Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1845-05-29


as guilty, and Mr. Dicknson's late mid
sh'pman Of the Gaspee, and on board al
me time she was destroyed, very parlicu.
'ar'y described others. The justices
were ihen inlormed that The same witness
was now present., ind might be by them
TO- e'eshm'ned. Soon afterwards, at the
request Of tho Judges, We also delivered
them o'her deposliions. which had been
lad before W by the Governor, and
which tended to discredit the testimony
OF said Aaron. The day following, we
received their report IN the words follow
ing
"The honorable the commissioner
appointed by royal commission, for ex
aiming into the attacking aud destroy
ing his Majes,y's armed schooner the
Gaspee, commanded by Lieut., nani Dud-
dngsion, and woundng the said Lieu
tenant, having laid before ~, justices OF
the Superior Couh of JudIca:ure, Cou,
of Assze, Sc, within and Throughout
the Colony Of Rhode Island, two ex-
aminnIions of Aaron Briggs, tao exami.
nations of Patrick E'r's, the examination
Of Peter May, the examination Of VIII.
liam Dickinson, the deposI,ions OF Sam
url Tompkins, Samuel, Thurs.on, and OF
Somerset and Jack, indcnted servants,
Tor our advertisement thereon
II appeareth unto us from duo con.
sideration had thercupon, that M pailicu
Of as being concerned IN that alrocious
crime, except in the examination of Aa-
ron Briggs, a negro, and of Peter May,
one of the Gaspee's people. The con
fession Of The said Aaron upon his first
examination was made in consequences
ol illegal threats from Capt. Lindsey Of
hanging him (lhe said Aaron at the
yard arm il he would not discover who
the persons were that destroyed the Gas
pee and besides, most Of the circum-
stances aud facts related in both of his
examinations are contradictions rephg-
nant to each other, and many of them
impossible 10 their nature. Ii is evident
from The deposiiions Of Tompkins,
Thurston, and Aaron's two fellow SER
wants, that he was ni home the whole of
that night on which the Gaspee was at
tackled especially as there was no boa,
on that part Of The island in which he
could possibly pass the bay in the man
ner by him described In short, anolh-
er circumstance which renders the said
Aaron's testimony extremely suspicious,
is Capt Lindse,'s absolutely refusing to
deliver him up to be examined by one
of,he Justices of the said Superior Court
when legally demanded.
Peter May, in his deposition, men
lions one person only, by the name Of
Greene, whom ne says, he saw before on
hoard the Gaspee but the family of
Greene being veIy numerous in this
COLONY, and the said Peter not giving
the Christian name or describing him
in such a manner as he could be found
out, it is impossible for us to know al
present the person referred to. Upon
the whole, we are all OF opinion that the
several matters aud things contained in
said dispositions do mol induce n pioba-
BILE suspicion, that persons mentioned
therein, or either or any of them, are
guilty OF the crime aforesaid. 1t is,
however, the fixed determination of the
Superior Coutl To exert every legal ef
for, in detecting and bringing to con
dign punishment the persons concerned
in destroy ing the schooner Gaspce.
And If the honorable commissioners
are of dlifnenl sentiment we should be
glad to receive their opinion for our bet
ter information"
To the latter part Of which we an.
swered "Ihat by our instructions we were
commanded TO lay before the civil mag
strates all such information as we should
receive, and rs il was their proper Office
TO act ,lcrcupon, in such manner as they
conceive mos, likely 10 answer tho end.
Of public justice, we declined giving any
sentiment or opinion IN the matter"
Touching the drpositlons Of Aaron ,lh'
negro, We humhl y conceive ii our duty |
To declare to your Majesty, that the con
due, Of Capt. Lindsey tended too strong
y 10 cXtorl from weak or wicked mind
declarations not strictly true that some
parts Of said dcpnsltlon5 faI>I(y others i;
that allowing the account he gave Of the .
time he len The Island called Prudence,
the place Of his residence, on the night |
The Gaspee was burnt, and his return
IhIthcr, to be true, or even near the
ruth, must render his being at the taking
and destroy ing her, totally impossible,
he distance being So great between
Nnmquit Point and said Island. In ad.
Jition to all which, there is full aud salts.
ractory evidence to prove him the whole
,f that night, to have been at home, and
he request which he deposed was made
Iim, 10 carry n person off suid Island
hat night, and which he dclcared was
he occasion of his going from home,
:roved on the examination of the very !
person, Ia he an absolute ialsehood
md therefore we are most humbly of ,
opinion, no creoIt Is due 10 said Aaron's |
esiimony. 4
May it please your Majesty, the civil
magistrates being entrusted with the /
power Of experimenting aud committing,
md having determined against both, 4
ipon The evidence before them, and there
,eing no probability oI our procuring any
urther light on the subject determines
,ur inquiry. /
All which is most humbly submitted to
,onr Majesty's 70, wisdom. I