The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-12-04
The Case OF the Crew OF the Slave Brig
Putnam.


BRIEF HISTORY OF THE yEssKL-THE NAMES OF
THE PRrsoNERs-sYNopsIs OF THE INDICTMENT
JUDGE wAYEEs REMARKS TO THE GRAND JURY, ETC.
COLUMBIA, s. c., Dec. 3, 1858.
The case of the SLAYER Putnam, Echo, was given to
the Grand Jury to-day The the part
of the United states by the United States District Attorney
for the State Of South Carolina james Conner, Esq., Of
Charleston and Messrs Haync and Miles retained spe
cia counsel by the government OF the United States The
defence conducted by L. w. Pratt and r. De Trevile OF
Charleston, and Maxey Gregg and Edmund Benger, Of
Columbia. The indictment is drawn against the defend
the OF the brig Putnam that being the real
name of the vessel the Echo" being fictitious title,
painted board by which the real OF the ship
concealed
The Putnam was built in Baltimore, and was owned
first in New York and subsequently in New Orleans Her
first register made by Jonathan s. Dobson, OF
New York, only owner and master" The ship Is
therein described brig, built Baltimore, ls45
length nlnety.two feet breadth twenty-five feet eight
inches depth ten feet; measurement 1877 tons. Her
last register made at New Orleans, by Edward
C. Townsend, in the of the brig Putnam
and the description precisely similar tina, the first
register.
The captain Of the SLAYER Edward c. Townsend having
been first landed nj Key West, will be tried there.
Tho prisoners trial here arc, Antonio Franck Richard
Thomas Bates, Alexander Rogers Vidal Dcmranda, jose
u. n
pcl George r. Aken William Hcnrys, Antonio Melano-
wich, and i've others, Cubans.
The Indictment charges that they, bcing Of the ships
company OF certain vessel, being a brig. called the
Putnam-the said vessel being then and there owned in
the whole in Part by citizen Of the said United States
to wit T. {. Townsend-did practically aud feonousy
board Of said vessel 30 owned as aforesaid
certain negroes, TO three hundred negroes whose
names arc 70 the said Jurors unknown they the said
grocs, not beng held 10 service labor BY the laws
either the States Territories OF the United
The United states District Attorney TO day submitted
tho indictment 70 the action OF the Grand Jury His Honor
Justice Wayne, in concise and able manner explained
TO the Jury the PROVISIONS Of the act OF Congress
Of May Is, ls2o, under which the Indictment
would be found, proved ~ all. After reading
and clearly explaining the several substantive offences
designated by the law, and in order 10 sssis, the
jury their investigation, Judge Wayne recApitusted
briefly tho counts in the Indictment, which eight in
number The first charges that the prisoners receive
On the brig Putnam three hundred negroes not held
service IN any Of the states Territories Of the United
states such brig being owned by Edward Z. Town.
sond Tho second repetition OF tho first charge, except
that the vessel described being owned by per
persons unknown The third count charges thar
the prisoners did connne and hold IN confinement In the
brig Putnam, owned by the said Tov1scnd the said three
hundred negroes. Tho fourth varies the charge only
Far as the ownership - concerned The nth charges the
prisoners with aiding and abcing forcibly taking the
negroes tho ship. Tho sixth changes the count
ownership The seventh charges that the prisoners did
receive and forcby Connc the negroes abci forc
bly, combining them. And the eighth again vrics the
count as 10 the ownership Of tho brig.
The Judge thought necessary, without all intending
10 enter into consideration of tho law make single
OesahAeW lne very general MISUNDERSTANDING
regard 70 tho Law Of piracy, and respect what
fences piracy and may be made by the statutes
lie stated that not fast that there bui a sin
go crime iaf could constitute piracy The o. general
piracy robbery the high seas, committed by xho
has thrown Oh allegiance 70 all governments and Ia what
the Law terms the enemy ~ the human race AMI may be
punished by all nations Then those other acts Of robbery
committed on the high piracy, which are made
30 under the law And AGAIN when a man belonging q
ship or vessel shall not commit robbery, hut shall at
tempt to take such vessel from the command az her
ter and deliver her 10 another usurp control % her
himself the Law makes piracy, punishable piracy is
by death under power delegated 10 Congress 70 guard
against offences committed the high
In like manner, under the power, when a person
receives, forces takes board vessel, negro
not being slave with the intention OF selling him into
slavery, the Law makes him pirate and punishcs him
with death.
The Judge repeated briefly his explanation OF the pro
vince Of Grand Jury. They not 10 try the pri.
soncrs but simply to determine from the facts given
evidence, whether enough appears Justify them put
ting The before petty Jury.
Tho bills then submitted, and the Jury retired.