Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-10-30
From the Philadelphia Chronicle.

who was acqui tea on os'u'o"3 -" "
Court, on the ground OF want OF Jarisoic''oh,
Nh. onlv witness 10 the transactions on hoard
the vesse, was one Jean Bsptis'e, the steward,
a black man, and the same who was arrested,
as we mentioned not long since. at Cape May.
We are indebted to friend for an accurate
report of his mars evidence, which, though II
narra,cs facts perhaps as horrid as any we
have ever recorded, ough,, we think, to be made
public. and which will be read with great in.
ieresr. A brief narrative OF the circumstances
under which the vessel sailed may serve as
proper introduction
Some time in the Fall Of 1923, the French
brig LIE Uair was driven into This port by stress
Of weather. The crew was composed entirely
Of Frsnchmen and the sailors thinking they
could get higher wages, deserted. Captain
Touiac was consequently obliged to ship new
crew, which lie did. All ;hese were Ameri.
cans, called John Mansfield, Tom, Jack, and
Philip. On The passage down, Jean bapiis'e
was taken on board in the bay, as COOK. Inere
were also on board a mate, and ayoupg french
man, a passenger. On the 2Sth OF November
they left he Capes for Goree on the African
coast. After arriving a. Goree, and remaining
there some weeks, they sailed for Cayenne on
the Spanish Main There the mate left then
and another was procured in his place. hey
sailed from Cayenne for either Gaudaloupe or
Currac GA, and about midnight on The 4th u
March, being the Sa,urda! alter leaving port
the murders were committed.
The evidence Of Jean Bap'iste was this -
On Saturday night the Brig was taken. The
Cap,ain told me, il there should come on
SQUAT. 10 be upon deck. went below. BY
and by heard a noise upon deck, and went up.
Just as 60, on deck, l saw them heaVing the
Captain overheard The defendant John Mans
field, and Philip, were The men who were throw.
ing him over John cried, Steward and
gave him no answer. A second time he said,
Come here ! went TO him and said, Wha'
do you want, ? go down, and tell the male
he is wanted on deck Says Go YOURSELF
Says Philip Go, along had to g.. went
down below, ADD called the mate. Pbilip went
half way down to The cabin, the mate awoke
and came up on deck. He got the mate Or
deck and, jus, as the mae was s'epp'hg on
deck, both Of Them turned on him, and knock
ed him down wi mal,et, and killed him -
They pounded him when he was down. and at
ter he was dead AID then hey hove him over
board. Defendant all this time was at the helm
John Mansfield and Philip wen, forward afe
the boat The other boy was in the long boa'
asleep. Says John Mans6sId Did Won kill
him deadr-' Oh, yes. he's dead enough. He'll
never come III life again. Why don't you nea,e
his bedding ovcrboard?' John then threw il
overheard. Then they all came aft. was
then by the cahoose. As SION as they came
aft, John MansfrId said Trim The sails now
for Boston, As soon as The sails were trim
med, John said, Steward, go down below and
81, lights went down, and got l;ghr They
was al the helm; they drinking and eating CHEESE
,h. ka. H.. no
Captain had. They asked me if did no. wan,
any, and said No John don't Says he,
: Go in deck. take the The helm, and lei Henry
Driendant come down.' done SO, and
II nry went down Afer Henry wen, down,
i s,erred. After Gazing what they wanted,
they came deck with blankets. Thomas
says, Les hunt for The money No. says
John, Let's Ie' i, br til Tomorrow morning.
They spread their blankets, and LAID on deck.
Next morning, after Dr. akfas,, they went down
with a ha,che', John Mansfield, Tom and Phil
ip. Henry was a, the helm. l did not go with
them. John says, tom, I've found some mo
ney.' Then they halooed TO me- 10 take the
helm. took the helm, and Henry went down
and they came up heard the money rattle
John-the rest were below-says he, NOW go
down; here's money for YOU Says l., j don't
want it, Wy" says he. Il don't wan, it,
says /. wen then went down after my dish
es. The mo"ey laid there ia an old hat on The
seat. John says, Why don'' you take care of
your money! Says Philip, 'The steward has
no, taken care Of his money Says he, 'NNe
an't going TO tell you any more So had to
go and take H. A gale Of wind came on. /,
blew about ten days II became moderate, aud
we made sail for Boston. II blew again, and
we had TO lay with no ,ail After il moderat.
ed, we made sail again, sill on TO Boston. We
saw 81 boomer and brig, and SO on, but did
not speak them. The land we made was IF
New York, called the Woodlands, the otht
side OF Barnegat A schooner from New York
was standing IF was at the helm John
said, keep siehr to 'he schooner; ! want to
speak her W. got close 10 the schooner, and
he hailed her. 'Where from?' From NV
York" When did you leave?' Last night
What kind OF winter have you had herr?' "A
very hard winter as ever was known What
land is. this abreast oeus?' He did moi know
exactly. Our people walked nH, and said
L.