The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-03-22
The Murder Of the Captain and Cook OF the
Brig General P1erce-ConInIttai OF the Ac-
.ussd.
Before Commissioner White.

UNITED STATES COMMISSIONERS COURT.
Before Commissioner White.
MARCH 2.-The United States John Smith. John Meta.
lola B,oirn John DE- Coste These defcnasns stated
IN yesday HERALD sent home from the IslAna of st.
1homas charged with the murder Of Capt Lawson and the
cook Of the brig General Pierce.
Christian ". Petraus examined BY Mr. =. smyh on the
part the government deposedl chief mate n the brig
General Fierce shipped New York the i2,h Of Janu
si she e New York the 2ist Of january bound TOR
s Coss, Of Area The r pO n.nrSy, there there ssrg SIX
sra werp All shipped in New York Capt O. was TIE
George sunday The secoud mate he Is nov pre-
the 10th q February the vessel on the high seas
aspa an ana me captain ordered @ get re
opmss rgeDg set up; John Smith get the
ts sn1 s maui ss S me 81 a.
ssa1e ne sse ssG no & S IRON them John
.sms win me up iUio the ioresop IN piece o. smith
ior ssme p.reeiasi wssn he cssiss
,se esp,aD back ss m.rev SAID Usptsin don, strike me-
weni forw ,rd 70 my duiy snsr got the canvass about US
VITA the esPssS u sioss when s.a sten q.
through with my ieckO1I5s came deck aud :. psssed
S.sS SsP or sissp sns he sasd him u Se cant tel
s@ D hvs s.% tbs
sapdng the fore rigging on some spars near ne crew
forward quet coulo and whs. the captain s.g
his first officer, and went along aide Of him
iSa, he "a. sians ing Inn Of the shp company
sSn ne sa S.m riai matter ACC RED % ps
~ them BY this time AL present were advancing ar my OBJ
ss cabin aooS -s ss BY he Josa se
s sssp s NO cns srs noSs s ug hand, T
ns o psrsasse them % Keep quiet told hem ,a.i hey
t%
oa re crew ia lsey ssr. conmSs nuny ana hat sy
bad and Of the ahp Of SIS hsnds sad sey
put her OF he roc shore whichever They pessed the
Se BEEN p-se The ospn ;Od e% neither he nor ssoaa have
s. g hip s. 1pa S sa ssa
sher n EUROPE ~ asom., but n. c,sw weua not 40
sSis hey were i.tans 81. way yohn De cose wa, b.
Esa9 1r &c esS..n i'm. s.uius o. he .sso.
10. sy s n s3s ms BE- abe % s sSDs DS S dso BE-
feci: ran up % him ana while VS. ssinF . &c. gp .
$ 81 +: ,ls I. =
sner he vss STABBED sy there about oss minute us four
re hey hove
TffS he ssm apas 'nss
IsCsId s:sg. .SsS s.y $s' sssE oC%%s:ssd
en sd j.. you =. csn .sd Ssi ceaid sos he se .
= Thomas vert then steering s. deg csst orsrds the
,Somss and sepi s sSp o-ssd. s. fbo@.s auii sr!sd
ooe S.y came INTO he Cabin and demsSde ne % brs he
osboos put the oTbook the captain and cock
ss.h! aa seesI her. %s. We 1 y sas% John
lbs, ! should rot be sfrse, hey would not DO me
work done In The ship except steering ssd atenios 70 the
afraid 70 orter them snythnE the heavier
the hands OF De Costa about three In length
s .sr @'ss s S s os a .
ere powerful blows amer the captain was struck he fell
sdewsys deck the blows follow ed quickly with
eight feet the captain spoke amer the dagger
into him say bis mouth rernble this the only
he lay esrty on his back snd partly his side .bea
on. minute asr sr.s Sss q bd on Sess
where be the cook killed after ~ ~ N A the
captain struck tmh n the wheel the knocked
down about IS minutes srer " O'Clock az well csu re
I'M, mberi when into a. 1bom no shlp 70
ne Consul he toot charge Of the ship cargo
Was In The cabin dressing The cabin prisoners
The went forward heard the captain why
did strike The man Al the wheel then blood
The back Of the Captains head there only proper
beaver on board; days AFTER the Japtan
Killed we made " rh.m~; the captain told me he
owned quarter Of the vessel
Henry kirbv deposed tina, he captain struck Smith tbs
wheel once Jain told hat did veil;
smith aud Brown had DIRK knives spring knife;
saw coming out Of the cabin having dt knife in his
hand
The Commissioner this testimony decided committing
he prisoners for a al the Circuit Cosrt which
WI be held on The first Monday in April merit