Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1864-06-08
From the Birmingham Post, Jan. 81
Mr.. Bright, II. P'and the Anglo
..ehei Pirates.

EhC-e of our readers who remember
til. ''', ruptcy of Mr.. J. Rubery will no
doubt remember also that Mr.. j. Rubery
had a brother, younger than himself, who.
being sent out to New York TO settle ac-
counts" with a Mr.. Hill, wandered off 10
California wish, It was stated. certain
moneys in his possession. the young
man was the subject of great deal Of dis
cussion end evidence in the Bankruptcy
Court, and if we remember rightly the
C ss Was adjourned once, or more than
once, for his production as a witness. lie
never came; but in his place Hill made
his appearance, remarking, when asked
what brought him here. The steamship
Europa" Hill, If our recollection serves
us as it should do, stated that young Ru-
berry had called on him, settled accounts,
and set out for California. As 10 the set
tling accounts" Se know nothing; but it
was agreed on cll hands that California
was the destination of Mr.. j. Rupery's
brother.
1t now turns out that the young man
has through thu influence of Mr.. Bright
NJ. P, narrowly escaped hanging. So far
as we can make out, Rubery(of California;
getting money somewhere, became part
proprietor of steamship, which set out
from New York, with as was supposed
supplies for California. AT all events
whether part proprietor, or not, he was
supercarso, aud the cargo" of which he
was super" seems to have consisted
of arms and ammunition, with good
deal of quicksilver, thrown IN a. bind.
The real object OF the journey, however,
seems to have been a piraticdl one, the
plan being to lie of San Francisco until
an outward bound gold vessel should fail
into the clutches Of the crew OF the sup
ply" steamer, in which case there is little
doubt that the crew of the gold vessel
would have been murdered and their
cargo stolen.
Two of Rubery's sailors, however, got
ashore, and divulged the whole business
whereupon the supply ship was seized
and Rubery and his companions were al
ready sentenced-we do not know how
this was This, however, is pretty certain
Rubery wrote home explaining that he
had an objection TO being hanged, but
stating that he did not care much for
term of imprisonment, his apartments at
the Jail being the most comfortable he
had occupied for some time past. As was
natural his friends here were greatly con
cerned. and, feeling that Mr.. Bright and
Mr.. Golden were about the only persons
in the country who had influence enough
in America to get n commutation OF the
young scapegrace's sentence. they applied
| to the friend of both gentlemen, Mr..
Charles Surge, ex-Mayor of Birmingham.
AR. Surge, a warm advocate for the abo-
lition of capital punishment. at once
wrote to Mr. Bright. and Mr.. Bright at
once communicated with the Federal
Government at Washington. The result
was Communication of Rubery's sentence
to ten years Imprisonment and fine of
ten thousand dollars. Here Mr.. Sturge's
efforts ended
The crime of which Rubery was con-
yicted was, SIS he took it, a very serious
one. and the only ground on which he
had been induced II interest himself in
the young mans behalf was his belief
that capital punishment was simply ju-
dicial murder. Mrs. Joseph Sturge, how
ever, together with certain members OF
the Society of Friends in Birmingham,
looking at the young mans youth, his
previous good conduct, the influences 10y
which he WAS surrounded, moved Mr..
Bright TO obtain, If possible, full par
dou Mr. Bright, it would seem, COM
piled with the request. and by the last
mail received a letter from high author
ity in Washington--at all events such a
letter has been communicated to Ru'
bery's friends-containing the following
passage: "Rubery's pardon will issue as
soon as the papers can be prepared
There is much feeling in California against
the crime of Rubery and his companions
but the judge who tried him, and both
Senators, say that every body will be sat
isfied lift be known that Mr.. Bright, the
good friend of our country, desired the
/ pardon" We trust that Mr.. Rubery will
not again invest the money in gsllows
for even Mr.. Bright's influence, if not his
benevolence, may fail when submitted to
the ordeal of second exertion.