New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-06-04
LAW INTELLIGENCE.
UNITEp STATES CIRCUIT CoURT-Juss 2-Bsfere Judgs
NKIsoN.


UNITEp STATES CIRCUIT CoURT-JUss 3-Bsfore Judge
NEIsoS.
SENTENCE OF THREE SAILORS TO BE HANGED FOR
TIE MURDER OF CAPT. PYKE.
At the opening of the Court United States District
Attorney Smith moved for sentence upon Samuel Col
Inns, John Dunleayy, and Louis Featherstone, con-
vcted Of the murder Of Capt. George w Pyke OF the
ship Gen. Parkhill, on the 25th of February last
Mr.. James T. Brady said the Court was aware that
he did not appear during the trial Of these defendan'
Mr.. Howe retained for Of thCm and the Court
assigned him TO defend the othertwo. since Their con-
yction, some Of their friends bad called upon MN
tMr: Brady and on comforting with Mr.. Howe Spy
OF the District Attorneys minutes was furnished Lh,
but, being ont OF town Saturday he did not get
them till to-day. He desired time to examine the case,
with a view OF moving for new trial. He under
stood the theory of the prosecution was that ore OF the
prisoners struck the fatal blow the others acting IN
concert He here read the affidavit and confession OF
Featherstone by which that prisoner states that he
was the sole aggressor and that the act committed
in selfdefense lie understood that the vessel had on
board Secession flag, and had been since seized as
prize while sailing under that flag. This confession
was entitled to weight, aud the questions OF evil
dence he could not properly present, as he was
not fully acq tainted with the facts.
The Judge said the suggestions were very proper,
but there was no evidence sustain them. The proof
on the Trial was Of the most unmstakable character
and the prisoners must make application to tie Exeeu'
tive.
The Judge then directed the prisoners to arise when
he addressed them as follows:
Yon and each of YOU have been tried before jury for
the murder Of George w. Pyke upon the hign seas,
and found guilty. Have yOu anything to say why the
sentence Of the law should not be pronounced against
you .,:
Collins and Duneavy both replied that they were in
nocent Of the murder.
The Judge then pronounced npon the three prisoners
the following
SENTENCE.
The crime Of which you have been convicted was
committed on board the merchant 'hiP General Pssh. en
bound from the port Of Liverpool England 70 me POI b
Charleston South Csoa The crew, II IN number oil "i
you were shipped a. Liverpool Inc vesse 5 81
ron hit port At a1oa %e9cs n the and az when she
had reached but 20 miles fIom you had killed the master
mate pbe I'm .ts5 inflicted with knives upon bis body
aud blows pom his bead and with handpike nsensib
cuts on his body aai three bows hsndpke Of
which stretched him the deck and another was nheei ''f
We ly BOXED into the evidence Of the events which o.
IcS 10 yerpoo aer The death Of the captain dssbi
iy mattel with great attention and care to discover
ter your eGao!dinary and desperate Yoen anu
with the exception Of blows with the hand Tor dsoo
derce Of orders and insulting language find none IN Il
ices uusrmed, having no weapons about heIn Ahtu
conduct umhed grounds ior sPpespdns oapse, o. S
the immediate conse neHce even the bows iot oo
uueanauke conduct Soon vessel
lei. yerpool YOU consdeTated overthrow the authority 81
and endeyOed persuade others Of the crew 10
i9n YOU and threatened violence TO them II they refused
You sharpened your knives upon the sDehor cham
T. the bloody deed and msde the assault upon the once "l
ont their being armed fOresmed and IN no SITUATION 20
defend Themselves AZ evidence conoboraimg lhe ec
count ziyen that the few blows inflicted upor you
dsot educe Of ordr ard iosul1ng lang OUT
Cow Of eleven the only that had any eIl
difficulty with The officers and further with one exception the
refused Join you IN your assault upon We $40
nate eudea obtain the Possession aad contTo o. tue
ship. -. 80, 49,,
A. very strong proof your pupOse to get possession ant con
t Of the the Witnesses that sitter you nad ks1
The Csuau and and believed that had Killed ty
mate Won txued In tho idea of having captured her and did
the control and direction TO the port TO when
she should brought by tie verdict the Jury with whh the
Cont l. entirely satisfied have been convicted OF al oEet
f which YOUR lives forfeited and we compelled % add
that presented upon the evidence even when cha
abs elamined regarded aggravated one We IN
sdmonh therefore that in the interval between your
and execution, prepare FOR the sre c4e
IN, YOU Think Of the crueles you inflicted upon Pyke
and supbe and Of the terrible which you Will soon
be called Maker Think OF the denlncons
IN o Bible. the murderer and that there IL no hope Of sal
yaiiop lie which hasten, except through
opertance and the forgiveness Of yeur Redeemer We tt
thst Won W earnestly and faithfully IN this way improve me
time we extend TO you before the execution. eIendedt to
YOU that you may thus improve H. -,
remains ouy pronounce the sentence OF the eW men
that you and each Of YOU be taken back to the City Pson
the IA Of July next and there the place Of execution,
the Of twelve aud three o'clock Ia the Afternoon
day YOU and each be hung by the neck until you
sIe deed and may the Lord have mercy on your souls
The prisoner on hearing the sentence, exclaimed
that they were innocent and the father Of Collins who
was in Court wept audibly as the last words Of the
sentence were pronounced.
The prisoners were conducted 10 the Tombs by
Marshals officer.