The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1827-08-01
A TALE OF HORROR.

The trial oil the tnree SpaniardS, DarDeito,
Couro, and Pope, charged with piracy and
murder on board the brig Crawford, of Fall
River, of which some account has already been
given, commenced at Richmond, Va. on the
10th, and closed on the 18th ult., separate trI-
ais being allowed them. The annals of pira-
cy do not record a more atrocious affair than
the tragical scene which was the subject Of
this trial. Tardy, the principal actor, as is al
ready known, was his own executioner. Tho
others now await the sentence of the law.
From the report of the trial, we have made
the following extracts, giving details of all the
material facts -
Mr.. Edmund Dobson, mate of the Craw-
ford, testified that she sailed from Provi-
dence about the 9th of April last for Ma
| tanzas, in Cuba-Capt. Henry Brightman
master, himself, mate, and Joseph Deliver,
Oliver Potter, Asa Bicknell Nathaniel P.
Dean and Stephen Gibbs (coloured cook)
mariners. After she had discharged her
cargo at Matanzas, some foreigners offered
| themselves as passengers-the first who
signified his intention was Tardy, who
remained on board for several days while
the vessel was taking inner return cargo
about three days before sailing he brought
on board box, said to contain money
what became of this box did not positively
appear, though the cook had told the mate,
it had been removed to Felix's cabin be-
fore they left the bay of Matanzas. The
vessel sailed on the 2Sth May.
Nothing remarkable occurred until the
morning of the LIST of June. They break
tasted about o'clock. Tardy seemed Of
fcious on the occasion. He helped the
witness to some fried eggs and ham, and
bowl of chocolate. After breakfast he re-
| tired to the state room to get some rest,
having been up all night He soon felt
very giddy in the head and sick at the
stomach. The captain invited Tardy, who
protested to be doctor, to come and see
him. L. did so; said he was bilious, and
proposed an emetic. Mr.. Robinson, the
supercargo, advised him TO have nothing to
do with his medicine, and he determined to
defer it until the next morning. He laid
down on mattrass on deck, where he re-
manned all day quite sick, and vomiting oc-
casionally. In the evening Robinson told
him he had no doubt but that TardN had
given them all poison; and that, for the
future they must eat nothing but what was
served up by their own cook. The witness
had no suspicion at that time of being
poisoned, as the cook had not told him of
Tardy's agency in cooking the breakfast.
In the evening about O'clock, he went
into the cabin, and found the captain quite
unwell with the asthma and cough. He
then came on deck, where he lay until
about ~ o'clock, when Dolliver, one Of the
seamen, came to the relief of the man at
the helm, There was no moon, and the
night clear starlight night. He slept
he thinks until between l and 2 o'clock,
when he was suddenly awoke by noise,
the cause of which he did not understand.
he ran forward, and as soon as he got a
little beyond the windlass, he saw a man
standing with a knife in his hand, by whom
| he was severely stabbed in the shoulder.
1.-THE witnesses arm was still in a sling.( In
a state Of great excitement and alarm he
ran across the vessel, where he found Pot
ter, sailor, standing in d reclined posi-
ton, who said no was stabbed, and asked
if they could get no assistance? The wit
ness seized handspike from the long boat
and attempted to get into the main rigging
He found Dolliver and Potter had both as
, cended before him, and the blood from their
wounds was streaming down like rain over
him and the rigging. He saw man about
this time leaning against the railing, wha
in short time fell, as he believed, dead
He thought it was the captain and spoke to
him, but got no answer he had since I'M
t derstood it was not the captain. Whilst in
this situation Potter tainted, and the wit
ness and Dolliver prevented him from fall
ing. Deliver then told him that Tardy
came to the helm, looked into the pinnacle
+ and about, but excited no suspicion in his
mind; but suddenly cut him very badly in
the throat, and took the helm from him.
Whilst at the mast head witness heard
Robinson and Nathl. overheard and in the
water. He knew them by their voices.
They were IN great distress and implored
to be permitted to come on board; but the
Spaniards said no, no, no. Robinson kept
rather of, but Nathan came near the vessel
and entreated that barrel, a plank or an
oar might be thrown overheard to him, that
ne might prolong his existence in that way
for little while, under the desperate hope
of succour from some vessel that possibly
might pass him. But his intreaties did not
IN the least move the hearts of the Span
lards. They refused, and even attempted
to plunge harpoon or some such instru-
ment into him, and to strike him with an
oar. Finding his applications so inhu-.
manly received, he sought and remaineeS
with Robinson, until they were both ex--
hausted and sunk to rise no more. The
witness also heard two bodies thrown over
board. He next heard the Spaniards talk
ing about him and Tardy soon asked if
he was above and was wounded, and told
him to come down. He refused touu so,
saying if he did they would kill him, and.
preferred staying where he was and dying
with his shipmates. Tardy told him the.
Spanards said they would not kill him, and
that he would give him his word of honor
he should be safe. One of his shipmates
begged him for Gods sake not to 90 down
to be butchered; he, however, did 50, upon
iardys assurances. After getting on
deck, Tardy and the three Spaniards came
around him. Tardy questioned him about