that situation brought
before the court here as q witness After the de
struction OF the vessel Amedey went 10 Boston.
where strong suspicious were entertained of the
transaction. He was appraised of his danger. con-
fessed his guilt but said he had been induced tn din
what he had done by the persuasions and threats Of
FrodinS The person to whom this confession
was made, promised out OF tenderness 10 his family
not to beiray him, aud he left Boston, Changing
his name, he went to Key West. (Thompson's
lsland,) where notwithstanding the disguise he had
assumed, ne was suspected, apprehended and bro't
before captain Mix OF the navy, then on that ga
ton, and by whom he brought into the Chesa
Peake and surrendered to the civil authority. To
captain Mix he acknowledged his real name, con-
iessed the offence imputed ia him, but charged il
all to Froding. In his pocket book was found the
obligation of Froding to pay him = 5000 when the
voyage was ended, or the goods sold or otherwise
disposed of. Froding who has been carving on
this system of plundering the Insurance Offices
for some time, has made his escape and is now
beyond the reach OF justice.
Notwithstanding the objection urged to some of
the evidence, upon re whole it was clear and un-
equlvocaI as to the Ltisoner's guilt. The argu-
nienis OF the counsel boh for the prosecution and
Tue prisoner occupied Sin hours on Wednesday and
were Ingenious able and eloquent.
The jury after being in retirement for about an
hour returned with a verdict of GUILTY But be-
tore they were discharged nine of them signed ma
per recommending him TO the mercy of the Presi-
dent.
The crime Of which the prisoner has been con-
victed is in the eye OF the law of the highest grade
OF turpilude. When committed, it is done upon the
high seas, in the absence of the usual means of de-
lection, and IN The presence of one but the crew
who may belongto the conspiracy and share in the
spoil Thedestruciion of property and the exposure
OF human life under such circumstances has been
thought, in commercial communities to merit CAPT
tai punishment Without the heaviest penalties
the property of the mercantile Glass; aud the ca pital
OF Insurance Companies. would be too much ex-
posed to the cupidty Of individuals. These are
the grounds upon which the penalty of death is at
tached TO the commission Of the offence.
Let the case OF Amedey be warning TO others
who may be, likehim, tempted to err.
THE CREEK CONTROVERSY.
The Nat. lntelligencer of Tuesday strengthens
the hope of apramicable arrangement. II state-
that the remainder Of the Deputation will not be
waited for longer than that day, " and the confer
ences the subject of the Treaty will commence
probably tomorrow. 1t is said that the Govern
Ls,o,- - II r