American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1846-11-09
From the Philadelphia Sun.l
OF THE EXECUTION
OF SAMUEL JACK SON.
U. S. FR1GArE CUMBERLAND,
Or THE ISLAND SAN ANTONIO LIzARDo,
Near Vera Cruz, Sept. 20, 1916.

U. S. FR1GArE CUMBERLAND,
1 Or THE ISLAND SAN ANTONIO LIzARDo,
Near Vera Cruz, Sept. 20, 1916.
Gentlemen:-I sit down for the pr-aose of
2hgain penning a letter TO you. From the state
aof my feelings at present you will not find it in
such mirhful tone as my preceding one, for
nave since then been the unwilling spectator of
scene which will never be effaced from my
memory v lille life and conscience remain with
me. God grant that may never behold re-
petition ofthe like again. informed you in
nv last that Court Martial had been conven-
ed on board the U. S. sloop-of-war ST. Marys,
commanded by Capt. John l.. Saunders for the
trial of one OF the seamen composing the crew
4 under his command, named Samuel jackson,
1 charged with striking one of the Lieutenants,
i and also stated that the accused had been
found guilty by the Court, (the punishment by
the laws of the navy for striking an officer is
| death.) gave as my opinion that in all pro-
bility he would receive two or three hundred
lashes. | did not enter into particulars con-
corning the cause Of and extent of the assault.
! was, however, convinced that severe pun
shment would be inflicted on the offender, but
God knows, that not thought of his dreadful
and ntimely fate once entered my mind
Since matters have turned out so contrary to
every ones thoughts, | will state the partcu-
lars as far as can CLEAN them. | have endea-
voIed to get the TRUTH for the matter is no fit
one for Misrepresentation. | would not be
surprised f this letter would be pernsld by 9TH
err eyes previous to your receiving it, or its
leaving this ship, still stand under no fear
yet perse culion may be the effect oft. Still
no man shall ever trammel the right | possess
Of freely expressing my sentiments on subject
which think will yet undergo a strict inVes.
tgation.
The charges against the unfortunate man
were as follows:
LIST. Raising weapon against his superior
officer while in the execution of his Office.
Cd. Striking his superior officer while in the
execution of the duties of his Office.
Sd. Treating with contempt his superior
officer, being in the execution of the duties Of
Z his office.
4th. Uttering mutinous and sedtious words.
On these charges he was tried. Acquitted
on the list, and found guilty on the I'd, Sd and
4th, and sentenced by the Court to be hung at
such time and place as Commodore Conner
should direct. The occasion of the wretched
man getting involved in such crimes is enve-
loped in so much mystery by conflicting re-
ports on board our ship, that cannot with &C.
pened. Ofone thing, however, feel convnc-
ed, no man in his sane mind, without laboring
under great excitement, caused by foul provo
cation, could so Ear set at defiance, the strict
laws Of the navy, in regard to assaultng an
officer. The laws are read too often to allow
the prescribed punishment to slip from his
memory. And say the cause was, and must
nave been most provoking to have made Jack
son act as he did. Some of the accounts state
that Lieutenant Taylor (the officer assaulted
prosecuted him in every way imaginable, anC
that he called him by every opprobrious cpl
thet, sc. Of one thing am credlbly inform
ed, this same Lieutenant had procured him 6
Jogging a short time previous, and for some
triAing offence. At the moment previous tC
the assault being committed, he had placed hi
name on the report, and declared his intention
Of having the operation repeated. Jackson
struck hm-was arrested, tried, condemned al
have told you, and has been hung!
The Commodore approved OF the sentence o
the Court Martial, and directed in genera
order, that the said Samuel Jackson, (seaman
should be hung on board of, and at the tor'
yard arm, of the U. S, sloop ST. Mary's, OF
the 18th day of September, between the hour
=. of 10, a. m. and meridian. THIS sentence wa
Tread TO the poor fellow on Sunday, the 1911
inst, and 20 US on the 18th, and also to tn
crews of every vessel present, belonging to tn
squadron. ! he orders accompanying the sen
tence issued by the Commodore were, "Tha
no work should be done on that day, no boat
leave the ships without his particular order t
mat effect, and that the crews of each an
every vessel should be mustered on deck whel