The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-04-13
United States Circuit Court.
Before Hon. Judge Smally.


CRUELTY TO OUR MERCANTILE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ON
BOARD THE SHIP DEvONsHIRE- SENTENCE TO THREE
YEARS HARD LABOR.
Nov 12-TAe United States Us. George Dasor The pris
in this convicted Of the msuslaughter Of
seaman named Humphreys, by knocking him from the
rigging Of the Devonshe into the sea, whereby he
drowned.
The prisorer being asked what he had to say why
sentence should not parsed upon him according
replied that he had nothing to say-he ready for
tnce, but hoped the Court would Backwen's
Island where he could enjoy fresh air aud exercise.
The Juose replied that he had examined the matter and
found that by the Statute of 1857 the prisoner
SENTENCED TO hard labor and pay fine.
The prisoner ssid be had objection hard labor
he had been used 10 it, hut he wished to be in the
air on Blackwell Island.
The Judge Their proceeded to sentence Dawer. He
You have bsen INDICTED by the Grand Jury for the
murder Of james Humphreys, the high Seas in De-
cember last You have had air trial been ably defend
cd by your council and the jury after long patient
consideration OF your csse have found you guilty Of
slaughter The evidence showed that you, the second
officer OF the ship, commenced beating the deceased
common sailor, upsklod in his cuy In hRrsh tyranni-
cal and cruel before the vessel left her an
chorsee that fer the most trivial pretended
custs you maltreaed, kckeo and him before you
had lett the harbor, while he svppapt obeoient:
thai this treatment was continued your part towards
the deceased, and without any jlshhaDe reasonable
cause, until within two days of his death that the seoond
night before he Was drowned you assaulted beat and
pounded him in q most brutal and inhuman man
bereirg that you would not kill him, you
declared with barsh and opprobrious epthets that you
would that this often repeated i'll usage your part had
MADE him sore and lame and rendered him unfit for
duty; that in this condition. IN the night with stropg
Wind blowing and heavy sea running, while hc was
alot on duty, you again struck and kicked him, aud
drove him to attempt TO down 70 the deck by the
stays-a mode Of descent not usual ordinarily SAFE
but al that time in his condition and that of the vessel
attended with the mott imminent CANCER to his hfe
he (doceaset) vas carried overheard, and that
be could not be seasonably rescued seems alo Teo
The jury by their verdict have found that yon ted
without malice, and did intend take the life OF the
deceased. That is the most favorable construction
for you which have been given to the evidence
That you tyrspnicay abused your authority officer
and IN wan ton and nhumaD manner, cannot be doubt
ed This abuse and i'll treatment OF the sailors
by their officers has become crying evil, and mpera.
lively calls upon the strong Of the law 10 nterpose
for their protection The punish the
laws Of The United States authorize be inflicted for
nanslaueher s imprisonment for three years and fine
not exceeding 81 000 The evidence shows your 10
have been aggravated one the sentence the Court
therefore, ia that You be confined at hard labor
State prison at Sing Spg in the Southern district Of Ne
York for the term Of three years. be computed from
this cay, psy ne Of $500 and stand committed until
this sentence be complied with.
The Unaed States Us. Charles Bsovm, alias xicaas1
Shahan.ihe prisoner convicted of An assaut with
D dangerous wespon on Frederick Watkins the high
The Court seneDced him to six months hard labor
at Sing sing and pay fine of 81.