The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-02-23
The Alleged Slave Tranic In 1864.
Us. COMMISSIONERS COURT.
Before George w. Morton.

u -. COhAI51iONERS COURT.
Before George w. Morton, Esq.
FEB. 22.-7he United States against L. Kraft alias
Joseph Faets-Decssion.- prisoner is charged with
having fitted out the schooner Advance to be engaged
in the slave trade, and examination ia instituted for
he purpose Of determining whether he shall be COM
mitted for trial
The charge originated with BY the name ofRay-
moDs Knowles and depends mainly on his evidence for
Knowles is twenty three years Of age, and was
cooper to the ship, the Germantown being one Of che
squadron under the command Of Capt LAvaiste, the
coast Of Africa for the suppression Of the slave raie.
During October, 1852 the sch, oner Advance, COM
manded by Capt Kraft at anchor in Porto Prays,
mandipg Officer Of the squadron BY driving from her
moorings and going ashore She was got OF and re-
Of the Germantown and during which the personal
knowledge Of Capt Kraft the master, relied upon for
identifying the prisoner as that individual is derived
Captain IAvalete that suspicious cargo had been phi
vatsiy landed from the Advance; and she was subss-
Va, for having been engaged In the slave trade.
Knowles appears TO have seen the person known -
Captain Kraft on board the Advance At Porto Prsyo
several times bat spoke 10 him any occasion.
After his return to New York, while at work on tia brig
81 On
place, and thought he looked Like man he had seen
somewhere, and approaching close, thought the pri
psrticuisr, and similar to that which he recalled
as noticeable in Kraft when seeing him board the
The Balaer was built for fas. sailing and adapted for
the slave trade and having seen the prisoner severa
times after this, and on board vessel in the North
the information which led to the arrest Of the prisoner
a Captain Kraft Of the Advance.
for days about the Balaer building at Greenpon
and discharged as be says because the finishing Of
the brig had been let out to Jumpers.
Lieutenant Rogers, of the Germantown, was On board
the Advance for or three hours rendering the assist
required BY her disaster and saw the captain but
Kraft he vas called, speaking hardly any English
The witness had not Kraft since that time his at
note from the Ds ttorasy and had .onverssd with
nation Is to Krat Under these circumstances Isute
nsnt Rogers, on being asked whether he could rscog.
that that is Captain XII aft" indicating, ut the
time, the seat occupied by the prisoner.
after having afforded to the Advance the important
sssnce which relieved that vessel from her perous
don ashore received visit from Captain Kraft, who
came ON board the Germantown to express his acknow
Judgments, &c He conversed With him In French, and
held somewhat prolonged interview vith him capt
took the Of making extended inqur 90 as to the
winds, currents ,horages and other matters mpor
tant to the coast and which Kraft responded
to fully and freely in the cabin Of the and
in close proximity with CAPITA Lavale,te.
Afterwards the Advas CO fell under suspicion aud O
commits SION OF officers appointed by Captain Lavalette
and the authorities shore made about
and examination OF the vessel, which brought captain
Kraft more fully under notice. resulted in sending
the Advance to the United States for trial.
Captain Lavalette now in substance says that souae
resemblance be said to exist between Kr Ait and tho
but that would not be recalled unless arst led
by some circumstances Of suspicion or infsrenal
man had been placed among twenty tbrty others In
the room, and was asked IL any Of them bore q
semblance to the captain Of the Advance would say
this gentleman did, that when In close proximity 70
Kraft he appeared paler thinner and that several other
conspicuous personal peculares mo-. obvious in that
gentleman, were not observed in Capt. Kraft, &c.
Lieut.. G. +. Sinclair. of the Germautowu, also saw
Kraft In the ward room, and detects general
blance between Fietti and Kraft, but negatives de-
cidedly their identity.
This constitutes In substance, the evidence offered
BY the United States for the purpose Of identifying the
prisoner
the prisoner to disprove his identity with Kraft
william e. Curtis, counsellor at law, the profess
sonal adviser of Captain Kraft during the proceedings
against the Advance accompanied him to Norfolk and
necessarily from IRE luent professional tervisws
sessed knowledge of Kraft fully detailed by him,
repudiates any possibility of identity with the prisoner
and the conclusion to that effect created
by Captain Lavsette and Leutenants Sinclair and Ro
gerr. The remaining witnesses, whose evidence has
spread opt at length show very clearly that the prson
er, Joseph Fillett who speaks English very auently,
and well known by them unier his present name WAS
at the period referred to- In constant command Of the
brig Amphtrite, trading from New Orleans to more
southern ports and 5conssanty met with and well i
African coast, as crminally imputed, entirely incred
Bile.
The case, upon full and careful examination Of the
subject, is of resemblance only, not Identification
ton existing for detsining Mr. Fett to the
cusatiop, he ID accordingly discharged.