The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-01-10
Court of Enquiry on board the North
CarOllnn.

TENrH DAY-MoNpAY, JAN. o.
In conseq aence of accident the Philadelphia
Railroad which preventative arrival Of Com Stewart at
the usual hour the proceedings did till -
o'clock
The first witness caledwas
WILLIAM CoLLrss-H He was gunners board the
Somers until after tle confinement of Cromwell, when ne
was appointed hoaswan's mate. The discipline OF me
brig was good till her arrival at Madeira; alter that De
Came very bad; the slack at their duty aei
he arrest of Spencer it got much worse; az the time
the topgallantmast carried away was oriered to
Keep tb yard ropes manned and when looked round
found bat two three of the went forward and
told them to ait but they refused; told Mr. Ro
gers tn officer of the deck, and he went forward him
SELF when they commenced stamping their feet
Mr.. Rogers cooked pistol at them; did hear any
thing said by the boys after Cromwell in confne
ment the continually talking together TOUR
five time and looking aft after the execution the dis
ciplne was much better; never had any conversation
with spencer heard Cromw ell say that he had been
Guineaman was examined before the Council of Ocers
stated then that thought Cromwell and Spencer
in the plot; said if any body knew about Cromwell
did lor he was always conversng with Spencer There
to HINT was substantially that before the Court
q by Capt McKENzIE--I didn't know whether Crom
wen was attentive to his duty but Fave heard him call
the wrong watch; there pistol went off by accident
in the hand of OF the officers; didn't desire any bet
ter usage than had board; do think the somers
could have been brought safely home the execution had
not taken places cannot say the pistol went of ubse
quen to the fitting of the and the OF Spencor
was al the starboard gangway the time OF the
ion heard Small say to Spencer you have brought me
to this Spencer said 'orgive me- Small you must for
give me-; the Captain then interered, and they shook
hands.
B. P. BROWNING Cd boatswains mate was next sworn
and examined-spencer and Cromwell were in the same
watch the discipline good till arrival at Madeira
afterwards bad the discipline fell of in the starboard
watch can't say any thing against the larboard watch
Small in the starboard watch were Green McKie
and Wilson; after the arrest the got very sury
especially in the starboard watch they wanted dr
wing than usual after the men were there was
great change; recoilect conversng with Mr.. Spencer
about transactions board the Potomac, the home
ward voyages one night between and o'clock, he ask
fall thatIh aJha Guin
said no. that had shipped in at Havana but
repened and ran away from her; he said now recol
lect it was not you, it Cromwell;" was sitting
day by gun; he called me to him and asked would
not take glass of brandy Yes said chats thing
get you which he did; this about the
SLAYER two days before he arrested; Mr.
Spencer was very intimate with Cromwell, rather
SO than ever with officer had been along with
all my life; they were always talking when came
deck whether by night by day; have also Spen
GER small and Cromwell speaking together in low voice;
recollect when the mast carried away; it was my
watch below, but and Anderson called up by the
LIST Lieutenant ordered to clear away the beams
and get out mast, looked aoft but they did appear
to be doing any thing then aft and found Crom
well, Small and the sail-maker Gedney Goldeman and
Anderson, and three Of the Iarboard watch said to
Cromwell, You are chief boats aims mate; if you
will so on deck | will step the mast; )" he made
no reply Cromwell was sitting sraddle of the cap
doing nothing heard Spencer ask Small to forgive
him; while Spencer was in the gangway he asked
said would take good care it would not slip" was
examined before the council of officers; gave my OPT
vessel than in her; believed that they were the
spiracy from the reports that had heard; gave my
bs aa would S not be possible to get the
sail in squally weather OF dark night would have
, peen very easy for some one in the plot to dig
picking out his officer After killing all the Off
GERS on deck it was easy to kill the captain and get
possession of the brig besides which don't think there
was man forward except the three capable of
taking charge of her than of navigating balloons
both Cromwell and Small understood navigation; have
seen them keeping days work together, which
the others could do Thought attempt would be made
them; said TO the Council that the Cooks were
the biggest fellows about and were as much to be feared
Us any men In the vessel The testimony OF the witness
Spencer not able TO sail the brig without the aid of
Cromwell and SMALL don't believe that Mr. Spencer
knew dozen ropes about the brig; Cromwell pretty
severe TO the boys before got 10 the Coast OF Africa
but after that he quite familiar with them, Spencer
asked me on another occasion il would have glass of
brandy. said OF course would" well" says he,
you shant have it," "Cant help it, sir" said l.
JUDGE ADvocArE-Hady you ever any conversation with
Wilson,
Ayes: at breakfast said it would be found out, and
would bet thousand dollars that OF them would turn
Spencer had said to them they would hang him without
Judge ury told him and report that the First
Lieutenant; had as good usage board the Somers as
ever had in the service and don't that because the
Captains on board
ANDREW ANDERSON was next cxamined-He was captain
m " got to aders ait that it was bad did not hear
Mr. Spencer any thing after his arrest often saw
Cromwell and Spencer talk together Cromwell kept
praying and pleading his innocence; did not hear Small
say any thing; examined before the council of Off
and my opinion that the vessel could not be
taken safe to port unless the three executed
JupoE ApvocArEWhat sort of usage had yon on board
the Somersl
A-Middling good; think the somers could not have
been brought ely home the execution had not taken
place.
mate; sick most of the passage but could that the
discipline fell off the arrival Of the brig at Madeira;
saw wilson stow away knife in the rigging OF gun
where Spencer also handspkes and beavers
which had COLLECTED: together and put as thought in
place under the cutter had been taken out and
put in the sullivan and Goldeman near the
stern OF the launch at the time when the watch
aunch Spencer and Cromwe usedto be often drinking
coffee together; have also them take the stars to-
gether think Small pretty deeply in it; he very
intimate with Mr. Spencer, and have seen MIR Spencer
to him and fetch him segars and liquor when he
sick; before sailed, saw Small board the Sa-
vannah smuggling liquor in the presence of Mr. Spencer;
have Cromwell drunk on board the Savannah.
THE knife concealed by Wilson, and which was the
same formerly produced in Court presented to this
witness and identified by him
Questioned by Capt McKENzIE-A number OF the men
who suspected, missed Il muster the night the
beavers found hid away had very good mage on
board the Somers never heard Cromwell called by any
other name than Samuel Cromwel that was his name
when in Florida under Lieut. McLaughlin was on that
station and him at Pensacoa have been IL years in
the service ii my opinion that the Somers could not
have been brought home by her officers the execution
had taken place. do not know that could have
saved the masts if had been taken in heavy squall;
when the petty officers alot, think that three or
Jour of the could have taken the vessel afraid
lay in my hammock at light while these fellows
hopping about we did not know who were friendly and
to be depended on; thinks that If a had been at
tempted il would have been successful; shall always
think So for had to go alo with arms, and did
not any sleep after the arrest; had to lie down with
his arms; unbuclled his until the brig
rived at New York
THOMAS DICKSON next examinel.-Was on board
the Somers carpenters mate; the subordinaton
very good till the time of arrival at Madera grew bad
afterwards; il very bad during the four days
which the prisoners in confinement; they could
hardly get the boys to do thing without the
officers the deck repeating the order several times they
would collect groups doing nothing but talking; when
witness approached they would stop takng;
had any conversations with Mr.. Spencer with Crom-
well SMALL Spencer talk with Cromwell at every
opportunity particularly when the watch on deck
have been right beside Them time in the mid watch
went deck and the prisoners under the boom near
the gally pipes passed them and went forward, when
turned about who they were, it Mr.. Spencer
and Cromwell and another the other side fthe
pipes he could tell who he was; they never altered