Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1843-01-10

more hazardous than it now is, it is still
deemed an act Of simple and bare Justice
to the memory of tie slain, to say that an
examination Of the papers transmitted by
Commander Mackenzie show these facts:
1st. That Acting Midshipman Spencer,
was put in double irons on the 25th Of No
vember, and the Roatswain's mate, Samuel
Cromwell, and seaman Elisha Small on
the day following, on charge of intended
mutiny.
| 2nd. That no disorder Of mutinous
character appeared among the crew for the
four succeeding days; that the vessel was
going with good breezes and in good wea-
| Their towards the island Of st. Thomas,
where she actually arrived and took in sup
plies on some day between the LIST and 9Th
day of December.
Sd. That on 3Gth day of December, the
! opinion of the officers were required by
| Capt. Mackenzie as to the disposition ofthe
| prisoners; that they appear TO have exam
ed thirteen seamen as witnesses to prove
the alleged mutiEy, (and who are therefore
supposed innocent Of any participation in it,
which examination was had, SO far as the
| papers show, in the absence of the prison
CIS, anu "itiioul giving tICib duy CppOTlu"
| nifty to cross examine the witnesses, or to
make any explanation or defence, or to
procure any testimony in their own behalf.
These officers, without even the form Of O
court, without the obligation Of an oath,
and upon this ex-parte secret information,
united in the opinion that the safety of the
vessel required that the prisoners should be
put to death ! How far this recommenda-
ton was influenced by the acts or the fear:
Of Mr.. Mackenzie, does not appear.
4th. That on the first Of December, when
every thing and person on board the vessel
were perfectly quiet, after four days Of en-
tire security, the three persons were, by
the order of Mackenzie, hung at the yard
arm at midday.
The allegation in some of the papers,
that it was proven to have been the inten-
ton of the mutineers to execute their pro-
ject on arriving at st. Thomas, is wholly
destitute of any evidence. And had it been
their design, it. was eh'ectually frustrated,
so far as these prisoners were concerned,
by their confinement. AT St. Thomas,
any Of the crew might have been left, and
the power of the officers of the vessel
strengthened to any extent that was neccs-
sary.
The statement in the Intelligencer, cop
led apparently from the New ork Ameri-
can, that Spencer violated an engagement
formerly made to resign, seems to have
been necessary to prejudice the public
mind against him, that those who slew him
might have a more favorable hearing. Ii
is untrue. He did resign, and the Secre-
tary Of the Navy, on the recommendation
of his commanding officer, considering the
natnre and circumstances Of the offence
(inebriation,) restored his warrant, with 4
strong admontion; and this was done with
out the solicitation Of any Of his friends
His age is represented in the same paper
to have been over 20. Had he lived he
would have been nineteen on the 2sth Of
January next.
As to the probability that such mere
boy-utterly unacquainted with navigation
brought up in the interior, would seri-
ously endeavor to seduce to mutiny an old
seaman who had arrived at the rank of
boatswain's mate, and who is represented