Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1853-03-22
u. s. Commissioners Court
John It. Francis. Esq, Comm ssion2r.
Nm .L,nI.Ia II o..

| John II. Francis. Esq, Comm iSioncr.
| VIM. Hinckle, captain OF the schr. Rachel p.
Brown, examined Tuesday, before J. IT.
| Francis, Esq, u. S. Commissioner, upon the
charge Of being concerned in the slave trade, on
the coast of Africa From the evidence of VIM.
RILEY, mate of The schooner, we get The follow
| ing particulars He shipped i'll New York. on the
18th Of December asst, for voyage 10 the West
coast OF Africa. In due season he went on
board, where he found most of the cargo n lrendy
slowed, and ship keeper and stevedoIe recciv-
| ing and slowing the balance. When Tbs cargo
was all on board the Schooner was dropped down
of the Battery, he being then in charge. Here,
and while the captain was ashore, five passengers
Gene on board, Spaniards, | Pc tuguese, and a
negro who acted in The capacity of servant. The
captain, however, soon came on board, and they
proceercd to sea. SooE after getting out he dis
covered the captain and pas engerS in frequent
conversation in the Spanish language, which he
did not understand; he also discovered that they
ezcercsed considerable influence over the captain;
giving him directions about working the vessel,
&C., this he was enabled to understand by their
gesture and movements, and one of the men who
| could und. rstand the language heard one of the
passengers cauiioning the Others about speaking in
presence oil the crew. This, with otLer move
ments, aroused his suspicious that all right;
| and that the vessel was bound on an unlawful
voyage. One of tie passengers, he was told by
| the negeo, was an old sea captain. He (the mattel
was never consulted about the working of the
vessel, as had been doue while serving as male on
board CT other veSselS and, altogether he thought
ceedingly suspicious. $500.
From the evidence of Lieut. Sinclair, and Mid
shipmen Harrison, we get the following additional
items: On the goth of January while Lieut Sim
clair and Captain Nicholas were walking the pooh
ofthe Germantown, then al anchor in Port Praya
the schooner r. p. Brown hove in sight; after
star ding in for The harbor, she kept off and run
out again.. This manoeuvre exc ted The suspicion
oil Capt. N. lie soon, however, hauled her wind,
came into The harbor and anchored She then
being III Portuguese port was under their au-
thority, and, OF course, they (the American Off
cess could do nothing. The authorities on shore
not liking the appearance of the schooner, COM
muncated their suspicious to Capt. Nichosas,
with the inquest that they would examine into the.
matter. Accordingly, commission was sent on
boatd, consisting of officers Of the United States
Navy: In the course of their examination they
found large quantity of rice, and other provisions
panks and scantng sufficient TO make slave
deck; bricks aud lime sufficient for furnace
(suchaS are generally used by slavers) t"o gal.
leys; large quantity of powder, fire arms 4 c.;
rum, empty denohns, buckets, &C., portion of
an American Naval officers uniform; bunting suE-
fcient and suitable for u Spanish flag; laige
mount OF money, and the papers of the vessel;
From the register of the vessel it appeared thai
she had been MORTGAGE 10 one Don Jose Percenas,
or Perez, who ployedto be one of the passengers,
and consigcee OF part of the cargo; his name was
found in letters and other papers directed both
ways Another OF thd passengers was Havana
plot, and several OF them proved to be nautical
men, and were supplied with instruments. On
chart found in the trunk oil one Of them, a cours.
from the coast of Africa TO Havana was accurately
maeked out. fr. $685.
The schooner was supplied with two suits Of
sails, one OF Which was unusually light and very
large. Lieut.. Sinclair is of opinion that it was
their intention, hal they succeeded in getting
cargo OF slaves on board, and been overlaued by
a vessel Of warof any other nation, one of them
would put on the American uniform and pass him
sell Oil as an American officer in charge of prize:
and il spoken by an American, would have shown
The Spanish flag. Mdshipmen Harrison had been
on board SLAYER, and testified that this vessel as
fitted out in every respect similar 10 her.
The money, papers, and everything of value,
were taken charge OF by the Portuguese authori
ties md placed under seal in the custom house.
States. o'ee
The captain was sent back 10 jail in default Of
6aIl Tor 600 for his appearance before the u.
.. District Court The mate and seamen are de-
tanned il, prison as witnesses in the case Tnze-
welITaylor, Esq. for the accused; Wrn. T. oynes
Esq U. 8. District Attorney for the United
"A sToRy OF ANctssT TiMEs.- Brantome, res