Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1836-03-18
From the New York Journal of Commerce.
LATEST FROM THE SANDWICH ISLANDS

HldWdll OF october 18th, very neat little
newspaper filed with matter calculated to
interest and Benefit the Islanders, so recently
rescued from the deep misery of ignorance
Superstition and savage ferocitv. ltcontains
a detailed account Of the loss ofthe English
Whale Ship Corsair, on the 9th of January,
1885 on coral reef near Diamonds ISL
and. We copy the following account of an
important criminal trial
TRIAL OF JOHN COLEMAN.
The trial of John Coleman-alias John
Lewis-charged with the murder of Henry
Farmer, was held on the DIST inst in this
village, before the King, Knau, the princi.
pal chiefs, and pretty large number Of
foreigners Two juries were empannelled
-one, consisting of twelve respectable for.
eigners principally residents, OF which II.
A. Pierce, Esq. was appointed foreman
the other consisting of natives, Of which
John Ii was foreman The cause was tried
before them solely by the examination of
Witnesses, and was conducted chiefly by J.
c. Jones, Esq. u. S. Consul Mir Bing.
ham, by request acted as Interpreter Sew
eral witnesses were called to the stand, and
the following is the substance of the tesi.
mony as given in during the trial. 1t ap.
pears that party Of foreigners, principally
seamen belonging to the vessels in port,
and some two or three foreigners residing
IN the village, among whom was Farmer
the deceased, went up, on the evening ofthe
l4th of Sept. for an excursion of pleasure
TO the house of foreigner, commonly
known by the name of Bob the Talor) in
the valley of Nuuanu. The prisoner and
an elder brother invited by man who keeps
one OF the grog shops, having furnished
themselves with gallon of brandy, joined
the company in the morning. On entering
the house the brother enquired for certain
sailor known as a boxer-and Immediately
commenced quarrel with him. The pris.
oner joined his brother and the two had the
mastery of the sailor Farmer, the deceas-
ed, who was in the house at the time, was
urged by his wife to 60 out and put an end
TO the fight he went out, but instead of com
| plying with her request, advanced towards
the prisoner, and demanded fair play-thai
| it should be man to man The prisoner
accepted the challenge, and stepping up,
struck Farmer on the left side Farmer re-
treated few PAGES and fell the prisoner
advanced and struck him again under the
left jaw bone, after which he never arose
He was taken into the house. and ply
stefan, (Dr. Peabody was sent for imme-
diately. Upon his arrival he found a sin.
| gle pulsation, but it was the last. Consld
ering the circumstances of the case the DR.
gave il as his opinion that the deceased came
to his death by the blows inflicted by the
prisoner.
AT the close Of the examination, the pris-
oner was asked if he wished to say any
thing to the jury, or propose any questions
to witnesses, or state any point on which TO
rest his defence He said that he threw
himself with confidence on the hands of the
jury, declaring that any malicious intention
in killing the deceased was farlhest possible
from him. Mr. Jones then, in a few words,
laid before the jury the points, which il was
proper for them to take into consideration in
making up their verdict, and his remarks,
at his request were interpreted BY Mr.. Bing-
ham to the native jury. The two Juries
then went out, and soon returned each with
an independent verdict, acquiring the prIs'
oner of Murder, and finding him guilty Of
Manslaughter.
The penalty for this crime by law, is i'm
prsonment for four years or fine of 200
dollars The prisoner was committed to
the fort.
We cannot help adding one or two re
Elections which unavoidably arose on see
ing husband, and a father, thus cut down
by an un,imely death, dying as the fool
dieth, and leaving family of four interest
ing children to reap in their bitter experience
the fruits Of their fathers folly in uniting
himself with the company of the ungodly.
Had the unhappy father remained at home
with his family, instead of yielding to So
lication to visit house known only as n
covert for works of shame and darkness,
where those have been in the habit of resor-
ting who wished 10 pursue their pleasures
secure from the eye Of public observation,
he had not thus fallen. Let us hope that
the saulary lessons taught by this painful
occurrence, may not be lost upon the chill
dren growing up in our village. Here they
may see written in letters of blood, the "bles-
sings of rum" For, in answer TO the ques-
ton repeatedly proposed during the exam
T nation of the witnesses, whether the prs
oner and the deceased were intoxicated, it
was said, that they were strongly excited by
LIQUOR, TO say the least We will hope then,
that the children who are enjoying the privi-
leges Of the school in this village, may there,
through the blessing of God, be fortified
against temptation, and learn not to go in
the way of wicked men. Had the young
man, who is now suffering the penalty OF
his crime, thus been instructed, and given
heed to the voice of his teachers, he had not
> thus been the unhappy instrument Of strip
ping family of helpless children OF their
: natural guardian and protector, and OF cas-