Lexington union., 1841-01-16

MURDER AND TIRACY.-Blll Smith
William Jones and John Swal, were Yea.
terday brought to the Second Municipalitv
prison by Lieut.. Winters and police
officer Rockwell, They are charged with
murder and robbing the schooner Alex.
ander, the particulars Of which are truly
heart rending.
The schooner Alexander, Capt. Butler,
left this port for Pensacola on the 24ih
December. She stopped at The lake end
Of the Ponichartrain railread 10 take on
board crew Of six sailors, as passengers.
who we're being sent to ship on board a
vessel lying at Pensacola, by shipping
master in this city. On the 26lh one OF
the prisoners, Smith, who appears 10 have
taken leading part in tho bloody drama
which followed, qlarreled with the cook
of the schooner; the captain demonstrated
with him, when Smith and some of the
.other passengers evinced most turbulent
spirit. The captain said he had arms aft
md would use them if any disposition was
shown TO muliny. Smith replied that if
he had arms ai', they, the passenger sail
ors, had arms forward and would use them
and finally said that i: should be decided
that night whether he OF The captain should
command the schooner. The schooner in
the meantime got aground on the Shell
Banks. About dusk, and while Smith
and his bloody minded companions were
in the forecaslIc, the captain and the whole
Of his own crew excepting the Steward,
who unfortunately was left behind, 90. into
the yawl and showed off from the schooner,
leaving her aground and in the possession
Of the pirates. As they put off, Smith
happened to come on deck and saw them,
when be Immediately asked for his Bowie
knife and called up all hands; but the cap.
tam and his men were out Of biG power
They then turned and commenced drink
ing, and the next day il was proposed to
tighten the schooner by throwing the car.
go overheard, with the view Of getting hel
off. They inimated their deeign to the
steward, who remained in the cabin, He
objected, when Smith replied that whoever
would not Join with them should be con
sidered their enemy and treated as such
The steward replied they might do as they
pleased. They then went to work, dis
charging The freight into the lake. One O.
them, an old Englishman, who felt unable
and refused TO work, Jones beat about the
head and face with marlnsplke ill he
murdered him, and then threw him over.
board. The report Of shot was now
heard from the cabin where the steward
was; they ran in and struck at him with
blood thirsty violence. He begged his
life, but Jones told Smith 10 give him no
mercy. He got out, and one among them
who neither approved nor participated in
their proceedings, threw plank into the
lake, on which the steward jumped. They
then threw at him bille.s of wood and 9th.
er mlssela, till they drowned him. They
mex; turned on the one who threw out the
plank to the steward and despatched him.
There were now but four hand. remaining
who managed TO get the schooner off,
Swal was sent 10 the helm who shortly
run the schooner aground again near Ca,
Island. They theC ransacked the vessel,
took possession of two hundred dollars,two
watches and some other property; put on
other clothes than their own, and made a
raft on which 10 60 ashore. A storm was
blowing and they did not venture, bu, staid
on board that night, the 9Th, In the
marning they SAW boat nearing them
with armed men in it, and as they saw no
chance to escape they concluded thai
death--instant death was inevitable -
They expected to be shot as soon rs the
party reached the schooner, and Smith
and jones said they cared not--they were
prepared for il. Not so an old man of he
party, who jumped overheard and drowr.
ed, making the fourth life that was sacr-
feed.
The party who were seen approaching
in the boat consisted of the captain and
some citizens Of Pass Christian, who
came with him armed TO re.take his YES.
sci. The cowardy murderers, at their
approach, ran down and hid themselves
under deck, where they remained ill they
were arrested. Alter this, the captain
put his schooner in order, returned to this
city, and informed the police Of the trans
action.
These facts have been gathered princi.
paNy from the confessions Of Swa, who
says that he took no part in the murders;
and in giving his assistance IN throwing
out the freight only acted from fear
Smith and Jones, he says, we're the prn-
cipals, the one acting as captain and the
other as mate. They say that Swal (he
is Dutchman) IS as much implicated as
they are--that they desire death and
wish 10 be shot, Plc.
Tho Deuocracv NJ tha TTn;on IA