Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-01-14
From the .Ne,r- York Journal Of Commerce.
SUPERIOR COURT:
BEFORE CHIEF JUSTICE 20:

HalJ. Tibbits HallJ. Tibbits Charles Hall.
These three cases came on in Court on Thurs
day last The first was an action for an assault
and battery and false imprisonment on board the
ship Washington, owned by Mr.. Hall, of which
Captain Tibbitts was master The second was
an action brought to recover the passage money
of person taken on board said ship Washington
when half way on her passage from New Orleans
TO Liverpool, and for some junk claimed by the
plaintiff The last was an action tor an assault
and battery committed on board said ship, upon
the person of Captain Tbbits BY Mr.. Hall.
The circumstances of the three cases, accord
ing to the testimony of witnesses on the part of
Capt. Tibbitts, were as follows: The ship Wash
ington, owned by Mr. Hall, of which MIR. Tibbits
was Captain, sailed from this port for New Or
leans to take freight for LiverpoOl-Mr. Hall
being a passenger. At New Orleans number
of seamen were shipped, about the 18Th OF April
1929. who were sent down to the ship then lying
at place in the river called Grand Prairie. On
the succeeding day, Mr. Hall left the ship to GO
back to the city, and during that night some OF
the crew went ashore on the hawser, one Of whom
came back the next morning. That afternoon
Capt. Tibbits hailed steamboat, bound up, and
requested the Captain to inform Mr. Hall that
part of the crew had runaway by getting ashore
on the hawser, which he HALL had hove tight
when Capt Tibbits was on shore getting wood.
On Saturday night Mr.. Hall returned with a
steamboat, when all hands were called to weigh
anchor, and the ship proceeded down the river.
Before she got down to the Pilot ground, two OF
the crew. Harry Sewell and Thomas Deiano, ask
ed Capt. Tibbils if the ship was not to have her
compliment of men which was "a, made up. He
replied that he could not get any more; and after
some conversation the captain wentatt. when the
chief mate came forward and told the men to
stick up for their rights; that he would back them
and compel him to get the men; at the same time
using severe language respecting Mr.. Hall, who
he said wanted to send the ship to sea halt manned.
Mr.. Hall soon came forward, and asked them 1t
they would 90 with him. They answered that
they would if he would get more men. 10 this
he answered that he would not: that they must
and should 90 with him; that Capt. Tiboits was
4 rascal, and had induced the crew to act in that
manner. That he (tIalD was owner and master
ofthe ship, and that Capt. Iibbits should not go
in her. they replied that if Capt. Tibbits did
not 90 in the ship, they would not. Mr.. Hall
further declared that he. as owner, would do as
he pleased He shortly went aft, and 1t was
given in evidence by the deposition OF John Ro-
berts, one of the crew, that he had heard him a
buse Capt. Tibbits. by calling him two-faced
scoundrel, and various other hard names. which
it is not necessary here to repeat. In few mi
nutes, all hands we're summoned alt by the stew
ard, when they we're asked if they would go to
sea with Mr.. Hall. They answered, No.
Mr. Hall lhen repeated much the same language
respecting the crew, and afterwards told Captain
Ti6bits that he ('ribbits) had nothing to say on
board Of the ship, and that he was just like his
father. lieutenant of Portsmouth sloop OF
war, who stole a tin-pet from him. Mr.. Hall
then struck Capt'T. with both fists; then seized
a tailblock from alongside the mizen mast, and
struck him over the head, the block flying out
from the blow. and striking John Roberts in the
face. Capt Tibbits Instantly clenched Hall, threw
him on the deck, and told the crew to tie him, |
which was done. The Captain and most of the |
crew left the ship and went on board the steam-
boat, where they renamed until morning. at
which time they determined to return, upon the
solicitation Of the Captain. When the steam
boat went alongside the ship, Mr.. Hail was stand
ing in the gangway, and declared, with an oath.
that he would knock out the brains Of the first
bugger that stepped on board; that Capt. L. was
a pirate, &c. The Captain and crew, however,
went on board, and when he informed Mr., Hail
that the crew had agreed to go in the ship, he