The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-10-23
THE SLAVE TRADE.
The Alleged SLAYER Erie.
UNITED STATES COMMISSIONERS COURT.



UNITED STATES COMMISSIONERS COURT.
Before George W. Morel, Esq
ooT. 22-7he United States rs> Nathoniel Gordon, VIM
Warren and DIud Hau The defendants in this case,
It will be recolected charged with serving Is captain
and nrst and second mate the Erie, board which
vessel between eight and nine hundred negroes were
found when she was seized prize vessel
william Warren, one Of the defendants, being ex-
ahmed, deposed that he shipped board the Erie In
London England, about December last, for voyage 70
Havana; man named Knudson was master; when she
Was leaving Havana I understood she was going on
trading voyage; did any other captain TIL The
day rallied from Havana Understood she was TO 60
to the Of Africa and back there no port
mentioned 70 which che to return am native OF
Nova Scotia; the town is called New AMMAN was never
na;urazed my parents and family reside in Nova Scotia
my business is that OF exclusively seafaripg man
when left Havana in the Erie, did not know che Was
going after negroes she had general cargo for general
trading purposes on the coast; shipped as second
nate board when the cargo came on board
had nohrg to DO with IT. presume the persons who had
Of the vessel had charge OF the cargo believe these
persons Spaniards the name OF the firm sounded
Ike Hsvernsbe CO.. there persons their agents came
board ard attended to the business they point
ed out to OF tho ship took
the Coast the passengers spanish gentlemen one
landed southwark OF the river Congo to anchor oil
the mouth Of the river up to this time Captain Gordon
acted captain Of the vesee the day after rallied
from Havana told that the destination OF the vessel
char ged that we cleared for 81 Thomas AID Brse
snd Congo the ocnsgnee got TO land the cargo at the
Corgo during the voyage these two passengers had no
control Of the cargo except 10 speaking IT they sad
they had business with IL aer discharged our cargo
the mouth OF the Congo charge In the command Of
then took omand Of the chips presume this took place
because Of the sale Of the shp the who took charge
Of The ship told Gordon In my preencc that he Hordou
had Ioihirg TO DO with the chip and ordered Cor
don ashore: Captain Gordop vert on Shore and lived
on shore for lime he used TO several
tines and when the vessel ready 70 sail he asked
for paafe home ihtre was no other vesse the coast
coming home; there vessels there trading the
when the Erie saed ehe ef the river and went TO
SCI, Of the who sent board the Mohicau,
being taken for passenger, was the person who COM
manted the vessel out the Congo there Spanish
mate tai en- board m the Congo; came on board be-
was asked 70 come home passenger; the ne
Rrcts taken en- board a. the mouth OF the Congo
neither Gordon Hall nor self had thing TO do with
bringing on board or keeping on board the negroes the
copsigDee and his own pc brought the negroes
board kept them there never the negroes that
know Of before they were bought, reither Gordon Hall
myref exercised any control the negroes from
the time they board TIL taken by the Mohican
spanish shipped put board in the Congo
never rasted by other name In the United States
Cross-cxamned-I have family, married.
have mother and sisters and brothers. and these reside
IN Nova Scotia they are British Subjects aeo born
there; never resided in the United States sick
once, and stayed In htpiia 10 Pbiladep for two
months csimed 10 be American citizen, and
allowed M 20 be put the shipping articles
us an American citizen; ~hen ! shipped in England the
the stern was the Erie, OF New York we took
coal from Ia gland TO Hsvana and landed the london
90 there took in few panks and boards there and
used them TO put up petition in the statsroom did
uot them all for that purpose though and did not
them TO make save deck OF there was no
slave deck made the vessel while was aboard;
there slave deck on board there other
deck board except There in her when left England
had twenty twenty 1--WE casks Of fresh water;
had more than would supply our own crew on the
fs9e out the cargo we to'k out was landed al Point
Helena, We landed sprts, bread and -four;
landed great many things, but don't know wha,
they were. landed Ia boats OF which be
TO the vessel and come BELONGED shore think
must have landed more than dfy boat loafs
n quarter a mile from land the negroes were broaght
beard by boats that belonged Shores while the
Rroes being brought on beard the vessel;
Captain Gordon and hall board when the negroes
board, was nrtt officer when sailed from
Havana there came board yearly 900 negroes but AT
that time neither Gordon, Hall nor myself officers Of
heard him called Manual; he spoke very little English;
The fret mate Antonio; he did not speak English;
the GIst mate, cane out from HAyana the other
men board In Congo; OF the
gave their orders the spanish; there WAS
Of eight Spanish put board; the American
ALEC remained on board; this captain did not die 10 Con
20 Tl the captain that died; HI captain when
yng IN ihe Congo saw Hui buried the Spanish ospsln
took HE place the American part Of the crew did duty
the the other the man that spoke EGG
lh Isurposc gave orders 70 the American reamea;
reized The day after took the board
the bound for Cuba going from Havana the
coast Gordon captain, WAS frat mate aud Hall
second mste, there was no third or other officer;
would no. kDow Go'don's handwriting nay
wages 10 be forty I've dollars per month;
engaged for the voyage ont 20 the coast and
pecied 10 return; don't know what arrangement
made with Hall; saw some supplies taken board 50
the Congo-bears, peanuts, sheep, &c there might
have been twenty bushels Of be,ns and i've bushels Of
I,snuis: when left the Congo there beef aud
pork beans peas rice and water, but cannot say how
many casks. some Of the c ssks nlcd with water
from the river but cidpc, give any orders about iug
the csks they rllcd by the spanisrds and Amert
cans don't think sny Of the arti; that we auced
board again; our cooking apparatus for the
sfoss kettles aud too boilers; the boilers
board IN III, river paid t5 MONTH and receiv
ed money in dsvars from Captain Gordon he paid
q nonth and half pay; have been paid $40
since by Captain Corridor here 10 Ne~ York but have
rresented bill made demand for the rect OF the
wages the bone voyage believe the Erie sailed fron
New Orleans TO toIoon
The GIFTED States pss'rc, Attorney, Judge Roose
welt, appeared for the prosecution and Mr. Joachns<er
for the ceieuce
AoIourned 10 Tuesday chs day. q, twelve O'Clock.