Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1843-01-09
TIlE CASE OLE TIlE SOMERS.

The Naval Court Of lnqui, - examine into tho facts
connected with the late Tragedy board the tlnled
States brlg Somcrs, assembled pursuant 10 adjourn.
mcnt on Thursday morning last, all the members Of The
Court being present. when the following proceedings
were had We copy from The Now York Commercial
Advertiser
Commander Mackenzie said that he wished Mr. John
Hone 10 assist hun mol counsel but kerpa record
the proceedings. Mr.. Hone then took hs the
bic, by the side Of Ca ,uin Mackenzie.
The Judge Advocate then read tia minute of Wed
ncslay' \ proceedings,
Commlnodere Stewart Commander Mackenzie, have
you prepared any OF ua,ler to be submitted IL
The Court
Commander Mackenzie have tcrori but il is moi
here II VIII be here IN a lew minutes.
The witnesses III the casc expected TO testify that
morning, Were required 10 leave the Court Tho wit
nesses, Commander Mackenzie said on board the
Somers.
A summons was then served on j. L. Wales, pursu
crs steward.
Commander Mackonze's papers were then brought
into Court, and Mr. Hoffman commenced reading his
narrative, which had beer submitted to the Navy Do
parimont.
The narrative. after relating several lcis connected
with the voyage. which aeady familiar to the pub
lie, STATES that Saturday The 25lh Of Novenber Mr.
Wales the pnfscrs steward, reported To him thai there
was conspiracy 10 muny; that on the night proyi
Gus, Nlldshpman Spencer had spoken him the PLAN
aud informed him that twenty of the engaged
The brig into pirates attempt the capture osuch vessels
as they were sure they could conquer, kill all board
except the females, and when they had further
for them, to throw them overheard. lie said also tha,
he had coniedcracs at the Isle of Pines
THIS account Of his plan found his ncckcchicfaf
terward. When he first addressed Wales he asked him
he was afraid OF blood, aud put to him ohef lnertqga
tories ii Il similar character. Spencer parted from him
with trca take his life he should disclose tho &C
cret
Al fret ia. qt,tau N,,L ,,.I
this disclosure monsirons and impossble-as the
harmless visions OF boy who had been reading pratt
cal stories. But he found IL his duty to inquire IN
10 the matter, and Lieutenant Gascvooft directed
10 watch the movements OF Mr.. Spencer. The narrative
relates many dlsprdery acts OF Spencer. and among
others that Of getting intoxicated and Of abusing the
Commander with opprobrous cpilhos in presence of the
crew.
Commander Mckenzie stated that after Midshpman
Spencer had been received ON bard he Mac @ ,ze)
heard that Spencer had been sen, home from the Brazil
squadron for intoXcaton that he wished to get rid OF
HIM that he considered him base young man. and be
" the Of an honorable i5lcf ho thought him more
base than those who have families To disgrace by their
conduct. lie wished To have nothing 10 do with base
ness, and thought it should have nothing to do with the
Navy
Mr. Hoffman then paused in the reading, owing to
some mpereoon in the manuscript, which had been
hastily prepared. Some portion Of the narrative present
ed was a copy Of I'D original which had been before the
1
the copy
Some conversation ensied upon the propricy Of pro
ccodlng with the examination OF WITNESSES before the
reading Of the copy OF Commander Mackcnze's state
mrnt should be cumlleted.
The Judge Advocate inclined TO the opinion that the
first statement should be first read for The that
the witnesses would be introduced prove the truth
OF it.
The President of the Court Com. Stewart) suggest
ed that the examination might proceed upon an under
standing that the reading oihe remainder of Capt Mae
kenze's narrative sioia be completed tic opening Of
the court to morrow.
Captain Mackenzie said the errors bad arisen in the
Taste of copying that morning lie could have his own
draft OF the statement court in ten mlnuesas
officer could 90 to Commodore Perrys house and
return.
The Judge Advocate sad they might perhaps proceed
with the witnesses, and in making up the proceeding,
the finishing of the statement 10 morrow, it might.
uac pro ttc be considered that the reading had taken
place to-day.
Mr. Wales, the Pursurs Steward Of tho Sofncrs, was
then ssnt for aud shortly aiterward appeared.
All the witnesses on board the Somers were then di-
r-clcd to be brought board the North Carolina, that
they might be at hand as called
But, second suggestion that the manuscript
would be very iorthconng 1t concluded
proceed with the examination Of Mr.. Wales; and the
Court adjourned for half an hour order to afford Capt
Mackenzie time to obtain the manuscript copy Of the Of
fetal report
AT the end ot the half hour, the Court reassombed
C-ptan Mackenzie expressed his regret thai any de
day that he was informed that tho copy of his report I,
the DeWiea would be read in the proceedings aud al
tho difficulty had arisen from his anxiety have
rect copy ready in season, So many of his kind iriend