Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1843-01-18
NAVAL COURT OF INQUIRY.
R,psrfeS for rae Nsr NOvk ErPress.
IS. Sur NoErH CARottsA.
... t.ua.rx 10 1913

ss n the cruise an the rt cinss OF boys NV "'s
part ofthe afterwards andsman. am 10 years
as.: was ashore the when went TO Monfa'a
wac in IN. when the captain asked spencer why ne
had mn, M. uniform o. the pennan he said IN me pre-
..nce Of the men, the captain gentleman and VIII tel
him so b. Cd hs docs not treat me Ike one nave had
no conversation with Spencer at any other ume was IN
che l.ro.rd which: have Spencer and Cromwell talk
ing together o,en Spencer and Small but did not over
hear them: the three talking together About
nine day. before the arrests Small the msinop,
n. seemed changed; asked him IL "he thinking Of the
negro he had killed" lie said "yes, damn ihem and will
hill more- Small said he had killed negro on the coast OF
Africa; the negro struck him with hand spike and then
Small stabbed him with knife. The first part OF the time
Cromwell severe-afterwards he was better After the
,,,,s the men were dissatisfied ul the Commander ad
dressed them then they satisfied They showed their
dissatisfaction BY gathering in groups and wondering "ha'
the matter was know nothing OF the plot n spencer
was arrested When the three prisoners were m irons
thought attempt them and take inc Ncsso "oua
he made believe they had accompees. did not think
they would engage in IL without aecompiccs. The men
did not act right They did do their duty They were
not ubedienL
Judge AdyocAte-From what you did you or did you
then you believe thSt the vessel could
be brought safely into port the prisoners had not been en-
scutedl
Witt did and de think she could have
been brought in safely
Commander M.-whcrc you at the time OF exeeu-
ton
Witt was in the st.rboard gangway. Small said sit
for killing robbery that am hung. but for
SAYING would"
John s. whetmore-I was in the frs class of boys and
rated a andsman board of the Somers am Is years
old. I good friends with Small and had no con-
versaton with him board the Somers, with Mr..
Spencer. talked with Cromwell on the sui ~
uutiny. Isle of Pines have heard Mr.. Spencer and
Cromwell talk together often. heard Mr.. Spencer
number Of times Cromwell that he meant TO he
nAndeT Of vssse before great while heard Mr. Spon.
ask Cromwell III he'd like with him. Cromwell
said he should. dom, know where he to get the
sci. thought he was wealthy man by his talk.
heard Mr.. Spencer tell Cromwell day when We were IN
sight OF brig America f had the long boat full ut
should like GO and take the Brig" Cromwell said he
thought he could take her IT he had the boat manned with
eight was first ordered to stand by Cromwell then
by Mr.. Spencer.
heard Cromwell say that he was innocent. think
Small said 20 too-but will not be Cromwell
pretty when he first out-afterw changed
and playful After the the always
ogether-noi very willing to start and obey. heard
conversation about letting loose those
Judge AdvocHte-After these persons confined,
did you thing attempt would be made take the vessel
Witness-I did not think
Presidential attempt had been made, do think il
would have succeeded
witness-T think it would have been in time OF a squs
when all hands busy. don't know but the vessel
might have been brought home without executing the phi
But should have been afeared to come in her.
John Dunsbombe-I was board the Somers in her
last cruise. am Is. Twas in the first class Of boys.
had no conversation with Mr. Spencer before his
had conversation with Small three days from Mesura
do. He talking about his killing n negro He sail
that "a darkey struck him with handspke and broke his
shouldos." few days after Small struck him with
"tail-bock and killed him." Two three days before
Spencers Small the sick list. have
Spencer Cromwell and Small sitting together the whole
day watch the fore scuttle in very low conversation
could not overhear.
the night the topgallantmast carried away, Small
Wilson, Mckinley, Green, and Cromwell too, were aoii
astradde the cap the wheel Spencer kept eve.
ing them. They appeared to be doing daiy only
talking. Before the execution quick in doing
duty, Others Before Wilson, Green and Mckinley
confined they always talking together | did
believe, and do believe, that attempt would have
been made the prisoners had they
ecuted, from the suenness OF the crew. and gathering to-
gether in low conversation.
From what witnessed board of the vessel at the time
think the vessel could not have been safely brought into
port otherwise; / was alarmed myself.
Com. Mackenzie-Dd you see Cromwell when he At
tempted Warmers life
Warner throwing up wood, and grazed Comwell's
loot with a stick Cromwell threw stick which missed:
he took up another stick and would have beat brains
CUT If Dickeron hadn't prevented it. Spencer hand
Small glass of brandy night.
John holland then sWorn-I in the first class of
apprentices board Of the Somers, her last cruise
sixteen years of age have had conversations re.
laing To the muiiny, with Spencer, Cromwell Small
the arbOard side OF the fOrecase the of
execution and overheard nothing that said. ! have
Spencer and Cromwell talk together Spencer and
Small, before the arrest; sometimes in a low tone;
times not Cromwells treatment Of the boys first
very After left Madeira, he did not punish
them much After the arrest never thought whether
there would be attempt
don't think the vessel would have brought safely home
II the executions had taken place Why SIR coming
the coast when IL cold the boys would hardly keep
their feet and thought the prisoners might vet get loose
George TaylOr-I was board the Somers in her LAST
cruise second class apprentice and Ia year, old to-day.
have had conversation, excepting duty with Spcn.
GER Cromwell or Small. have Spencer and Crom.
well talking together often, in low tone; il any went
near them, they would stop. have Spencer and
Small talking together, but the three. the lar.
board gangway the time OF the execution believe
lgard Mr. 81.
he died innocent don't know that thought attempt
would be made to rescue the prisoners but did think
the vessel was safe I'LL they executed
Judge Adyocae-Why9
Witness-Because did not know how many were in the
plot; and in squa when the Offices OIL their stations
they might The starboard watch got careless and in
attentive. After the arrests Ciodeman and Sullivan talk.
ed good deal together About this stepped by mis-
take McKee, and he said he hoped the day not lar
of when he could have satisfaction Of do think
the vessel could have been brought safe, without the
executions. recoeet day Small said he had got mad
with negro day and killed him, on board spanish
SLAYER TO which he belonged and where he had fifteen
under him.
Henry suemue was then sworn-I was first class ap.
prentice board the SOmers am fifteen years old On
being asked by the Judge Advocate what would be con-
sequence he did not answer truly, he said he should be
punished by the laws Of and God have heard Mr.
Spencer, before his arrest talk with Small about SLAYER
did not hear what said have heard Spencer and
Cromwell talk in low tone two or three times spu half
hour at time. have Spencer give Small a pine
and cigars Before the arrests, the slack after
mon whether not the would the prisoners
When the maniop gaantnast was carried away a great
many more went aOit than ordinary. They didn't do much
any thing was not frightened after the arrests did
not think there much danger Mr.. Spencer and
Mr. Wales on the boom night think the night before
the 'rrost Mr. Spencer called Small him. don't think
the vessel could have been brought in safety the prisoners
had not been executed. think they would have rescued
ths prisoners think Wilson would have done IL. he was
very intimate with Small. heard Small say he had killed
Rnegro.
Thomas Harris then sworn-I was in the somers in
her LAST cruise fsicass apprentice and am l6 years DID,
have Spencer aud Small talking together in a low
tone have seen Spencer and Small talking together bat
not the three. think the brig would have been taken by
the men II the prisoners were not executed
Judge Advocste-Why7
Wines think the would have made rush ON
INC otheers never heard that they going TO- We
called Cromwell "Sam :" did hear the men call hIin
any other name
Ward W. Gazely was then sworn-I am 10 the frst elias.
OF apprentices and am II years old hive had no con-
yersahon except on duty with Mr. Spencer or Cromwell
was very intimate with Small Small said no was lef ON