Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1843-01-05
Naval Court Martial

III 49, - ~ q o''N"b
the 28th Dec. and proceeded in due
form and order. The preliminaries
having been disposed of, the Cont soon
after adjourned to give Capt. McKen-
zie time to prepare his statement, al
official copy Of which he had forwarded
to Washington.
II On Friday, the statement Of Capt.
Mckenzie was received and read ia
the Court. ...
AS the Court declined to allow either
his or any other official document to be
copied for the press, the reporters pres
ent were only able to obtain a sketch OF
it while it was read by the Judge Advo-
cate. 1t is very full narrative Of all
the facts connected with the mutiny.
and as we are deSirous Of publishing
an cGciai copy, in justice to Capt. Nc
Kenzie, we prefer waiting until it is
received.
The evidence Of Wales, the Purser's
Steward, who first divulged The plot,
was then taken, aud as his testimony
contains the principal facts. we have
copied it entire.
A full acquittal Of Capt. Mckenzie
will unquestionably be the result Of the
investigation, as it should be.
JAMES w. WALES was then called and
sworn
] was on board the Somers on her last
voyage in the capacity ofPurser'S Steward
| was informed that u muiny existed on
bonrd the Somers on the night of the 25ih of
November, in the I'd dog watch. | was
standing f,rward by the Biis, and Mr.. Spen-
Ger cnine forward and utter passing some
few remarks relative TO the weather, request
ed me TO get on the booms with him, telling
me at the same lime that he had something
very Important to communicate. ] according.
ly got Oh the booms and he commenced the
conversation by Gsking me u ! was afraid OF
death. We were alone on the booms--no
one was near Us. fle asked me, did fear
= dead man, and dare kill person. l was
very much surprised at these questions and
locked up TO see it he was not joking, but
saw he was very much in earnest in what he
SAID 10 me. and looking very serious.
IrcPlied that was not particularly anxious
TO die quite yet, and had no cause to fear
u dead person, and die n man sufficiently
abuse or insult me, | thought | could muster
sufficient courage TO kill him. Spencer re.
Piled, don't doubt your courage at oil. u
L,,, H., a
and will you keep one. and if 80 lake the oath.
tie dictated off Hn oath, that | should never
make known To any person the conversation
which was about To take place between us.
took the oath rs directed by Mr.. Spencer
II was administered by word Of mouth, with
out u Bible. lie then went on To state that
he was lesgned with about twenty ofihe
Bris's company, TO take her, murder oil her
officers, aud commence p'ra,ing. Places
and stations Of The men he lrud all arranged
IN secre, wfiliug done up in his neck hand
k"rchIef He requested me to feel it and
did so ana felt from the rumpling what took
tn be paper there. II was behind in the
back par, of his neck it made q noise like
puper when felt il.
lie then went on To state 10 mo the plan t
he should pursue. The ARRAY would com
mence some night when he had the mid
watch. Some OF his men would get into a |
tight on The 'fOrecast!e /; he was to bring them
up TO the mast, and call Mr.. Rodgers, the
officer OF the deck, l., pretend To settle the
difficulty. As soun as Mr. X. had got to the
they were Immediately 10 seize
hun and throw him over-board--ihey would Il
hen have the vessel IN their own possession.
The keys Of the arm chest he stated he could
my his hands on al any moment. The arm
chest was 10 be opened aud srtps to be dis.
ributed TO his men, lie was then to station
MS men nj the latches, to prevent any ones
coming up on deck, and he should proceed to
he cubIn and murder the comma nder with
he least possible noise. He should then
proceed with some Of his men to the ward
oom and there murder the ward room aud
tcerage officers. lie stated that The officers
lad nn arms in the ward room. with the eS=
.ep,iou OF the first lieutenant, and all the
rms hr had there, was an old cu,lass, which II
,e would secure before the uffray coinme nc ed
This accomplished, he should 90 OIL deck,
ave the two after guns slowed around, SO
Is to command rnkIng position Of the deck ;II
'e would then cause oil the crew to be called
N deck, and select from the number such as
would suit his purposes The remainder OF
hem he should cause to be thrown oyer.
'oard. THIS done, they should commence
Tearing the deck, comn,encin by throwing
'verboard the laCnch aud ell The spare spars
nd rigging belonging to the vessel, as they
nly tended 10 lumber up the decks. That
hould they sIand in need Of any spare spars
" rigging, they could lake them from any
essel they took. This done, the brig would
rocecc to Cape San Antonio, ~ 10 the Isle
Il Pines, nnd there take on board oDa who
'as familiar with their intended business,
nd who was ready and willing to join them,
he name Of that person was not mentioned,
nd did not ask il.
Afterwards tbny were tn commence crnz-
,g Tor prizes; that whenever they took n
esse!, after taking from her that which would
C OF use Ia them, they were to murder all
u board and scuitle the vessel, so as To
ave no trace Of her. Should there be any
males ou boord The vessels which they
'ok, they would have them removed to the
rig for the use Of The officers and nrn,
aug them as long as they saw tit, and then 6
akng way with them. e
Spencer then called up Elishs Small, n K
'amnn on board. lie stood by the bell and n
ID not get on tho booins. had not made n
ny reply whatever To what Spencer had
I'D To me. lie commenced talking To Small n
Spanish; | did not understand what they II a