The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-01-05
Court Of Enquiry ON Board tho North
Carolina.

and subordinaon board the somers after leaving New
York, and before reaching Madeira
Ans-Very good.
Q-Did you observe any change afterwards if SO. de-
scribe il 2
A.-There was marked difference in the manner OF
the elder portion ofthe they surly and mo-
rose, it is difficult to describe the change but it su
GENTLY aPparSs rem grew worse every day
November.
Q-who did you learn it FROM
A.-From Mdshipman Rogers.
Q-Wasi at the time when Mr.. Spencer was arrested
QDd you learn it from Mr. Rogers before after the
arrest Of Mr.. Spencer
Al the time of putting the irons on him
Q-Was the log book under your charger
Q,-Can you produce tit
Ayes, it is here.
THE log. book was produced1
Q-Does the log.book contain faithful and true ac-
count of the of the voyage far you be-
lieve2
Alt does, sir.
Q.-Are these entries in your handwriting
"A greater part of them-all since the Goth Of No
.Q.-were the entries made as the occurrences took
placer
A.-On the next day.
lin answer to Com DALLAs-The remarks signed OILY
by the first lieutenant and self, the midshpmen were
not permitted to sign Them
Q.-Have any alterations been made by any one2
A.-No, sir, except by myself.
Have you made any alterations since the arrival Of
the somersin port7
A.-None at all, sir
Q-Will you give condensed an account as you can
of the board the Somers from the arrest Of
Mr.. Spencer till the execution took placer
Ayes, SIR After evening quarters on the goth, the
Commander ordered me to take the Wheel obeyed the
der Immediately then all the officers coming aft with
the exception Of Mr. Hays then saw the Commander ad
dress himself to Mr.. Spencer; did not hear any ofthe
conversations Mr. Ganseyoort took his sword from him.
and brought him aft close alongside of then heard
Mr.. Spencer tell the Commander, don't remember
what told him, in fact cannot tell" words to that ef
feet.
By Com. srEwARr.-You don't know what the ques.
ton vast
and questioned by the Commander separately when the
retreat was beat gave the wheel to of the
and then asked Mdshipman Rogers what the matter;
JUDGE ADvocArE-I don't want that.
WIrNEss-I the, went below in the ward room, and
questioned Mr. Wales the subject, and from his
versaon understood that the Commander had not been
made aware OF his having this paper his
Mr. Spencer had told Mr. Wales he had the paper con.
cealed in the back part of his neck handkerchief My
watch coming at that time. relieved the officer of the
deck and on passing the orders received brace of ps
tolls and cutass with orders to put the prisoner to death
if he made the least attempt to escape any persons
should attempt to rescue him.
Q.-Who gave you these orders
.A.They were passed. sir by the officer of the deck,
Mr. Hays or Mr.. Thompson don't recollect which. At
the end OF my watch relieved and received orders
to be constantly about the vessel Nothing more
Cured till the next day, in the afternoon, when
part of the sheve-hole
Q-At this time was Mr.. Spencer the only person in
confinement
Ayes; to my knowledge he was the only one. Twas
in the warroom and the mast carried away through
the skylight Immediately hurried on deck. l went
forward there the orecastle let 60 the weather main
topgaant braces, and went forward. noticed that Will
son, Cromwell and Small alo andI thought at the
there he was no sailor and was doing nothing at the
time After finding nothing to do went below again.
O. by JuDcE ADvocArE-Did you KNOW OF your own OBJ
servaton any thing of the manner in which the main.
n
A.-No sir; after remaining below a short time MIR.
Gansevoort came below and giving me pistol ordered
deck to take station in the starboard gangway
with orders to shoot down any person who should attempt
rescue, as they were going to confne CROMWELL;
Cromwell and Small in confinement; after that each of
had couple OF pistols and cutlass and cartouch box;
received orders to shoot down either of the prisoners
following day Mr. Gansevoort asked me if thought it safe
to take prisoners and necessity required to do
So whether Cromwell Spencer and Small ought to be
disposed Of After thinking time upon it, came to
the conclusion that the officers of the vessel could
take of any than the first three if they mad
to take any prisoners the safety of the vessel
qured that the first above mentioned three, Cromwell
Small and Spencer ought to be put to death. On the
Kinley, Green and Mckee confined in double irons
suspicion of being the mutinous attempt
The Commander, short time after they confined
addressed letter to the ward.room officers and
the Mdshipmen of the vessel, requesting their
opinion what should be done with the three
first persons confined. All of met in the wardroom
and formed sort ofcouncil and examined witnesses We
remained there until dark; about dusk in the evening"
when the Commander down word he wished the
officers be moving about the vessel During that night
was in the Commanders watch, masters of
it. with orders to shoot down any othe prisoners if they
should be seen forward. To that every person
quiet on deck, and about the matches below. During
the whole Of the night the officers kept watch !;
the Captain having the first watch and the morning watch
On the forenoon Of the about o'clock ordered
to take charge of the deck Remained in charge until the
other officers had made up their opinions, when was
relieved and went beo conceded their opinion which
was the same that had expressed before. then went
deck my uniform and ordered to take charge of
the TO- castle heard the Commander tell Cr0mw that
he allowed him minutes i've when he should hang
him up at the mainly words to that effect Crom
we'll said am nnocent-God ofhe universe look down
upon me.s i Immediately went forward to my station
when the whips were taken alof secured two to the
star board and the larboard had been the
orw ard gangway and Spencer and Small speak
ing each other but did not hear what they said They
cured to their necks The then told me that
Mr. Spencer wouldgve the signal to fire the and that
should have some live GOALS up in case the match should
all these ORDERS sir and gave orders to the
not to let go that when they got forward to keep still
and keep hold of the rope till they ordered to Delay;
the commander short time after this called out "stand
by; took the apron Oft the gun at that order, drew
pistol and cooked it, thinking that some of the would
attempt them; he then gave the order fire. the
gun was fired and the prisoners to the yard the
ensign and pennant hosed at the same time; then all
hands called to cheer ship and three hearty cheers
given for the American flag; after this piped down and
piped to dinner; after the had been dinner about
Of the deceased should lower the corpse
and lay them out for burial relieved Mr.. Thompson
and told him go forward and in erng Mr. Spen
GER; o'clock that evening the deceased had been sd
out and the order given call all hands hurry the dead
the bodies of the were brought forward by their
messmates and all the officers to the gangway; the Com
mander ordered to have all the lanthorns lighted and
distributed amongst the crew, and that they had
their pray books and responded they buried
ding to the Episcopal form when they all pped
down, the watch was called after which they order
ed into the Watches and to the orders
rftn0 I'm fanr ctrtu hall
States.
@ by JuDGE ApvocarE-State all facts circumstances
which came to your knowledge indicative of the
the
An short time previous to the arrest little parties Of
parts Of the ships Mr.. spencers familiarity with those
suspected.
By Com. SrEwART-Did you observe it YOURSELF
A-Yes sir; his keeping aloof from his messmates and
from the eviiencebefore the cOunci do you want that
SIR