Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1843-01-05
COURT OF INQUIRY.
The Court mot as usunl. all present.
Tho minutes of yesterday was read.
FRIDAY. Dec. 30

NN 'ffN " WY a.
Commanded Mackenzie rhon PIT in u c"llaicd CO.
py oi his official rcphr', oi whi:h rhs following. "a
The substance. Tho first part is taken fum the
report Of the Tribrnr
Ga lie lIth nC November I S,;lcJ for tn. United
States via 81 Tnonns. where / Ihnushi II necessa.
~ TO take in a supply OF bread. water md o'hcr
refreshments. On Saturday, the p IA Of November
Lieut. GinSevOori rame into the cabin aud inr .rn-
ed me that he hal learned (rtm Milshipnan Wales
that n cInspirnry existed on board The sht? io cap
ture The vessel. to murder the Captain. bring over
ne many VI tho crow as possible. murder Tho resi-
and c'nvcr the vessel ints n pirate; and that Md
sh pmnn Spencer was nj the head OF the rnns ,irsrv
Thrs. Lieut.. g said. had been told To him 10y Ml,d.hip
tann Wales, whose narration was ~ follows:
On the night Of the 25rh Of November. hciwcon
g and 3 o'clock in the evening, Wales sad he was
aroused by Spencer, who asked him To go man the
hnotns. rs he lad sdmething to snIseIhing To say iu
him lie GOT up aud o. arriving nj The hnnm.: lac
was asked by Spencer. Do yuu fear dea'hi do ynl
fest a dead man. do Won fear 10 kill n mani Wales
with an admirable eoplncss induced Spencer To 90
"l. rnk the oath of secrecy, aud entered into nil
las ri ans, Spencer Told him that he had about
twenty men in his plot. that they won'd easily get
possession ni the ship. murder The comm,ndcr AMI
nlirers. md omTeuce piracy. lie gave Wales all
The details Of this r iun, which we're admirably
suited for his purpose. and arranged murh better.
Mr. Wales said. than he could have done il him.
~. ~ NJ itilii' Y 10 CWfllfk IN iAe elIet
Prise, Spencer said that a large box of wine on bnnul
"'niaEaHs a large annunt Of gold aud other treasure
Ills olgoIt was to go To The Isle ni Pines. where one
of las nsssci1ieS, who had been a pirate befirs. "a d
Il confederate; that he would attack no vessels IA i
he would moi capture. ADD destroy nil he captured
that he wenld select frrm them such females ~ " ere
proper. use them, ard then dispose Of Them, ina,
he had all the details Of The Phn drawn ouI on q
p~1per,wLiah was in The back or' his crivaf. B.0re
epara,rnr. he threatened him with death liho re-
svealed What ne tod HIN.
Such. proceeded Capt Mackenzie. wa the nlr.
port of the Information which received fmin Liepl
Gansevonri. To me the whole att, ir seemed 81
monsiruus uiai | Ir'aied u with ridIrulc. aud belle
we'd that Spencer had been amusing himself ard
Wales with snme story Of piracy he had learned
from some rnvel or tale Of murder. Sill could
not help feeling that it was sporting with a setiuus
subject. nnG that my duty required me To he urSn
nay guard. and | resolved closely 10 watch The
movements Of ) ,ienccr. 1 directed the first Lien
tenants 10 observe him very narrowly. | learned
that IA the course Of the day SJencer had been IN
the ward rpum for some Time. and had busted him
self in eIamanins a chart Of The West Indies. and
that he had made sume inquiries coucsrning the
Isle Of Pines. The Lieutenant told him Thai he
believed that il was n place much frequenied by
Pirates. and dnly asked him II he had any acqn1in.
iances therei Spencer passed the day sullenly, and
was often observed Ia be examining n paper. and
Nilin6 WIN u pfHCl'h Hu InahlHE IloSS WIN n pen
knife. Lirnt GansevOort soon after made some
excuse for following him to tho flreiop, when he
found hun engaged in working sumo love devices
on his arm. lie had iuciied the stewart To steal
brandy which he gave to the crew. and with which
lac had gri dmak once or twice himself
Capt Mackenzie thought IL due To the warlrhom
nficers 10 state The circumstances connected with
their having brandy Cn board. When the vessel
was first equipped, | told The first Lieutenant that
1t wos my desire that no liquor should be used ia
the sieesage nf the vessel, and gave ms a reasu for
tins that tho obligations Of hospitality always loI.
upon the CapInia and his HEder officers, arl 81
nccusIoh all should have their share. K,owino
that Lieut. Gin>evoou viSweG tbe m-.,er in lie
same light ! did mi interfere with tie arrangements
III the wnrIroom. BY accident asI thought but hy
desi gn, the steward nrleled brandy from iwodrC
fereni g'ncers NJ that d ,uhlr the quantity reunired
was brought on board. None of This was used by
tho mess or my others Than Spencer aud those who
enGenyOred 10 corrupi.
Spencer had the faculty or Ihrowing his under
out OF JOINT. md Of Tins playing with it a yari
ely n musIral airs. md he was frequently found
Thus amusing tho crew. In his intercourse with
mo he wns servile 10 The last degree; but among
the crew ! learned that no was loudly and blasphe.
mnusly vItuperaiive against me, and that he had
ohen nbused me ~ the most ouira scous mar ncr, a.
declared thnt IL would give him pleasure 60 roll me
overheard from he round house. ] found that he
had drawn n representation oia brig with 6ia,k
ing, aud asked members Of the crew what they
thought Of u; That he had often said The vessel
could he easily taken; that he had not long before
examined tho palms of the hands ut midshum ~
Rogers. 20 tell hs fortune. and had predicted fer
him a speedy death.
Th.ss Ihings induced me 10 lopk back o vcr all
| had heard or observed " the SOrncrs. When
young Spencer first repurird himself Ia me for duty
on board my vessel ] gave him my hand and welco.
hsn. 80. I..-N ~ "
he had been involved IN difficulty when on he
Brazil station, nnd that he had becn dismissed Ter
drunkenness nBd scandalous conduct. Upon hear
ing this earnestly desired his removal from INV
Vessel-principally on account of The Young men
] had with me; two Uf whom we're connected wfti
me by blood, two by alliance, and four were en-.
Trusted 10 my especial care. The ciwumsIance of
hi' connection with n Ugh aaj distinguished nnicer
ofiho Government. by enhancing. .. possible BIS
baseness, which increased my desire 10 get rad
Of him.
On this point, beg that I may MT be mi,undrr.
stDOd. revere auihOuty, nnI in tbts RspubItcap
country ! regard Iis exercise as az evidence Of ge.
Mus, inislligeI oe and viuue. Bm 7 haUs no r.sp,ci
for IRE base son Of an hoa0red Jrber. On he con
iraTY. the conduct uf that man who ~ lIies hv bts
crimes he pure fame aud high honpr Of boz, parent .
ssoms 10 me 10 no far more base Than one eqpaIIy
gully from an humber station. Bot I wish n1tbmg
20 d. with bassness iH my shope-the Navy Is not
the place Tor d. On this account I wished q, get
rid Of Spencer. Two others sO,n afterwards ipiped
the vessel, and thus seven were obliged 20 occupy
the space filled only Cor five. I had heard
that Spencer had expressed a willingness 10 be
transisrred 10 The Grampus, and hoped lhat he would
now consent.
lie made the application. ! urged IL; but The
declined. but consented 90 detail Md.
shipman Roge .. declined-0r RJdgers was q
gentleman and m officer. TIE S rmcrs sailed then
with ~ IN the steerage. subject 10 much inr,pvs
nicnCe. which they bDrs wuhput murmur. Mr.