Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-06-16
From the Boston Courier June 10.

terday arraigned before the Circuit Court OF the
United States, now sitting in this city and put
upon his trial for tile murder OF his mate,
Charles L Clarke, on board The ship John Jay,
OF Nantucket, on The Is, OF September, 1927.
MIR. Blake, on the part Of the U. 5. opened
the case to the Jury. stated the circumstance
he expected 10 establish by his evidence, and
explained the crimes of murder and manslaugh-
ter as defined BY The common law Of England
and the statutes Of the y. States, upon which
the present indictment was founded.
The first witness called was Mr.. George GAL
loway, the cooper Of the ship. He did not join
the company in America, but shipped in the
Pacific Ocean; ne described Captain Drew as
an amiable man, kind and attentive to his crew
and his business; bat that he INDUCED to excess
in spurious liquors. During the latter part
of August 1927, Captain Drew had INDUCED
very freely, and all the liquor on board was
thrown away by order oflhe commanding mate.
The John Jay soon after spoke another vessel,
and Capt. Drew procured a key Of liquor. from
which he drank I'LL he was stupefed. He then
expressed fears that some of the crew would
murder him. In the night OF the 3lst OF Au.
gust capt. Drew went upon deck, and from his
actions witness supposed he intended TO jump
overheard; witness took hold Of him, when
Drew sunk down trembling and appeared TO be
very weak. He afterwards went to bed, but
continued alternately singing, praying and 5las.
pheming until morning. Witness described
his appearing in the morning as that Of fool
ish person. Al seven O'Clock, the witness, the
prisoner, The murdered man, and Others, were
at breakfast in the cabin, when the captain left
the a. e, & appeared TO conceal something UNI
der his Jacket, which was in another part ct the
cabin; he turned round 10 Mr.. Clark and re-
quested him TO 90 upondeck, the reply ofClark
was. "when done my breakiaTt;" Dew said Ego
upon deck, or ! will help YOU" and Immediate
ly drew a knife from beneath his jacket, and
without another word upon either side stabbed
Clark in the right breast. The knife appear
ed 10 come in contact with 4 bone, a second
thrust was made; Clark fell but Afterwards rose
and went upon deck alone. AS witnss SIS left the
cabin capt ID. cooked his pistol at him & snap
ped il, but il missed fire. Capt. Drew follow.
ed them upon deck, and addressing the chief
mate, said "Alr Coffin, in twenty four hours
from this the ship shall go ashore" He was
seized, bound hand and foot, and a guard sta
TONED over him. His whole demeanour for
some time after was that Of an insane person,
frequently calling upon persons having no con-
~nectipn with the ship. Some weeks subsequent
when captain Drew appeared 10 be in right
mind, when informed Of the death Of Clark and
its cause he said he knew nothing abou, it, and
that when he awoke as from a dream, he found
himself handcuffed. There had not been for
some motnhs any quarrel or high words be-
tween the deceased and the captain.
The sccord witness called was Mr.. Coffin, the
chief maze, who testified that captain Drew was
in the habi, Of drinking; it was by the order of
captain D. himself that the keg of spirits was
thrown overheard. He recoun:ed numerous
instances in addition TO those above stated, of
frivolous complaints, and ,c~ourtermanded or
ders; his fear of being left alone, and his con-
v~ersalion with the imaginary beings by whom
he supposed himself surrounded, all going to
prove mental and physical imbecility and total
alienation Of mind. Though familiar with his
inroxication, The witness had never until this
affair seen any sign Of insanity. With regard
10 the deceased, the witness dressed his wounds
and took care Of him. Two physicians at i
Spanish port declared that il was not danger
Gus, and that he would bewell in Two Gays. But
Clark himself described his complaint TO the
witness as being an internal flowing Of blood;
the wound, externally was completely healed
before Clark expired.
At this point, the Court inquired il the Dis.
trict Attorney intended to change the course &
character Of his evidence, as the only question
appeared TO be, upon the sanity Of Capt. Drrw
at the time Of the murder.
Mr.. Blake said, that bylaw, intoxication was
rather an agravation than an extenualion of a
crime. Several law and medical authorities
were cited; but the opinion Of the Court was so
decided, that the Counsel, both for the govern.
menl and the defendant, surrendered the case
to the Court.
Judge Story thought the case was upon per-
fectIy clear ground. 1t appeared, in the evil
dence, that capt. Drew had taken that quantity
OF liquor, which sooner or later, always produ-
ces insanity. 1t was proved that he had not
taken any liquor for some days previous to the
eth Of August, and also proved that he was alb
~solutely crazy upon that day and Afterwards
His conduc, showed tina: he did not act upon
the monetary excitement produced BY liquor,
but that it was a settled madness, the effect OF
intemperance. The operation of,he spiritwa a