Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1843-01-05

The CASE OF The SOMERS-
The Naval Cour, OF Inquiry appointed
10 investigate this case assembled on
hoard the United States ship North Caro-
Ina. al the Navy Yard, Brooklyn, on
Wednesday last, when there were present
The following officers: Commodore Chas.
Stewart, (President.) Commodore Jacob
Jones and Commodore Alexander Dallas,
members; and Ogden Hoffman, Esq.
Judge Advocate.
The Court having been duly organized.
Mr.. Hoffman read The order from the
Navy Department conyening the Court !;
the substance Of which was, that 10 &C.
cordance with the act Of Congress passed
in 1900 for the better regulation Of the
Navy, the Court was OF dered to NEE.
that day on board the North Carolina, to
inquire into an alleged mutiny on board
the Somers on her late passage from AZ
RIGA 10 this country, and also into the con.
duct Of Commander Mckenzie, in execu-
ting by hanging Philip Spencer, midsbip
man, Samuel Cromwell, boatswain's mate,
and Elijah II. Small, seaman.
Commander Mckenzie made request
to be allowed the assistance Of Mr.. Hone,
no, as COUNSEL, but to take notes of the
proceedings, and to aid HIM ia writing
other matters necessary to be put on pa
per.
Mr.. Hoffman then said that certain let.
ters, alluded 10 by the Secretary Of the
Navy in bis correspondence, had not been
received, and, as he deemed them neces
sary before any further proc, edings were
taken, he proposed an adjournment ofthe
Court. The letters, he SAID, were expec.
ted that morning, but he had oeen told
there was no mail iroin beyond Philadel.
phia, and the expected papers would be
received the next day.
After some conversation among the
members of the Court relative to adjourn
mcut, the Court adjourned to meet on
Tuesday morning at half past eleven o.
clock the hour fixed for the regular daily
meeting.
From the New York Commercial. Dec. 90.
NAVAL COURT OF INQUIRY.
THURSDAY, Dec. 30, 1912.
On board the North Carolina, at the
navy yard, Brooklyn.
The Court assembled, pursuant to ad.
journneni, this morning at half past ele-
ven.
Present The members Of the Court,
Commodores Stewart, Jones and DliIas.
Ogden Hoffman, Esq, Judge advocate.
Commander Mckenzie said that he
WISHED MIR. John Hone, to assist him
not rs counsel-but 10 keep record Of
the proceedings. Mr.. Hone then took
his seat at the Table, by the side Of Cap
tain McKeazle.
The Judge advocate then read the min
utes Of yesterdays proceedings.
Com. .Stewart- Commander Mckenzie
have you prepared any statement of the
mattrr to be submitted to the Court
Commander McKensie-l have a re-
port, but IT is not here. II will be here
IN few minutes.
The witnesses in the case, not expect
ed to testify this morning, were required
to leave the Court. The witnesses, Com.
manfer Mckenzie said. were on board
the Somprs.
summons was then served on J. W.
Wales, purser's steward.
Commander Mckenz e's papers were
now brought in, and Mr.. Hoffman com
menced reading his narrative, which had
been submitted to the Navy Department.
The narrative, after relating several of
which are now familiar t" the public,
states that on Saturday, the 25lh of No
vember, Mr.. Wales, the purs~r's steward.
reported To him that there was conspl-
racy to mu,Iny that on the night Pres'-
Gus, MidshipmNn Spencer had broken To
HIM the plan, and informed him that TWEEN
ty of the crew were engaged III 1t; that
they intended to murder the officers, cou-
vert the brig into n pirate attempt the
conquer Of such vessels as they were sure
they could capture, kill all on board ex-
cept the females, and when they had no
further use for them, to throw them over.
board.
He SAID also that he had confederates at
the Isle Of Pines. This account of his
plan was found in his neck handkerchief
anerward. When he first addressed
Wales, he asked HIM il was afraid of
blood" and put to him other interroga.
tories of similar character. Spencer
parted from him, with threats to take his
life if he should disclose the secret.
At first, the narrative states, Captain
Mckenzie trealed this disclosure as mon
strous and impossibIe-us the harmless
visions Of boy who had been reading pi.
raical stories. But he soon found /. his
duty 10 inquire into the matter, and Lieu
tenan, Ganesvoort was directed to watch
the movements Of MIR. Spencer. The
narrative relates many dlsorderly acts OF
Spencer, and, among others, that OF get
ting intoxicated, and Of abusing the COM
mander with opprobrious epithets in pre-
sence oS the crew.
Commander Mckenzie states that alter
Midsbipman Spencer had been received
on board, he McKenze) heard tina, Spen'
Ger had been sent home from the Brazil
Squadron, for intoxicaton; that he wish.
ed to get rid Of him, that he considered
him base young man, and being the son
of ON honorable father, he thought him
more base than those who have no tamil
i,o. d,srr.oa hv thar cop1uct IIa