The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-06-06
M is CELLAN NE o u S.
From the Boston Morning Post
CASE OF THE SPITFIRE.
UNITED STATES CIRCUIT couRr--BosroS, JUNE ..


UNITED STATES CIRCUIT couRr-BosroS JUNE q
Charge Of Intending to engage in the slape trade.
| Captain Peter Flowery, of the Spit6re, was this
morning put trial for his alleged guilty knowledge
of the object of the schooner's last voyage to Africa
| from New Orleans. ,.as..
/ The court is held by his honor Judge Sprague
Counsel for the United States, Robert Rantoul,
district attorneys for the prisoner, Col Rogers and
| Jurors-Nahum Hardy, foreman, Sylvester Bar
nard, Calvin Cannon, Elijah Cross, Aaron Hale,
Caleb Hobart, Ephraim Jones' John Lane, Briggs
Mann, Elijah Shaw, Oliver II. Spur, and Paul
| Wild
The Indictment charges that Peter Flowery, on
the 10Th April, l64l, master for some other per-
son, yet unknown, caused the Sptfre to sail from
New Orleans, with the intent to employ her in the
trade and business of procuring negroes and persons
of color from Africa, to be transported to Cuba to
be disposed of slaves the said vessel being fitted
equipped, loaded and prepared for the trade; ID
That certain person, commonly known by the
name of Don Juan Martinez as owner, fitted out the
Spitfre, and that Fowery aided and abeted the said
Don Juan in fitting out the Sptfre for the slave
trade.
| The Indictment is framed upon sections and of
the act Of Congress, April 90, 1918, the first de-
claring the vessel and all her tackle &C., forfeit and
the second imposing fine not exceeding IS, 900, and
Imprisonment not exceeding seven years, nor less
than three, upon the filter out, &c. or the alder or
abettor. 4li
In opening the case for prosecution, Mr.. Rantoul
gave history Of the Spitfre, originally known as
the "Caballero," as stated in the Post fortnight
ago. He also described the barracoons of Peter
taber, one of the consignees of the vessel in the
Pongo river. After making successful voyage to
Cuba, the name of Caballero was changed to Spit
fire, and under that name she brought by
Flowery from Havana to New Orleans, via Key
West Among Flowery's papers, after seizure,
were found a bill of sale Of the Spitfre TO Flowery
f.,rA and ala fa. a.
signed on the same day, in the name Of Flowery,
payable to one Corsa, tending to show that the sale
was a sham. Then the said Corsa chartered the
vessel for $1,000 for one year, and put in some
cargo, and she sailed for Havana. At Havana,
Corsa and Fowery engaged one Antonio as one of
the crew, at $40 month if the return cargo should
be negroes, and $50 month f not She ultimately
cleared for the Cape de Verbs, bat did not touch
there The cargo consigned to two save-dea-
ers-Faber, and colored woman named Lceburn
There was evidence that Corsa, in character of cap
tain, also engaged slaves. Mr.. Rantoul also de.
scrbed particularly the build, rig, and appurenance
of the vessel, peculiarly adapted TO the slave
trade Besides extra sails, she had twelve sweeps
with movable chawks.
Thomas Turner was the first witness called
came home in the Sptfre--frst saw her in Balti-
more in lS43, as the Caballero Mr.. Rantoul here
put in the register of the G., obtained from the
tom house at Baltimore, Morgan S. Gordon sole
owner. From Baltimore sailed in the c. to New
York-thence to the Cape de Verdes and the of
Africa. There is no difference between a cargo
for slaves and for any other American commodities
Went up Ponga river-took in 346 slaves at Faber's
factory-came off in large canoes--aowed pint of
rice day, and a pint OF water, besides the water
in which the rice was boiled Col Rogers OBJ
lected to these details of the former voyage. Fa-
Der did deal in other products than negrecs-ne-
groes constituted about twothrds of his business.
We carried the slaves to Cuba, 20 miles windward
OF Matanzas. Name ofC scratched off in Pongo
river-C. then painted Prussian bue--she is now
very light painted. She draws too much water for
the regular trade. After leaving the c. at Cuba,
saw her next again in February last, in the Pongo
river, as the Spitfre. had arrived out in the Man
chester. | lodged the complaint against the Spit
fire on board of the Truxton, United States brig. In
1S43 the c. sold to Peter Faber at the factory,
for $4,000, payable in Havana. | am certain
that the Spitfre is the same vessel
Cross examined. -Nothing understood about GO
ing on a shaving voyage when sailed in the Caba-
lero, under Captain Gordon. | was to have $50
per month"; but only SIS were stated in the shipping
articles. was to be carpenter, and to do seaman's
duty also. Went out again as mate in the Man
chester, with Captain Gordon, who died nj Faber's
factory. Witness was examined to the particu-
lars of the wreck of the Manchester at Cape Mount
was robbed by the natives Of clothing and all other
moveables. After the wreck, Faber wouldn't pay
the wages due. Therefore witness went on board
the Truxton, and applied to Captain Bruce for as
sisionce, and also informed him of the character of
the Spitfre.
1.-THE object for which this witness was intro
duced was TO show that Captain Flowery ought to
have known that the Spitfre from her shape and
appointments, was professional SLAYER, and moth
ing else
Robert s. Smh-Was repeatedly at Faber's fac
tory in February last; belonged to the crew Of the
Manchester saw the Spanish captain, a passenger
of the Spitfre, and the French supercargo The
Spanish man traded with Faber for slaves; the
French supercargo made minutes Of what was said
they spoke English. The Spaniard inquired Of Fa-
Der the quantity ofrce which would be required for
$50 slaves. Faber answered, Half pint a little
upward apiece day Faber said he would furnish
as much water to the Spitfre in proportion, as he
had furnished for the Hero-a vessel which had
been captured with slaves on board Faber sailed
from Boston in the Manchester last year, after she
had been searched by the cusom-house officer here.
Faber told the Spanard that he must 90 to the Uni
ted States to save his neck from the rope on account
of vessel which he owned
Gilman G. Parker and William Dawson, who saw
the Sptfre at Faber's factory were examined, but
disclosed nothing in relation the personal move
ments of Flowery, and their testimony was objected
to generally as being wholly irrelevant the issue
presented under the Indictment; but it was admitted
upon the ground that it might have tendency to
show knowledge on. the part Of Fowery. Ad-
journed.
Capt. Fo,cerys Case-Second Day Samuel Will
Flowery told me that he had the bulwarks of the
Sptfre painted red in part, but did tell where it
was done,
Cross-examincd-I belonged to the Truxton, but
was not with the expedition which captured the
Spitfre He said he had some diamonds painted on
the bulwarks inside. Capt Flowery was no fur
ther under restraint the passage home, than that
there was general order that he should not 90 for
ward of the manmast. The Spitfres crew worked
her home. Inside the taffere the word "Caballeron
had been painted over with red. ! discovered this
the day before was summoned TO court, by scra-
ping off the paint. Cabalero was painted in black,
ON blue ground, which had been the general color
of the vessel.
Mr.. Rsntoul here put in various papers, &C., be-
longing to the Spitfre, and seized on board
l. The shipping articles Of the Sptfre, from Ha-
vana TO Key West, thence to New Orleans, and
thence back TO Havana, dated Sept 81, 1874, Capt
Flowery master The creu, Ill