The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1839-05-15
AUDIENCE OF TIL. 18th Il 18th MARCH, 1889.
Charge OF Piracy against BenOH .uarsGmd,
Second Captain Of the .7icrandrc, and
John Raymond, I'ROtfn.

The 10th January, 1887 the merchant Ship
Alexandra, Capt. Bouet (caled Dubois,) sail
ed from Bordeaux with a crew Of II men for
Batavia. During the voyage no misundcr-
standing was manifested by the officers The
Captain was very good to the crew; only he
sometimes found fanlt with MarSaud, second
Captain, for his Incidence. There was 10 o.
pen quarrefcxcept between the boatswain, Her
w aud the English sailor Richard Gordon
She arrived at Batavia the 18th October and
took a cargo Of about 600, 900 francs and sailed
for Samarang the 18th November. The 27th
the land disappeared from view, she having
remained several days in the Sound. The cap
tain TOOK the watch o'clock in the morn
ing. Towards o'clock great noise was
heard on deck, pistol was discharged, and the
captain was thrown overheard. Ieryy the
boatswain went hastily below and found the
room Of the Lieut. Morpain bnricaded; he set
the latter al liberty, told him they had killed
the Captain, seized carving knife and went up
on deck again, followed by the Lieutenant who
had armed himself with stick. Morpain de-
manded where the Captain was. Marsaud
seized him aud threw him overheard. The
Lieutenant clung by his feet aud hands rs well
as he could to every thing in his way, as he was
falling, but Marsaud compelled him to loose
his hold and pushed him into the sea. lIervy
had then contest TO sustain with Marsaud and
the sailors Audrezet, Belegou and Gordon, all
tour OF whom threw themselves upon him.
fie was beaten down and crippled upon the
poop deck. in his struggle he had given a
wound with knife to the sailor Sandrey who
hal joined the assassins. Exhausted with "a
tisue he cried out: Sou may throw me into
the sea now" and they drowned him immc-
dlately. The sailor Audoui who would also
defend himself. was dragged at by Gordon, Au-
drczet and Sandrey, and thrown over the lar
board quarter. A few minutes after, Gordon
went to find the sailor Dosse,, who was sick and
whose indiscrctions he feared. lie compelled
hun TO GO on deck aud then threw him over
board. This young man demanded mercy of
MarsauJ, supplcating permission to write to
hls family before he died. lie offered even TO
sign an obligation of 30, 900 francs if they would
spare his life. Marsaud was implacable, and
the assassination was Immediately pcriormed.-
Eordon and Audrezot then went towards the
sailor i-emoine, wh5 threw himself upon his
Knees declaring he had done nothing. Mar
saud said something in English to Gordon, and
Ienlolne was spared for that time.
these hive assassinations were consummatcd
IN the space Of less than an hour. Marsaud
anu ms accomplices wcot into the cabin and
Wv "" "hiSu 'nc taptain nau ordered,
boasting Of wha, they had done.
From this time Marsaud acted the part of
captain. and Raymond performed the duties of
oiileer and ate at Marsauds table.
Some days after, the Alexandra experienced
gale OF wind, which compelled them to throw
certain merchandise overheard. Marsaud and
"ordon, suspicious u the young Lemoinc re-
solved to make way with him. One or two
days alter the gale, Marsaud who was on the
poop deck, ordered Lcmoine to take up a hand
SPIKE and as he was STOPPING down to do il
"o'uoh seized him at undwares and threw him
overheard.
Gordon became in his turn the object of the
jealousy OF Marsaud and others. for he drank
TO excess and had been heard to say, that there
should not remain more than three men on
board. thai Il was necessary to make wav win
all the rest. They caused him to drink freely
OF wine mixed with brandy, afterwards called
him to take in the topmost studdinp sail
While occupied in this msneuvre, the sailor
Lagardere thrust him over but he chung IN
the tafisreI by his hands. Marsaud forced him
TO loose his hold and pushed him into the sea !,
Gordon swan for some time but was not able 20
reach the ship.
After the death Of Lcmoine. Marsaud caus
ed 'hc crew 10 sign proces rcrboi to prove ,ha,
the ieaih Of the captain, aud Of the other per