New-York daily tribune., 1842-12-31
THE T RIBUN E.
THE soMERs MUTiNY.
NaTa. Cosrt OF fHaEiry
Reported for The New.York Tribune.

THIRD DAY., Friday, Dec. 'o'
| The Court reassemblsd at II o'clock, and was
| called TO order by the President
Capt MACKENZIE cane in and in answer to
the President, said that his narrative was now
ready.
The Judge Advocate read the minutes Of yesteF-
day, and Capt. Mackenzie presented MS narrative,
which he said would be found both accurate and
complete.
The Judge Advocate then proceeded to read the
narrative, of which present az accurate sketch
es possible at the conclusion of the testimony of
Mr.. Wales.
The reading of the narrative occupied nil i
o'clock, after which the Court proceeded to the ez-
animation of witnesses, as follows:
EXAMINATION OF WITNESSES.
JAMES W. WALES, sworn b. the President, tes-
tilted as follows: l was Purser's : Steward on board
III. Somers in her late cruise. was informed on
the night of the 25th of November last OF
an intended muiiny on board that vessel |
was standing forward by the bits when Mr. Spen-
Ger came forward, and, after few remarks
eativc to the weather, requested me 70 get on top
OF the boos, telling the same time that ne had
| scratching rery important to communicate to me-
accordingly got top of the booms with him and
| he commenced the conversation by asking me It L
was afraid OF dea;h!' | was then alone with him.
:. Was I afraid of desth-and did | fear dead
man and dare Kill person were the questions
lie asked me. | was verymuch surprised at these
remarks and looked up 10 see it he was in earnest;
| found that he very serious and very much
| in earnest in what be said. Ireplied that Twas not
particularly anxious TO die quite YET, that had no
cause to feer de ead psrson and that did man sui
cicntly abuse insult ne, thought could muster
sufficient courag &c kill him Unnecessary. MIR. Spen
Ger replied, @" do n'r doubt your courage al oil;
know it' "But, +" said he, ''can you keep secret?
and will you kee p one 2" IF So he added, take
the oath" He then dictated an oath, of which lean
not recclec the whole but the purpor of that
should never make known to any person the con-
ycrsetion which ebsut to TAKE place between
us | took the oath as directed by Mr.. Spencer.
! The cath was merely administered by word of
mouth, no Bible being used. He then went on 10
state, that he wasaeegued with about twenty
Of the brig's company, to take her, mur-
der all her officers and commence pirating.
The plan and stations of the men, he said, he had
all arranged in secret writing, done up in his neck
handkerchief. He requested me to feel OF his
ncck-handkerchief Ibid so AID there was runP-
ling which showed that there paper in the
plan he should pursue. The nfray would com
mence some night when he had the niid-wsfrh-
Some of his men would get into fight the
forecastle. He (Spencer) was 10 bring them up
to the mast and call Mr.. Rogers, the officer
of the deck Is pretend TO settle the difficulty
As soon as Mr.. Rogers had got to the gang way
they were Immediately seize and throw him
overboarl. They would then have the vessel in
| their own possession. The keys of the artnchest,
L.. l.. rJ,o
The arm chest was to be opened and the arms dis
tributed to his men. He was then TO sau Ion his men
at the matches 10 prevent any one from coming up
on deck, and he should proceed to the cabin and
murder the Commander with the least noise posi-
blc He should then proceed with some of his
men to the ward room; and then murder the
ward. room and steerage officers. He stated that
the officers had no arms in the ward room with
the exception OF the First Lieutenant, and ali the
arms that he had there old cutiass, which
he shosld secure before The atiray commenced
This accom- piished, he said he should go
deck have the t,.o after guns slowed around so as
to command, from n raking position, the deck
| He would then cause all the crew 10 be called on
| deck, and select a number from them such as
would suit his purposes the remainder he should
cause 10 be thrown overheard. { The werds suit
his purposes were the very ones he used. This
ginning by throwing overheard the launch and all
The spare spars and rigging of the vessel, as they
only tended to lumber up the deck thst-5hould
they stand in need OF any spare spars or rggi ing,
they could take them from vessels that they would
capture.
This done, the brig was proceed - Cape San
| Antonio, 20 the Isle OF Pines; and there take
on board ore soAo ,oas familiar lcaA tbeirintsnd-
| ed business, and ioho a,Gs ready and tciAtng TO
JON them. The name of this person was not !nen-
toned. This DONE they were to commence
cruising Tor prizes; that whenever they took yes
sci, after taking from her that which would be OF
use to them they were to murder all on board and
scuttle the vessel, so as to leave traces OF her
Should there be any females Or board OF the yes-
sels they would take, they would have them Ie-
moved to the brig for the use of the officers and
men-using them long ssthsy saw iii, and then
making way with them.
! Spencer then called up ELISHA SMALL seaman
on board. He came and stood by lhe railing but
did not get Up the booms. This was before
made any reply 10 what he said-because coatf
not repy) He commenced talking TO him IN
Spanish but could not tell what they were talk
| ing about, as / did not understand the lansuaSe
Small locked surprised, however, at what ne told
him. saw Sma!l's face very plainly. Spencer
/ tici icLidtAeo " SHiul!, IN T1b5ilsu'
rot be under any apprehension of fear on his (wlt-
ness's) account, as have sounded him pretty well
and fad he is one of u.s. Small seemed pleased
and remarked that he was very glad TO hear it
Small was then called away to execute some order
Before going Spencer told him that ne (oPencer)
should have the mid-wetch that night, and Wished
TO have some farther conversation with nm Small
relative TO their plans; and desired Small TO see
that foretop-u,an y meantime. Gle did not name
him..
Small then left. Spencer nade overtures to me-