New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-06-17
THE MURDER ON THE GENERAL PIERCE


UNITED STATES CIRCUIT CoURT-June Is-BefOr
Judge IscERsoLL.
r To-day Mr.. Nash delivered two hour argument on
the motion for a new trial in the case OF John smith,
convicted of the murder of Charles l.. Groves, COOK
of the General Pierce. Mr.. McKeon offered short
argument in opposition, and the Judge denied the
.Jobn Smith was then called up and asked if he had
ANYTHING to say why the sentence OF tue Court should
not be pronounced upon him. Through the aid OF an
interpreter he said that the cook had evil designs
AGAINST him and he struck the blow, he believed,
10 save his fife. He also said that when lie shipped on
the General Pierce, believing her to be engaged in
honorable traffic but afterward he found out that she
was destined for the slave trade.
Before passing sentence the Judge requested the In
terpreer not to1nake it known to the prisoner till
day or two. He then proceeded to pronounce the
sentence as follows
The Grand Jury at the present term Of this court
made presentment in which they charged that you
John Smith, guilty Of the crime OF murder, COM
mitted on the high seas board the brig General
Pierce in taking the life of Charles L. Groves who at
the time was with YOU Of the ships company, and
the cook board the brig. Upon The indictment
so presented you wee arraigned az the bar OF the
court and 70 put in plea Of not guilty. The petit
jury impanneed 70 try the issue between the Untee
States and you, after patient and attentive investga
ton OF the evidence here upon thur oaths pronounced
you guilty. They have declared that you, on the
high seas on board the American brig General Pierce,
did, with malice aforethough., voluntarily and vii
hngly take the fife of reasonable creature IN beng,
he at the time, in the fear Of God being, and
under the protection of che laws of the United
States; and that you did this without prOvOca-
tion without justification, without eIcuse. Be
the laws allow panel We foI@ed Of @part. dsH,srested
disposed e ScQait they con.cisntoay cosd Gnde-
PROBABILITIES ach rested sp0n them, to duly Try arc true DE-
render verdict according to the evdos &c given them IN
Court Lesned counsel %s assigned y yen sby your cone ue
mendaton did all he cod TO save you fro" the efect
the Jury hem that II 81 thcir minds there
wa % sH SsS a. e your nut w .cs is By s e
verdict they have said there was no reasonable DOUBT
vGdic the G0n1t fsy cor ca. Ana adj.
possible doubt The violence plain direct and cef
alternative but 20 ren der such verdict az Ia, been pro-
exhibits more stresou. cts than were board the
General Pierce aud this you we've me enei T n VI
Nsw.YOIk bOuHa voyage the coast Of Africa unSer
the P9secS Of be a. spOssr. v by the edssce
lawful one cosnIed as such by the laws OF the
two mates on. cook and Eve sesne beside yourself While
the brig s % &C.. ding en- nss aS ad
many days sal land. and with vessel OF any KIND IN
s ySa s l1s rtS deadly wsp etenh.d
bis @ SS S S ed SSAeIs o@ the wa.
less either Jour companions wh3 y9I hsa
minated hi. e1se nee And whe oarG the deck Of
bis ship gasp e 0 @ the ba S1 e o co" @ ss IN tie
Performance of his duty and with deadly knife guoed and d
fsS sy sST ss da "U
before could be certainly inswn hear e was eIsei o.
and the CAPITA II over he dde Of the brig into the
faihonless Ocea a. when these deeds were accom-
pished, er yourself from Punishment
S '9%Tsea the shs Ist the cspsa snd
death, different days by reason of
disease The Ju having by their veId found you guilty Of
eff Committed the high seas the duty OF
the ain and imperative That duty TO pS''
the ud 1nent which the Law determines snail DO pre-
mulsated where such verdict has been rendered
By Of the UniteS States IL II provided that he
who COMMITS th crime Gt murder or tue high seas ard
duly convee Thereof shall suffer death As you bsy9
by the Jury bee convicted Of such crime IT follow
that you Suh the penalty consequent upon such con
I clear and as-ocous the one tor whieh
called up 20 hear the solemn Judgment OF the Ia"
be hope Of For the SAT- "
Of co4nmunit, large, and especially for the proeo-
Of who traverse the high sest IN inherent PsN
of the wor required that the Law should be faith
fully and gdy ecated. For the crime committed by
vouT life n the f,rfeat. Before however the laws
you bar Of this Court TO MIKE preparation for
you appearance before TIE bar of Eternal Judge aud
enil,aj Of eernesty to make profitable use OF that time
that you employ I, IL sober reflection past life an &
conduct and ard religious exercise seek the favor
forgiveness OF Almighty God for evsry sn and crime which
and for that Hnpcsr recommend 10
tbs Of holy
denomination of Christians 70 which you belong
be PREPARED 10 receive the OF your maj
pronounce Judgment of the law The sentence and ods
the Court IT, that you Johs Smith b, taken hence
:, hs PRISON from w.IS yS1 ssIs e boS Of %
morning aud o. lock in the seinS on cube HUNG BY
TRE TILL DEAD, and may God Almighty have
mercy year soul >.
Judge betrayed no sensation.
The noise of the riot in the Park was SO great at
this tie that the JUDGE deferred the sentence of John
Neds DeCosta and Brown till Thursday next.
COURT OF COMMON PLEAs-JvsE l6
NoTlcE.-The Trial Term of this Court will be con-
nued into the fourth week and all causes to be tiled BY uJ
will he dispOse d a