Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1842-05-09
THE TRIAL OF HOLMES.

The trial of A. w. Holmes at Philadelphia for
manslaughter, for throwing overheard, from the
long boat Of the ship William Brown, Francis
Askins, was concluded on Saturday, after occupy
ing six days. The testimony was TINT of passen
gers on board, and who were afterwards in the
long-boat, 1t presents n heart-rending narrative
in which, although the main incidents of the ca
tastrophe are known, some of the details are new
and touching. The decisive consideration against
Holmes and other of the sailors, is that lots were
not drawn, but that, acting together the mae and
crew saved their own lives the sacrifice of those
whom they were bound to protect and save, or
at least, share their inevitable perls. Not one of
the crew persisted, whereas thirty one passengers
sunk with the ship, and sixteen were thrown over
from the long boat Thus AZ oui of Ga passen-
gers persisted, while nll the crew, IL in number,
escaped. The testimony established that the ship
struck an iceberg the night OF pril 10Th thir-
tythree of those on board got into the long boat.
Holmes, the prisoner, madc considerable effort to
get sick girl into The boat, and gave her his cra
vat aud trousers to wrap about her feet. The cap
lan who went into the Jolly boat, kept along side
the long boat until morning, took all The names of
those on board aud gave item II compass and
chart. On his leaving, the male snd TO hin, cap
tain, we'll have TO draw lots !" the captain replied,
i" j know what you mean | don't want to hear
more about it," 1t fained Il good deal and the
boat had to he continually bniled out. When the
next night came the sea became calm there was
pleny~of room in the boat, aud none of those on
board were frozen and ihsensbe. Some one crl-
ed out that tho boat was sinking the nute said.
tive must 60 to work this work won't do"-and
then commenced the terrible tragedy Of throwing
the passengers into the deep. OF this, one OF
the survivors, Mary Carr, gives the following nc
counts
Can't recollect who was thrown over until they
came to Frank Askins the sailors came to him
he said TO them, "l'll not go out; you know
well NIL fIs tiinp I'll work like n man ill
morning, and do what can TO keep the boat clear
of water; have five soveregus, and III give it
for my lite till morning, and when morning comes
if God does not help us, we will cast lots, and III
60 out like a man if it is my turn don't put me
out until get speaking word to Mrs. Edgar;
Mrs. Edgar, Mrs. Edgar can't you do something
for me!" she made no reply that | could hear /;
then they put him out.
Mary, his youngest sister, was crying about
him Z" OH says she, "don't put out my brother
it YOU pat him out, put me out, too Pm viii
ling to die the death ofmy brother; but don't part
me and my brother;' Immediately they lad hold
on her aud threw her out after him.
There was Jack Stetsop, Murray, Holmes and
Charley Smith, but which of the four it was that
threw Askns overheard | cannot say they all
catched and dragged him; when they put over
Mary, Ellen, the other sister, crying; they
catcbed hold of Ellen, and when they had taken
her up, "Oh," says She don't put me over na-
heuS all request Is u give iio NY
of the sailors lifted up something and threw in a
ter her. but it was not her mantle; | heard Charles
Colin say, Holmes, dear, you won't put me o.
ver.' "Charles," says ne, "you must co." and
Immediately he laid hold ofhim said to Holmes,
Holiness spare his life, he is all that remains out
OF fifteen of William Liddon's family"
lie lifted him up and put him over, and as lie
went down heard the plunge heard him cry
ing and praying "the lord have mercy on me; p
saw 10 one assisting Holmes; there were six
teen thrown overheard a short time after day
| light on "Wednesday heard n man cry out that
they saw the mast Of vessel hey tssk. an. osx
and shawl that belonged 10 me tor flag ;-fuon't
! know how long it was, but as soon as the vessel
came to u.s. the captain put the ladders down the
side of the vessel and took us up on deck
heard that there were thirty-one went down with
the vessel; there was ono thrown over don't
| know his name, hut Rhodes looked at the man
who threw him over and said, "Oh! cruel! cru.
| em
! The testimony for the defence related merely to
| the manner in which the throwing overheard was
accomplished there was no variations ofanv i'm
portance. George NJ. Dallas Esq. and William
| Meredith, the District Attorney conducted the
cause for the prosecution, and Messrs. Hazlehurs
and David Paul Brown for the defence. The
charge of Judge Baldwin was full and lucid, and
the Jury, after long absence, came in with yer
dict of G,iliy-recommending him to the mercy
of the court.