Washington sentinel., 1854-05-06
The Case of the Captured SlayeRin Boston.
From tue Boston Mall May 2.

Charles Kehman, the captain of the supposed
SLAYER Glamorgan, was examined yesterday be-
! fore United States Commissioner Mewrin. III.
l.. Huller, esq, appeared for the prosecution,
and j. II. Prince, esq.,, for the defendant. But
one witness was called-Lieut. John Downes, jr.,
ofthe United States brig Perry. His testimony
was to the effect that on the afternoon Of the
9th of March last, while cruising on the coast
Of Africa, brig was seen nine miles to wind
ward, bearing for the port of Ambriz, the des-
tinaton of the Perry. The latter fired gun
and showed English colors, which the former
answered with American. As the strange brig
outsailed the Perry on free wind, she was lost
sight of during the night, but was again discov-
cred on the morning of the 10th. Two guns
were fred for the sail to lay to, which were un-
needed
1t being calm on the morning of the 10th,
the quarter boat was lowered, manned, and
armed, and, under the command of Lieutenant
Downes, succeeded in boarding the Glamorgan
about nine o'clock, Captain Kehman assisting
Lieutenant Downes up the side of the vessel
kehman gave up the ships papers, and told
Lieutenant Downes there was no necessity of
examining the hold. He said that the vessel
was caught" that there was deck prepared
to take cargo, but did not state what that
cargo was to be, although he afterwards talked
about taking passengers.
There were about twenty men Oh board, of
which two were slaves, shipped, as Kehman
| stated, by the Portuguese at Congo river for
the use of the supercargo. Kehman told the
lieutenant, on boarding, to take possession Of
the ship, if he was a United States officer. In
! answer to the officers questions, he stated he
was bound for Ambriz, twenty days out from
| Congo river, where he had discharged his car.
| go. In answer to the question why he had
| been SO long at sea, the distance from Congo
river to Ambriz being. between four and five
hundred miles, he said he was waiting for his
cargo to be prepared.
kehman moreover stated to Lieut. Downes,
| that when he had discharged the cargo with
which he came out from New York, at Congo
| river, the Portuguese at that place put on board
water-casks, farina, &C., a cargo which he told
them was unlawful, and expressed his determi-
nation to give up the ship, if he fell in with
American cruisers that he ordered his men
to have nothing to do with the proceedings of
the Portuguese and when strange men, put on
| board ut Congo, commenced laying slave
deck (the lieutenant was not positive that Keh-
man used the word slave he wished to give
up the command to the Portuguese supercargo,
but was persuaded not to do so by the assu-
idHtc tHal iHe alneTlcaH ITlgdle lOnStltutlOn
had gone northward, and the brig Perry had
gone home.
Lieutenant Downes described the condition
of the Glamorgan when he boarded her. The
hold was filled with watercasks, farina, square
bricks, lime, dried fish, and rice, over which
was laid false deck of rough boards, unnailed,
with space between the two decks of from three
feet to three feet four inches.
Although Kehman had spoken Of taken pas
sengers, he never alluded to them in connexion
with this slaVe-deck.
No important facts were elected by the cross
examination, and the accused was committed
to take his trial at the next term Of the United
States circuit court which sits on May Is.
Lieutenant Downes and G. +. Thomas an at
tache Of the brig Perry, were required to furnish
bonds for their appearance as witnesses.
John Mccormick, the mate of the Glamor-
gan, the two Portuguese, and John Randall,
the cook, a colored man, were then examined
on the charge of being voluntarily on board
this vessel she being engaged in the slave
trade. The testimony was similar to that ad-
duced in the case of the captain and in default
OF bail in the sum Of $4,000 each, they were
committed TO await their trial. Randall said
that he could obtain the requisite bail in New
York.
The evidence that these persons were about
TO engage in the save-trade is derived from the
fact that the Glamorgan had discharged her
cargo at Congo river, and was on her way to
Ambriz with slave-deck already laid, and
having on board an extraordinary quantity of
water, farina, wooden spoons, and other articles
OF the same nature. The supercargo and others
on board at the time Of the capture are now on
the Perry,