Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1841-07-29
HAM. MCKNIGHT, EDITOR.
Capt. DePutron.

the point, and the arguments were then
opened, by Mr.. Smith.
Mr.. Smith said the United States bro
three charges against the prisoners -
First, they were conformity charged with
equippng and fitting out vessel TO en-
gage in the slave trade Secondly, with
confederatng and corresponding with a
vessel engaged in piracy and, Thirdly
DePutron individually was charged with
the crime of perjury.
The u. S. counsel would leave it to the
to determine or not the second charge, Of
confederating and corresponding with pi-
rates, had been sustained by the evidence
offered they (the U. S. counseD meant tc
contend, that the charge Of equippng and
fitting out a vessel to engage in the AZ,
rcan slave trade, was fully established
against the whole of the prisoners, and
that charge of perjury against the prs
oner DePutron was cearly and distinctly
proven.
He then read the different laws enacted
for the suppression Of the African slave
trade, and come 10 the law of 1917, 1--WE
think,) for violation of which the pres.
ent proceedings were instituted, and by
transgreSsing which the parties render
ed themselves liable to a penalty Of
$4,000 each, and Imprisonment not ex-
ceeding seven, and not less than three
years Even though the independence
was but to be used as a tender to a larger
schooner, still all persons aware Of that
fact, as the prisoners were and must have
been, were IN the language of the law
guilty of fitting out and equipping a YES
sci for the slave trade, contrary to the
meaning and intent Of the statute.
He then contended that the admissions,
the actions, and the whole tenor of DePu-
tron's proceedings showed that his inten,
ton was to equip and fit out vessel for
the African slave trade, and that the pris-
oners Abbott and Domingos must have
knowingly aided and abetted him in the
design. His avowed intention of obtaining
Portuguese flag for his Schooner, the
facility of which he asserted he could land
slaves at the Brazils. and the ease with
which he could avoid the vigilance Of the
authorities in Cuba, all showed as plain as
ii was possible for circumstanslial proofs
to show any thing, that such was the OBJ
ject he had in view, and it was also clear
that Abbott and Domngos were also prl-
Wy to his designs and apprised of his pur-
pose. His, DePutron'S failing to bring
forward prooft to show that he was enga-
ged in legal commercial business and in
honest enterprise, was confirmation OF
his guilt. From his own admissions, witt
ten records, and every other source, what
was the proof before the court That his
father and friends in Guernsey we're slave
slave dealer, that from his boyhood up he
has been himself engaged in the slave
trade, that he has all the knowledge and
tact necessary for such business, that he
is conversant with different languages,
and that he has visited every cline and
country in the fonr quarters Of the globe;
that in Tact every circumstance Of his
life shows that he has been habltuated to
the business, and that he never has been
born, as it is now asserted, in the quiet
and peaceful western city Of Cincinnati.
The arms and ammunition found on board
the armor, and the pirates flag, were
further proof of the vessels being fitted
ont for the slave trade and the confidence
with which Abbott and Domingos were
treated by DePutron, showed that they
had an intimate knowledge Of his plans,
and were with him equally guilty,
With regard to the charge Of perjury,
which was founded on the act Of 1898,
he would let the court decide on il without
a word OF comment. The prisoner, De-
Putron, against whom it was made, in TAX
ing out license for the independence had
sworn that he was citizen of the United
States, and this before the officer author.
lied to make the registry of the vessel,
and whose duty it was to administer the
oath. Notwithstanding this, all the ties.
timony, his associates and connexions,
prove him to be foreigner, and his own
admission TO the collector and others show
that he is not naturallzed citizen.
He thought it unnecessary to trouble
The court with further remarks, and would
submit the testimony TO his considera.
ton.
Mr.. Johnson, for the defence rose to
reply. He quoted the phrase Of the La
tin satirist--ot the mountain being in la
Dor, and, after long and painful travail
brought forth but mouse. At first there
was mighty piracy--there were foul and
bloody murders. And this which was at.
iributed to the prisoners at the bar, or
with which at least their names we're con.
nected, turns out 10 be, after all, neither
piracy nor murder. The piracy was no
more than a cowardly, rascally captain
deserving his ship and causing her pas
sengers to do the same and the murders,
and the bloody deck, all ended in a cut
finger.
lie did NOT moan IN ridicula ,ha o;t;,on,