The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-01-18
Court OF Enquiry on board the North
Carolina.

Court OF Enquiry on board the North
Carolina.
~ sEvENSxENTn DAM IL
On the opening of the Court
The JSoeE ADvoskrE ststed that he had received q
number of papers from the Navy Department. be used
by him as he thought proper On examination he found
that they were private papers found in the possession Of
Nr Spencer and as they had reference whatever TO
te 81 che fsseeat inquiry he ssaDes produce
them, nor lay them before the Court.
EDWARD LEia', apprentice, aged i7-Could Snotthrow
any additional light on the matter
By Capt. MckrNzIE--Cromwe ell very surly on the
night OF Spencers arrest. Heard Cromwell Small and
Wilson talk about slaves and the Coast Of Africa ~
WILLIAM Rrrp. aged ls--could give no new informa
| WILLIAM CRuoER, aged l8-l saw Spencer and Small
talking together at night Mr.. Spencer said wit
cruise, and that when he would be Commander, which
would be before long, he would let them 20 hoe
On IN ss
have been taken to ST. Thomas without executing the
By Capt. MoKkNz,xInc case Of gale or sudden squal
falling overheard making to lower
or more boats the moment Of confusion had been taken
o. rescue might have been successful There
was violent squa IN the evening after the execution
had taken place.
WIN H. JOHNSON was then called and examined-Lives
at l27 Fulton street, introduced to Mr. Spencer
who had blemish in eye; he officer in the
services he introduced to witness son of John
Spencer; gave him key to system Of seer: writing; it
wanted it, 1t came up in the OF conversation and
he earnestly asked me for it; Mr.. Spencer marked
piece Of newspaper characters which witness recognized
the cipher reported to have been used by
QLook at those at the top Of that piece Of
paper, and see nyou know them7
Zone OF Sponcer's papers was handed 10 witness
A-lcannot TELL sir what they are.
9-Those characters are not your systemi
Q.-Do you know person ofthe name ofFairbanks7
A.-No, sir.
Odd you hear anything from Mr.. Spencer about the
A.-she was not launched at that time the key that
witness gave to Mr.. Spencer one which he could
speak as well write and that made him anxious to
get it. I
JouAH CoRnY, aged 7-Had seen Spencer Cromwell,
small and Wilson all taking together the night before
Small said one day he was very dry, and Mr. Spencer
told him go the wardroom steward and get glass
Thomas without the execution. The day after the
cuton. the Commander took out a paper and told
they would ali have had to walk the
Wilson after the arrest say that If the Captain knew
mach about as he he would hang them at once with
ont Judge or jury.
Two or three other boys examined, but nothing
rev ELECTED.
JOHN CAvENAeH, apprentice, aged ls-Heard Mr. spen.
Ger say he would have q ship of his own-that he
tired Of the service and would prefer the merchant
service; thought of such thing sny chance Of
rescuc did not think the execution was necessary
By Capt. McKENzrE,-Would you have been alarmed
had the mutneers taken the brig and converted her into
a
A.-Certainly should. --.'' .'
GEoReE H. MALLORY, II years of sgs.
Q.-Did you ever hear Mr.. Spencer say anything to
Cromwell?
Ayes, sir. .t--
Q-What was itl
Al heard him ask Cromwell, how hs ,oomld like to
cal rice and tar boiled together fer specimen of
great many of the answers of the boys1 The witness
thought that the brig could have been taken to St. Tho
mas without the execution.
ANDREW BOWIE, Is years of age-Saw Mr.. Spencer
show paper to some whom witness did not remem
Der; there were letters on the paper which witness did
not understand; the paper not white as common
1.-THE papers found in spencers locker were shown t.
Witness he said that the characters by were the
same as those On of the papers produced
70 many OF .nem 1t was not long before Mr.. Spencer's
arrest that witness saw him with the paper.
-- NEWELL, the boy who in q former en- amna.
we'll, was here recalled.
Q,-Would you know that paper if you saw it again?
Ayes, sir.
The paper here produced, and shown to witness
WIrNKss-To the best of my belief this s the paper
saw Spencer show to Cromwell
CLARK another boy who also previously stated that he
saw Mr.. Spencer show Cromwell paper was also re.
called One Of the papers found 10 Spencers locker
ihewn to this witness and identified by him the one he
saw in the hands Spencer when he it to Crom.
WELL Witness recognised because he recolected tn
the writing like alphabet end began in the middle
and also by parts of it which there writing,
By Capt McKENzU-When Spencer showed the paper
do,n ''~ Wy e'oN-' "'''0
The JopcE ADVOCATE here said, would state that do
savR srab6s ssa9pHt tell
On the contrary must tell them that they
qured to give any answers which could crimnate them
selves The only evidence, therefore, they could give
would be either that they knew nothing about matte
or could not tell what they did know Unless therefore
the Court think otherwise, will not call any of the pri
soners for examination.
wM !sc.LL' recalled-Thinks No. is the paper seen
by him in the hands of Spencer and shown by him to
Cromwell but he does not mention any mark except the
size and color by which he thinks is that paper told
Mr. pelonde that he thought Spencer and Cromwell we're
making watch paper.
EDWARD ENeLnH recalled-Could not identify either Of
the papers now shown to him but thinks that they re
semble in color the one he in Mr.. Spencer's hands
JUDGE ApvocATE-Is Capt Sands here7
Mr.. ELp-He has been sent for, sir.
Somers. ~ "
Captain SANDS was then sworn and examned-Now
Commander in the Navy, and at present attached to this
ons the tonnage of the Somers 266 TONS by the Eng
sh measure 1877 tons; her total capacity 100 tons. with
spt hold have got model of the vessel and all her
Feet In
R Reng'n Oh oeck' Iloa-
Space unoccupied between the trunk and the bin.
From there to the platform where the wheel works.
Trunk estsnds toward within one foot and half the
Avg width between sides of deck and sides of vessel
Oi that space one gun occupying space of
'assage way between trunk and slide q
from the nainmast forward the launch extends "a
length OF the booms 45
Width OF gangways,
Three guns each sds of the Blooms.
,abin, width forward,
aft,
length,
From foot Of ladder TO bulkhead in cabin
bnkhead OF common pine separates cabin ro usrarr,y
with three movable pannes Thickness This hniIhs "a
IN inch and quarter This bulkhead snds in aro ov
below with prass slides above One nan could PROBABLY
Freak down this bulkhead with his eight aosnst
Length of wardroom, /'esh' az an''"t
Width, 8
3ulkhead separating wardroo :, ,r,,, .,oo,...
erals but more secure tho the cabin buikhesa door
be forced nv two me- it. This doorway could east.
" dtb of ateeraaa e deck leads into the Storage.
length, ""dio' -
he ladder taken up by the pumps, table and
yardroom he scuttle to the powder magazine is in the
~ hnILt The Storage separated from the berthdeck
ieobt - lead OF same materials as the others.
4 berth deck between tn beams 10
me, under the b cams
shot was slowed in three loclters about the mast
ess to them from the berth deck. One of the shot
irown against the bulkhead world have at carried
II away.