Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1831-03-14
From the Journal Of Ceamerce

TRIAL ron MURDER AND PIRACY -Thouas J.
Wanslry. colvred man, % = native Of Delaware,
steward Of the brig Vineyard. ind Charles Gibbs. &C.
n native Of Rhode Island, tried and found guilty
q murder in the s. Circuit Court-the former on
Monday for the murder Of William Thornby, captain
of the oIg-and the latter on Tuesday, for the muir
der of William Roberts, the mate. on the high seas,
on the night Of the e3d November last.
II appeared in evidence that the brig Vineyard,
William Thornby. master, sailed from New Orleans
William Roberts. mate. Charles Gibbs, John Brown
rigg, Robert Dawes, Henry Atwell, A. Church,
Thomas J. Wansley, and Jas. Talbot most Of whom
the sth day out, Wunsley, the steward, informed
the crow that there was money on board, which led
10 a combination to murder the capt ain and mate
tase possession OF the vessel, and divide tho money.
The night Of the 2ad November vas fixed on for the
preparation Of tho deed That hight, while Dawes
was at the helm and Brownrigg aloft, Wonslcy, who
called by Dawes TO trim the lamp. struck the
Captain with pump brake on the back of the head,
which lcveled him. and followed up tho blow with
others until he dead. Gibbs uad Wunsey then
took him by the head aud feet aud threw him over
board. The murder Of the mate was assigned to
A,wcll and Church, They stood by the companion
way, waiting for HIM to come out Of the cabn, and
Inc, hearing the NOISE was fastening mp to ascer-
tnin the cause, they struck him the head with
clib. He turned and ran below, followed by Gibbs
who being unable to find him in the dark, returned
took out the pinnacle light. and proceeded again in
search Of him. He found him bleeding below, drug
ged hin, on deck, ind held him firmly, while Atwell
and Church beat him over the head. Before he was
dad, the three seized and hove him overheard. He
did sink immediately, but swan after the vessel
crying for help for three or four minutes They
then took possession Of the vessel and promising not
10 inquire Talbot. Brownrigg and Dawes, if they
proved true to them proceeded open the kegs and
divide the money. They found about $50 900 on
board, which distributed equally among all
They then s;eercd a north-eostcrIy course towards
Long land, and when they had arrived within Is
miles south of Southampton Light, they scut,led the
h. &C., h~r t.
Wanslcy, Dawes and Brownrigg were in the long
boat, and Talbot Church and Atwell, in the iolly
boat 1t bowed very hard, and the Jolly boat was
upset, and her crew drowned Those IN the long
boat in order to save themselves, found II nccessa ~
TO throw thun half of the money tney had
and finally succeeded in reaching Pelican Island
whence they crossed to Great Barn island burr ed
the money, and went TO the house Of Mr.. Samuel
1.conard. Soon after they reached Mr.. Leonard.
house, Bro~nrigg gave information respecting the
murder and robbery, and the next day when thew
left the Island, they were arrested ut the house of
Mr.. Johnson. and committed to Eatbush jail
The evidence ofthe guilt Of tho prisoners was full
and conclusive. Their confession of tho crime
graIuitousy made to Messrs. Merritt aud Stevenson,
who had the custody Of them from Flstbush 10 this
city. could have left not semblance Of doubt on The
mind OF any person who heard the testimony of those
officers. And we learn from tho persons who con-
veycd them to The Penitentary on the night Of the
conviction of Gibbs, shat both freely admitted ,ba,
Brownrigg and Dawes had given faithful relation
w VIZ c-SSepl III eotIe truipn partl-
culars.
There was nothing peculiar IN their department
during the trial The visage of Gibbs was occasion
lily dar kcned with transient emotion, DO, he had
evidently abandoned oil hope of escape, and sat the
greater part Of the time with his hsnds between his
knees, calmly surveying he scene before him Vans
ley was more agitaed, and rcmblcd visibly when he
rose to hear the verdict OF the Jury. We are in
formed that Gibbs has declared his intention O,
avoiding the gnominy Of the gallovs, if possible and
II will therefore be well for those entrusted with his
ody, to take such precoution tina. he cannot add
The Grim. of suicide to the already black cataIo,,a
ofhis offences
motion in arrest Of judgment was made TO the
Court yesterday morning, but II was overruled and
notice given that sentence would DO pronounced on
Friday.
We have received from our attentive correspon-
dent at Rio Janeiro. paper sf that city containing
the foilowIng
CtncUbIsTAHTIAL ACCOUNT THE LosJ OF THE
Turns The Thetis fgate (a6 guns sailed from this
port for Eng land, Thursday Sd inst. and on Sun
day the 5th she struck on the rocks of Cape Fro,
ct about 20 minutes past 8 p. NJ. The night was
very dark and rainy, and the vessel steering NJ E.
hy h with ifore-top mast studding sail SET going
about knots, when a general CONSERVATION was
caused by he cry Of land ahead" "hard up!" .ha
sbo-;en sails" which was Instantly followed bv
dreadful crash; the bow spirit was broken Of short
about "a Zee; rom the stem, and hung over the lar
board bow ny tne forestry, and served as a fender
70 keep her bows from he rocks, and prevented them
iom icing stove IN; guns were fired, which were
dethctIy heard by the inhabitants of Cape Frio, the
orernast fell almost Immediately after, as also the
'oain mac, bringing tho mizen mast with it, killing
the man at the wheel, and one near the mzen mast
wonnding the second master, besides a seaman and
morne The masts having fallen fore and aft and the
yards athwort ship. The ships head now went off
throwing her quarter on the rock, when about 60
men effected their escape; the larboard anchor was
let 60, and small sail hoisted on the stump Of tho
fore and main mast, TO pay her ofP from the rocks
and blue lights burnt. 1t was at length ascer
falned that the vessel had entered a small bay
with 4 ngh rock Immediately head; the helm
"Os tended 10 the gun till the rpdder went;
c'a" pumps were rugged but, che made no winter; The
snip then aDung with her larboard bow on the rock
ond h""ser and ropes were got on shore, but as
'Aa-r vas 40 small rock TO take q turn round, the
r'-r could not hold on a considerable number how.
c'cf made their esoapc,-about midnight the shin
'n OIL to the distance of her own length from the
trcS aud suDk stern foremost; after some DELAY. n
iope was got ashore and the remainder Of the crow
were slpng in bowlino knot and dragged through
the surf The Captain remained on tho wreck ,iu
quite exhausted, and II was near daylight when ho
shoTe.--A peTocndiculnr foek of uo, ia, %