Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1839-05-02

Of Arme! + Turkey, Captain Of the Brig Braganza,
on the high seas, on the 9Th day of August, 1893.
After tive hours had besn spent in challenging
QUESTIONING xamning-try -disputing and argu-
ing with the Court, Counsel, and the Jurors
ed to try the prisoners, the following individuals
were sworn and empan elled to decide between the
United States of America and the prisoners, viz
Milton st. Joha, Citizen Ant'o. Aranguren, Alien
WIN. W. Graham, do RObt Grant, do
John Burrows, do Joseph Cooper, do
II 4. Suydam, do Ferdinand Unger, do
Joseph Chambers, do William Smetch, do
Uriah Davis, do
VIM. Bruce, do
The prisoners counsel waived their right to six
alien jurors after eleven had been sworn.
D. f. Butler, Esq, District Attorney of the United
states, briefly but forciby stated to the Jury the
charge against the prisoners, and explained the tech
ncai,t,es Of the Indictment together with the facts
winch ne expected to prove by his witnesses.
IL appeared from the learned gentleman's state
ment, that the mutiny broke out about o'clock in
the morning OF the 9Th Of August when the Braganza
was between the Azores and the Continent of Europe
IN latitude 81 81 north and in IA or Is degrees Of
longitude west of Greenwich. The prisoners were
arrested at the city OF Emden in the Kingdom Of Ha
Aoyer to which city they had proceeded foot after
running the Bragasza on shsre near the Island of
Borge.
The first witness called was Robert Meir-In
the msnth of August last second mate on board
the American brig Braganza. On the 7th of July she
sailed from Philadelphia; Captain Turley was in
command, and Thomas Vandersluys was first mate
myself second; we had foar able seamen, a boy and
steward The two men at the bar were part Of the
crew; Wilhe,m was called Bill, the other Joe-one
OF the others was called Hans, and another Harry;
to the best Of my belief " Harry shipped as John
Adams; the boy was called Jen; he is in Court and
answers to the name of James Davey;. Brown, the
steward, is also in Court There were two passen-
gers, Mr.. and Mrs Diehl besides the Captains WIFE
! understood that Mr. Diehl was the owner OF the
brig.
On Friday night, the 9Th Of August left the deck
little after twelve o'clock, and the first mate took
charge of the watch cannot say which Of the crew
were on deck; but Hans and Joe were in the 6rst
mates watch. Adams and Bill were in. nay watch
cannot say II my watch left the deck when ! went
below. ! went to my own berth, which was a state
room IN the cabin The captain and his wife were
abed in the starboard BERTH and the other two pas
s~ngers in the larbsard. My berth was rather more
forward, and ~ was necessary for them TO pass
through my room To get on deck. About two O'clock,
rs judged, was awoke by the cry Of murder
IL seemed as II the cry proceeded from the chief
mate. also beard scuflle on deck. imme diately
went into the cabin and found the other persons
alarmed and the captain and Mr. nish DRESSING
first. j de not think the captain was armed then. !
at the bottom Of the stairs he the top.
On reaching the deck, saw a laying with his
head down the companion way. l did not know him
at FIRST; bat he spoke, and discovered it to be the
first mate. 1t moonlight night. Hs was much
dis6sured with bio I'D and wounds: The four sea-
men were on deck at the time. The crew immedi-
afely attac ked the captain and self Joe engaged
the captain. As soon Bill saw me- he took part in
the ARRAY.
Joe was armed with either pump brake or a hand
spike. Bill had sheath-knie in his hand. Hans
had no weapon; and do not think that Harry had l
took hold Of Delaying pin, with which struck at
Joe, but missed him, and hit Harry. l fell dowH
with Harry, and tried to force him down, but FELL
and OF the prisoners, joe, strsck full swing
with the handspike, and Harry attempted to stab
with his knife, and succeeded in eating mJ fingers
severely. To the best of my recollection, the cap
tain away TO get his eutlasses. Then he, Bill
and Harry, unlocked the hinges Of the gansway,
amdships and il fell overheard leaving the bulwarks
so exposed, that a person might easily he thrown
overboard. Hans and me we're still ing en- two
Of the others laid hold Of me, and tried To launch
overheard. went over the ships side, and took
Hans alsng with lie tried to disengagc himself,
but held on TO him; We fell on the after guy, the
lower studdngsail being set at the time, and both OF
US got on IL. The others threw him rope and he
got on deck. Joe, seeing me clinging to the boom,
came with handspike and struck me on the arm
with such violence to break Of the small bones
While was getting board saw the captain come
on de ok with his cutass, and that drew off the at
tentioa Of my assailant, and succeeded in gaining
the deck and crawling to the companion way. was
aore injured by the blow got before went over.
board than by those i received On the loom. On
reaching the companion sangway, | saw the first
mate lying down there. The captain, at the time
came the deck, was begging for mercy-saying
" Spare me- for the sake 81 my wife, and win for
give you all that has occurred" After got down
the companion steps, heard the doors closed and
nailed down. so as to prevent our giving the captain
any assistance. After this, continued 10 hear the
captain cry for mercy, but did not hear any thing
said by the prisoners few minutes elapsed and
then heard a splash in the water-hoard voice as
from the water, which knew to be the captains,
cry out, Oh! my God! am dying" The ship
was going than two knots at the time, and
saw him In the water fl the cabin window he
trying TO swim. | did net watch him unti he sunk ;
but il being night, suppose he was quickly out OF
sight
did not 20 deck again for seven days after this
All that time we we're kept in close confinement by
the crew. We had held conversations with them
tbroagh the cabin isht When we got again on
deck we found Joe IN command cf the brig They
told us knew " hat they had done with the Cap
tain and they considered that they should have TO
put us OF the way, in order TO save themselves
Mr.. Cutting-Sta.e what they said.
District Attorney-Did you have ccmmsnca alton
with the whole Of themi
Witncs-Yes. They asked for various things
which we had in the cabin and which We refused to
give up unlsss we knew what we were To do. They
did not say what they intended to do with the brig
until few hours before we left her. At the time
Of the mutiny we were eastward OF the Westsrr
way to Genoa. The crew changed the csurse Of the
vessel and steered TO the north. We asked them
what was their reason for this and they said they
were bound up the British Channel. One Of the mu-
tineers stated that he cosld take the brig within
Few feet of his fathers door. Before got dee
We asked for permission to be released from the
bis. They did not say they had any objections but
would consider Of the application. Al first they
treated US with great coptumely, demanding us to
| no ammunition why we agreed TO throw the arms out
OF the cabin window. They then demanded the
quadrant, which was given to them. They also de-
manded the watches and jewels which were in the
cabin asd in case Of our refssa they threatened to
stop up the cabin windows, which threat they par