The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1826-12-27

chant. Alter breakfast. Merchant and
Curtis took out captaiu's desk. took out
papers, destroyed some aud returned 9TH
ers. Also divided Captains clothes be-
tween them, Merchant taking captains
chests. and Curtis putting the clothes in-
to his own chest; took pistols On deck
discharged them--then reloaded them
with powder and balls; they were four
IN number, aud each took two of them.
Bedclothes we're gone from captains
! birth /; pillow marked with blood; cabin
door, steps. quarterback and rail had
marks of blood; also, marks on the
fhen-coop and on Merchants trousers.
Sieered various courses, the object be-
ing to keep the vessel before the wind +;
the new watches were Curtis and
Hughes, and Merchant and himself
witness was enjoined secrecy /; three
days after the murder of captain and
mate, made Nova Scotia; hove about,
and Merchant and Curtis began TO make
preparations 10 scuttle the vessel; both
bored auger hotes, plugged them, ard
then stood near to shore. About; five
miles off, got out boat, put provisions,
three chests, seXtant and compass into
it; then Hughes and witness were or
dered in and the plugs taken out. Cur
lis then cut several holes in the side of
the vessel, near waters edge TO make
her fill faster. They then made for
land 10 the boat when he last saw the
Fairy, she was nearly hull under water.
In going ashore, many stories were
thought of, but Curtis and Merchant a.
greed TO say they belonged 10 brig
Fame, of Philadelphia, foundered at sea.
Witness, after getting ashore, staid that
night in boat next day, as soon as he
dared, told the business to Capt. Hook ;
did not dare tell before, for fear Curtis
might have pistols about him. This wit
ness also stated Curtis confession, and
that be said, before leaving the Fairy,
aud after the murder of captain and
mate, that Merchant had been at him
three days to get him 10 engage 10 the
business
Francis Pike, mate, and Stephen Hook,
captain of the schr. Sally, Of Newbury-
port, which vessel was at Louisburg, on
the 30th of August, testitiedto the arriy-
al of Iong-boat with four men in her
at that port. Merchant and Colson pre-
tended to have belonged 10 the brig
Fame, of Philadelphia; and told story
of her laundering In consequence Of
some strange behavior of the men and
the information of Mnrray--Capt Hook
determined to appreheDd them-the fol-
lowing extract is from his testimony
Soon after Murray's conversation, ''saw
Curtis Come out of house and 90 round
i, out of sight-followed and got sight
of him again, just as be entered piece
of woods--he was then running-pur-
sued him no farther--sent his people
up o Louisburg by water, went himself
| by land after Merchandise he was 90.
ing up the hill after Curtis, Hughes
0"rr1-Our IN" hnnsa aud mat him
saying he was clear--wi,ness re DIied he
knew it, and told Hughes to 90 on board
The boat. which he did. In going up to
Louisburg, as witness crossed an omen
field, he found Merchant lying on bay-
stack-apprehended him--soon after his
people in the boat came mp and Hughes
with them-wi,ness then bound Mer-
chant and Hughes, and sent them both
on board the Sally-made arrangements
70 have watch kept all night for Cur
tls--next morning, on information of
Curtis, given by woman, sent party
after him, who in the evening brought
him in--the examination of Merchant
was just finished when Curtis was
brought in-Curtis sat down near wit
ness--looked at Nerchant--said "Oh.
Charley, if you dad heard to me, we
should'nths come 10 this" further
said, :" know have got to die, and
I'll tell the truth, you (Merchant1 killed
the mate, aud | killed the captain; or
otherwise, | was forward, heard you
(MerchanD strike blow, heard The
mate fail, and when came aft you was
throwing him overheard" then said
Merchant picked up bolt and said if
Curtis didn't go and kill The captain, he
should be killed too. Curtis went be-
low with the axe, but his heart failed
him. Merchant then followed him
down again with the bolt, when Curtis
struck the captain with the axe--cap-
tain screeched-Merchant then sprung
down, dragged the captain out of his
birth, and flashed him on the cabin floor
--then both hauled him up The cabin
stairs, and threw him overheard through
The port hold. Merchant made no re
ply"
There was some testimony as TO the
previ us good character of the prisoner.
The defence was conducted by Messrs.