The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-06-12

The Slave Trade In New York-The alleged
Slave Brig ELLEN.
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT.
Before Hon. Judge Belts
JUNE 1.-THE United States The Brig EHen-n will
be recoected that this vessel seized some time ago,
in the port Of New York. as suspected The gov
eminent now move to libel her. well her cargo aud
tackle, and claim her forfeited 70 the laws Mr. Jos-
chimssen read the libel The District Attorney put In ev
dence the register for the brig Ellen, Of which John p
Weeks Is owner, and - Bishop is master. II Is dated
April 1857 He also put in evidence the OF citizen.
ship Of Philip Van vechten, who takes command as
master instead of Bishop also The clearance from the port
Of New York for Losndo, and other documentary evi
dence The following is a List of her cargo
Fifty bales sheetnes, twenty three bales strpes ten
blue prints five prints one hundred aud TWEEN
~ barrels rum twenty five baskets chAmpasne ouart
bottles, five baskets Of psts champagne sixty with
twelve hundred muske fifty barrels pilot bread eighty
eight barrels OF rice, ten barrels beef six barrels
pork, thirty cases of Goldfish thirty barrels corn
Dutch cheese hundred and ninety Eve kegs Of
guppOwder, one hundred and one shooks, seventyHve
hemlock oss. one hundred and sixty seven boards
Of carpenters' tools.
John Faunce captain Of the cutter Washington
depoeed that he gave Information in the CASE he Is In the
revenue service Of the United States know the brig e.
en- first her on the 26th or 18th Of April lying Off
the Battery she is hermaphrot ate brig about $50 Ions
know Captain Van vechten on the 10Th Of April she was
In the stream she sailed the 3Oh and seized herr
she was under way at the time seized her about half
way betw Governors Island and Rcbbins Reef In the
Bay Of New York she had steamtug towing her;
went on board; vanvechten captain; saw Mr.
Arugo there; there was but tug to her took these
papers from her (po~er of attorney from John Weeks
to Van vechlen to sell the brig and blank bill Of sale
produced) the captain told me h. che was bound for
Ambrize there 10 take In cargo OF negroes to proceed 70
the coast OF Africa he said It vas left optional with him
whether would in her from Africa; he told me that
about two hours before seized herr on this acted
Cross examned-This took place In the Marshals office,
In the Marshals room; believe he was then there %
witness in the case Of the Merchant might have been
there for that pun pose; recoec, subpG aaed the
subject then oculary referret to- had had my AZ
tenion called to the Ellen two three weeks before; it
reported TO me that she bought and was hitting
out for the coast one of my officers boarded her one or
two days before that.
vechen telling except that he did not want to 60 to
Robert Donnel being worm, deposed that he is in the
United States Marshas office went board the Ellen
the 29th April, with three persons who depuzed
to 60 with and search her. she then in the stream
the Jersey shore, than the New York ahore,
west Of the channel; Van vechten and Weeks went on
board with me- remained on board about half an hour
we examined the cargo; the matches were off Mr. Weeks
paid $3.50 before went from his place of business in
South street, examined the baggage Of the passengers
and crew. the trunk of the supercargo days az
forwards, in the MarshaPs office, found some 81 200 in
gold in the trunk did not take the money from the trunk
Arugo opened the trunk himself took parcel said 1t
money, and that il belonged to him; he told the Dis
tric Attorney he was to deliver the money to person in
Loando he laid he could not would not tell the Of
the person. found clothing and great number Of pistols
and dirk knives In each of the mems trunks and baggage
Arugo spoke Eng lish to me.
Cross examined-I do not recolect that had any mo-
milton against the vessel when went board had
order to attach her; If there moniton would have
obeyed it, had paper whatever about her. had heard
that there was process for week before went to Mr.
Weeks the Goth of April by direction OF the Marshal
In consequence Of Weeks letter TO him to send somebody
down; had the letter and returned to him: found Weeks
In the Custom House; officer Nevn pointed him out to me-
he asked to services the cargo correspond
ed with the manifest what did under orders the
cachers of slaves without pay ing for H. he told me to see
that there was no violation Of the law.
Julius Van vechten depSed-I am brother OF Captain
Van Vechten a clerk In the Custom House. What
your brothers. profession A II Is hard to say he has
been a rover: he a lawyer, and has been at for
Mr. Weeks had With him about that that lime,
he was then in command OF the brig Ellen amer those
atoms went 70 the collector and he gsve me
letter to the District Attorney my brother was lying In
port and note brought me addressed 70 him. gave
Il To him; he read 1t and handed IL TO me; was note
nom Mr. Weeks handed II back 70 him and told him TO
have nothing 70 do with IT,
Mr. ponohue objected to the conversation and the con-
The Court ruled that the testimony was not admi ssble
he insisted going on the intended voyage would
pursue him as long as bad life; told xr. Weeks
also and my brother that the vessel should be
stopped, and that / had given infor nation TO the
District Attorney my brother told the tmo
she sail but she did not sail at the appointed time;
my brother told the cargo TO be regular asso
ed CARGO there be pass ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
and considerable sum OF money, SIS ,000 he told me
there lot Of small chains In her cargo; do not know
whether they went In the cargo not my Impression Is
the chains did net my impression that he eld me he
would not put the chains board, owing TO the
had adopted In going 10 the District Attorneys Office; he
SAID that watched he said they would
give notice 10 the District Attorney that ne might send
person TO watch the loading my brother told he
get 81 900 cash down. and 900 at the sad OF tho
voyage he told me that Mr.. Weeks owned the brig; my
brother besides being lawyer and sailor was soldiers
he In now q deserter from the United States army.
Pending the mina,on Of the witness the
adjourned 10 IL O'Clock this (Friday) morning.