The New York herald., 1851-11-29
The Case OF Mr.. Thrasher-In terest ting
AccO INIT Of his Trfal-Ths Charges against

the Case OF Mr.. Thr..nsr-Intere.t,ng
AccO ant OF his Tr1al-Ths Charges against
[From the Boston Times, Nov 2eJ
TIE i90wnS S an extract act Of letter received
dated Punta Fortress, Nov. IL, 1851"
DEAR SIK-I do not doubt you win feel somewhat
alarmed about me, when you read the exagger .ted
stories in regard to me- which are being published
in the American papers, and therefore embrace
an early opportunity to drop you few lines ~ rs
ofoourse true that am in prison and in dungeon,
and that the dungeon is rather tamp-o1t the
weather is warm, and this does not in any degree
affect my health. Four days since, permission was
given me to sec my friends, and that might nave
books paper, and writing materials, OF wnion plea
ssnt companions was deprived for eighteen Gays;
Ts. day they had me up in court, for sentence, but
either because protested against the proceedings,
which did strongly, because they could not eni
sufficient ground to oonvo. ;ts me on was reman0ea
do not think shall be sentenced to the galleys
for ife or to prison, for there is not ground
enough to convict in any way, and the worst that
island. The crime they accuse me Of is treason
But then comes the necessity Of proving it, which
they have not been able to do in the slightest man
ner; and next the proving that am amensole to
such . charge. Thus you will see that have q
we'll grounded conviction that they can do nothing
more than send me out of the country, which
believe they determined to do. In this case it
isnot improbable that shall have the pleasure of
seeing you some time this winter Frank was two
days in confinement, but they could not find a
shadow on which to ground q charge against him
he was only guilty Of being my brother-so they
let him out. ! take all this business with the
greatest philosophy, and laugh at the whole affair;
and in seme parts OF it, assure you, it is ridiculous
enough.--A,gus.
letter from Havana, dated the 14th, giving an
account of the trial. as it is called, Of Mr. Thrashsr
There were three charges against him. First, that
he had received certain letters, in cypher, from New
nvla huo oka nrnia md hat Qnpna
friend sent leaf of bread, wrapped in piece o
the Spanish paper of the day, with the arrival o.
the United States ship Cyane:, This he never re-
ceived Third, that, while in his prison, his mother
sent him some cakes, wrapped up in an American
paper, (sn old one,) which contained some account
Of Lopezs expedition, and several declarations from
his brother, who was also imprisoned, and his ia
ther and Others. respecting the paper-,which, b
the way, he never saw, as he was allowed nothing
These made up the espe7iente or the full charge,
that the Queens lawyer could bring against him:
and on this he formed his cause, and pronounced
him guilty Of treason, and asked that he might be
sent to tine miues for eight years.
This being done, public notice was given, in the
government paper Of the llth, that on the following
day the trial would take place, as follows =" To-
morrow will be celebrated, at a public court mar
tial Of the military commission, to see and judge
the cause of John 8. Thrasher. charged with the
crime of treason, which act will take place at the
room of the first commander of the regiment of
Barcelona, at the barracks called Feinza" This
is a literal translation.
On tne lZtD, ~ . O'CLOCK. the OOurt 8s3omDleu,
consisting of the President, Brigadier General Var
gas, and six military officers. The Queens lawyer
Fiscal, was called upon to read the autors, which
was the evidence in the case against Thrasher.
After the reading was through, the defensor was
called, wko is captain in the army, and used a
defence which would cover about two-thirds of a
side Of foolscap paper, which was lame affair
The amount Of il was, that he did not think the
evidence against the prisoner was sufficient to send
him to the mines, there was no positive proof OF
his having committed the act he was accused Of !;
and asked that his sentence might be oommuted to
his being banshed from the island. This being
done, the President ordered the prisoner to be
brought in, and he was brought, under charge Of
ten soldiers, and placed at the bar. He was per
fecty ceol and collected, and bowed politely to the
Court, which seemed to annoy the President and
members.
He was asked by the President what he had to
say; he answered, speaking in manly voice, that
he had been kept in close confinement until within
three days, and then only allowed two hours out Of
the twenty four to 6rd out for what he was to bs
tried. The President announced, in q severe tene.
that one hour was an age in court of this kind
He replied, then the government had twenty-five
ages to his two, Sc Many other questions were
asked, and were promptly answered; he was then
asked IL he had ythng else to offer, and he
swered, "yes, | have the same protest to maks
which sent to you yesterday, and you refused to
receive it." "Well," said the President, "read
it now"-and Thrasher read q powerful paper, pro
testing that he was not allowed counsel to examine
the 'GStors. that he was ignorant of what b !,
was accused, and that no time had been allowed
him to procure witnesses He referred to the treaty
between the countries, quoting part Of the 7th Sec
tion.
The President constantly checked him every time
be said treaty, the United States, citizen, g..
The paper was handed in and attached to the au-
tors. The President then asked In gruf veice
Shave you anything more to offerl' No, only
protest against the whole proceedings" "Taks
away the prsoner"-and the file of ten soldiers
marched him away. The prisoner then asked the
defersor II he had anything more to ofer,-he said
no. He then ordered the court to be cleared, to
conclude upon the sentence.
The prisoner was rem snded to the dungeon, from
which he had been taken. This was the publ ;
trial. Thrasher was allowed no lawyer, no wit
nesses, and no defence. His sentence, Is as the
Fiscal requested, eight years hard labor at the
quicksilver mines.
We are now waiting with anxious suspense, trust
ing that the good sense and humani Of the Cap
tain General will not allow him to approve of this
sentence. Thrasher Is still in the dungeon, an
allowed from IL to ?, to see through the iro bars
for those who with TO call on him. He has no
idea that the sentence will be carried into execu-
tion-but he thinks he shall be banished from the
Island.
Trial and Conviction OF Edward CHM for
the Murder OF Henry Prftchard.
The court Of Cecil county. Maryland, on the
2lth, took up the trial Of Edward CHM, for tAe
murder Of Henry Pritchard, which resulted in
conviction. The following facts were elected on