Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1843-01-05
Fsoa Il. Men fors Tai5sac Eriru) Of Dec. 2s.
THE SOMERS MI rISYti
.ElT.lL COURT or INQUIRY

Tac crur' Of Inquiry. appointed by the secretary Of
shs Nivy, minc the facts connected with the re
crnt serd attempt at nuilny on board the L. States
Dugat-war Samers n,ei to-day ut IL ocluck, A. Nj
on bsard the North Carolina, at the Navy lar1. -
The Court consists OF the oliowIn. distinguished Off
Gers.
T., Presidca, is Captain Chsrcs Stewart. Coinman
der II N, Home Squadron. His flas ship Is the fine
RAJ independence, temporarily at this port, and under
s~.....s .IsieTs
TIE sccoai nembcr Is commodore A. J. Dallas. Com
ma cr Of the Pensacola Navy lard aud attending the
fihis Court under special orlerS from The Ma
", department..
The third is Commodore Jacob jones. Port Admiral
.-m aandrr OF sll the vessels aia in This harbur Ills
1sg ship Is the North Carlina on buatd Of which the
(oart is held.
The Jn5ge Advocate is Hon. Ogden Hoffman. now
l.. Attorney Aus Southern Disrci of New York
he Gnaerly attached To the Navy for wears
and was On board the United >.aes with Decatur Ia
bis .elebfa'ed action aobnt tbs middle - the last war in
which he captured thcfflgae Ma s1onian,
Cosnmejares Jones and rallas were present at an
early hour, aai the JadIe Advocate came in at some
6f can minutes heare l. Capt Stewart came on board
~ III. There wers present the opening of the Court
gni,e number ',crrs among whom we noticed Cap
tail Perry. Sands and Coo;er Pursers Stockton and
buchanan. and Messrs. Sanders aad Campbell Ofthe Ar
my OF The officers oil tho Carpia were present the
Courteous commander. Capi. Gregory, Commander
Whitman. lleutenants Hunt. Gibson. Gray and Ward
Pne,r Mleauly. the Chaplain, Stnckbndge. Adting
Sailing Muster. Passed Mdshipmau ED. and Captain
ID s5ass and Lieut. klnzing Of the marine.
Commander Alexander shd,li Mckenzie Of the So.
mer.. appeared in full nniErn. lIeis man ofmedium
height. With ise head covered rather ,hmly by light
auburn hair, h,h iareheal AM Of an 1nlable aud
pleasing rather Than stern aud commanding presence.
Alter administering the oath Tho several members
Of the Court. the Judge Advocate read the from
Secretary D!shrr. constituting The Court. ahd author
sing II h, inquire INTO all the firts t3nrug the alleged
maiiny board the S4mers. and The conduct
od Con- naaisr McAenzc. IN ordering the execution
al Midsh'pman Philip Spencer aud oi Samuel Cromwell
and Elisha Snail. and 10 rrpaft i, the Department lis
spnion as TO the night aaI proprcy Of h.se proceed
ings.
Some conversation then aos Place concerning the ar
Inducements for conducting the inquiry. The Judge Ad
vn'ae asked Com Mackenzie 1.-The had drawn up a
narrative ef the transaction.
II, replied iha, he had prepared an official statement
whch he had forwarded Ia the Navy Department at
W s',o1ien, and ofwhlch he had cupy.
Tho Judge Advocate s1d, thai IT appeared ma origin.
al nesers were here-hai they were On Tile IN the
May Department and mi sh nav be8n their way Ia the
ci's he had written have them fIrwarde1 aud
he ,eve. NJ NAL had arrived ias nsra.ng from South
Of philadelphia.
.nn. Mackenzie said that all the Witnesses in the
cas- hut two were present. and asked leave be assisted
IN is defence by Nr. John HON. Counsel but in
tak'n{ minutes OF the proceedings of The Court
Ia was slliwed bg The Iuun 10 d. sa. Arrange
menis vera then made Ter future sessions of the Court
The ndte Advocate wished that late an huur in the
.mnrnng Tor their meeting would hc convenient mghl
BE- appointed. as all his official correspondence with the
authr,i.s al Nashineton must be attended L. before he
could conveniently attend II was arranged that the
Court should NEST al half past aud continue its SITS
ATOMS I'LL hafpas, ORA O'Clock, according to crcum
<asces
i"e Court thru adjourned TIL Thursday a, IL a.
sclpck. 4 M
II has nj vel been decided whether the proceedings Of
ehe Court shall he public OF not