Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-07-28
The CRAwFoRp PIRlDsEs


Richmond Enquirer gives the following ac-
count of The sentence of the three Spanlards
convicted of piracy on board the brig Craw-
ford.
On Thursday, Chief Justice Marshall pro-
cecded to deliver the sentence oithe Co IT.
II me. at an early hour, and ms has uniformly
been the case during the week, was crowded
with anxious spectators. Mr.. Leigh rendered
to the court two papers IN the Spanish lam
guage, and which were translated by MIR. Sch
mdt, as follows:
l, Jose iiiiarIo Caseres, IN the name of God,
give tn.s my declaration before the Chief JUS
tice Of the United States:
That | took passage IN the American brig,
fr NeA Yorn, with COCO, winch were put
wlih those belonging 20 Don Felix, to be APP
Piled TO the purchase Of We sci IN Ne" York,
to 90 thence 10 ihc coas of Africa.
declare that all OF Which am accused by
the nate and ihe Frenchlnan is false-because
1aidy Vas not u man, but a Demon; and he
alone, with MS medicine, was capable OF kill
ing any one, even hundred men.
hope the Judge will delay my case, that
may furnish evidence of my character; and
pray God preserve him many years. his
JOSE HILARIO CASERES X
mark.
I, Felix Bar5eito, in the name ofGod, give
this my declaration before the Judge presid-
ing in this Court of the United States:
That took passage IN the American brig,
in Matanzas, for New York, with 5000, which
gave in charge Of the captain ofthe vessel;
together with other papers, and my letters of
recommendation. re l declare, likewise, that
every thing of which am accused is false -
as l was asleep, and only know, that, in the
morning, Tardy told me, that need not be
afraid, as he would pay me my $4,000; but
and the other Span.ards were the cause that
the vessel arrived in Norfolk; because Tardy
and the French passenger dd not wish 10 go
,hither.
As also declare to the presiding Judge,
that if he will do me the favour to delay the
cause, viii furnish proofs from the city Of
Havana, and from m relations, respecting my
good character and s.tLat on IN hfe--a favour
which expect from the presiding Judge of
this court, whom pray God TO preserve for
many years Your supPllant.
The Judge replied, that 1t was his duty to
execute the laws; and that they did not per-
mit him TO comply viii the request made to
him-that it would be happy for the prisoners
if their consciences were as much at peace as
they professed-but that all that was left to
him as TO discharge the duty imposed upon
ham.
He then inquired of the prisoners whether
they had any thing TO say why the sentence
Of the law should not be pronounced upon
them. Through DR.. Lemosy (the interpreter)
rhey requested time to hear from their friends
in Havana, in order to obtain evidence of
Their character, &c. The Judge replied, that
il was oU of his power 10 suspend the course
of the law; but hat every indulgence should
be extended to them which it was possible to
g-ant-tha. they might communicate with
their friends, and that facilities would be
granted 10 them for this purpose: he recon-
mended it to them to think of the awful situ-
alton IN VIII III thew were placed, and assured
them that every means should be afforded them
of communicat ng with the ministers of their
own relig on (the Catbolic.)
He then proMounced their sentence, and
fixed the day of their execution to Friday, the
18th Of August.
Felix and ouro seemed affected by their
sentence, bur Pepe remained unmoved.
They were tried under the Indictment for
piracy alone-Mr. Standard, u. S. Attorney,
considering it to be unnecessary to arraign
them for murder.
The Compiler, in speaking Of Dobson, the
mate, says, "NIr. Edmund Dobson, the mate
OF the Crawford, has won the sympathy and
regard of the public here, from the extraor-
binary dangers through which he passed, his
irmness through them all, and the manly style
in which his dreadful narrative was told The
owners of the vessel and cargo; and the in
surers, ought TO make him a liberal compcn-
sation. Unquestionably he might have libelled
the vessel and cargo for salvage. His firmness
and presence Of mind, not only saved his own
life, bat the property Of the owners of the YES
sci and cargo. We hope that these sugges-
lions are not necessary to prevail on these
gentlemen TO do what sheer justice requires at
their hands, but that they may tend somewhat
20 enlarge the compensation due TO Mr. Dob
son.