New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-12-14
The Case OF the Shenandoah.

on Nov %, with the case Of the Shenandoah which
before in the form of proceedings on the part or
the Queen egt. Capt. Corbett' for breach OF the
| Foreign Enlistment Act The defendant pleaded not
guilty The Solicitor General in stating the case ior
the prosecution. said that on the sth OF August so4
vessel called the Sea King left the port OF LONDON Dus
she subsequently obtained another name. which had
been too well known throughout the world. The yes
sci in question was screw-steamer clipper built at
Glasgow, in October, 1868, and was about $50 tans
register
Her original owners were Messrs. Wallace & Co but
on the register Of the h Of October the day before
she left London, there entry empowering CAPT.
Peter Suer Corbet TO sell the ship at any port ont OF
the United gdom for not less than 4i5 OOO within
six months after the date Of the certificate OF register
The ostensble voyage to Bombay, and the seanen
were engaged for such voyage, and the defendant
was present when the men were engaged for tnat
VOYAGE and some he engaged himself and he put TO
two or three Of them the significant question, when
considered with what subsequently happened. whether
they were single men, because ne wanted to get as
MANY single men he could. Ills cargo Tor the out
ward voyage was described Goals and provisions,
a cargo well adapted for her ultimate destination.
She sailed the 9TH October direct for MADEIRA ont
nailed another vessel which answered the signal and
upon that the Sea King steered for the Deser'as,
rocky island abont ten or twelve miles distant, Ing
ship that sicnaled turned out TO- De the Laure;
from Liverpool with cargo OF munitions OF war, anu
as soon as the vessels met the transhipmen OF the
cargo Of the Laurel to the Sea King commenced. and
bv the following morning the latter vessel was fully
eduipped with guns, 6opoun6ers. powder &c. ard she
became suitable for the purposes for which she was
atterward used.
Several persons came on board the Sea King from
the LAUREL and described themselves as officers ofthe
Confederate service They wore the Confederate uni
torn, and among them was Capt. Waaden WIG suose;
auenty took of the Sea King and changed
her name that Of the Saenandoahi and II would 90
recolected by the jury that she was recently 9r1S9as
into Liverpool and surrendered by Capt Waddehto
Her Maiestys Government who had since denVereo
her up to the United States Government. =.
After the completion of the armament OF iAe sea
King the defendant called all the men aft and said to
them in effect that he had sold the vessel or that ne
meant to sell her to this gentleman Capt Waddeii);
whom he described as Confederate Officer VINO woea
turn her into Confederate cruiser. The Hen ne sad'
would do well to engage on board Of her; and men,
toned the high terms of Is or go per month wages anu
federate officer that be had got many single men as
he could.
These representations were backed up BY the Con-
federate officer and they aferward raised the terms 70
e7 per month"; together with as or 2l6 bounty money
and cask OF sovereigns in the cabin as SOFT OF
material guarantee OF the performance Of tne promise,
Can't Corbett finding that the Confederate oineers
could not induce the men 10 Jon, apphsu persohdy w
one or two Of them. -,
onced TO the Royal Naval Reserve and he said to hn
il would be good thing for him to join the SNIP ana nc
offered him as much 2l3 or 9l4 per month; Anen
said he could not do that he belonged TO the Reserve
force and il would be improper thing for him 10
DO The defendant replied that he would not say any.
thing about IT, ard that Allen could keep II quiet ue
could not induce Allen TO join. and the result was tnas
fonr on of the crew induced 20 join the Coniede
rate service and continued in the Shenandoah. TIE
others much 10 their credit. refused to ION.
IL was but fair toward them to say that so far as he
coud Judge there reason to suppose that they
knew the real destination Of the vessel they oeheVngt
Was a bona fde vessel to Chusan or Bombay. when
everything had been arranged Capt. Corbett having
handed the vessel over to Capt.. Waddsl tod iposa
who would not join to come with him. and ne t9oh tre
on board the Laurel and they were all LANDED AT leu
erife He there induced them 10 represent that tney
were shipwrecked seamen, but as the English eonsui
was to be imposed on in that way be causeG INC
defendant 10 be taken INTO CUSTODY anu oous"' y"
EnglaI for trial. - -,
The proceedings were resumed on the 9oth. In tho
course of the proceedings the 29h the SocitorGen
era was asked upon which Of the 50 counts the
defendant he relied. He answered that he relied on
three sets of counts First. on those which charged
Can't Corbett with having, in this country melted GER
tain persons enter and serve on BOARD Vessei IN
tended for warlike purposes; secondly, ne would rely
on the counts charging similar ohense rs having Oeen
committed on the high seasi and, thirdly, on those
which described the oflense having been committed
in certain place abroad, namely. ON board Brush
vessel at a certain place.
The Chief Justice observed that questions Of law and
questions of facts in the First whether tho
case fell within the Act Of Parliament either generally
or having reference TO the place where the oifense
charged was committed. The question for the jury
would be whether in fact Capt Cotbet, DID procure or
attempt to procure any person to enlist IN loreIgn
service.
On the 3Oth Mr. Edward james addressed the jury
for the defense. He explained with grea. ninuteness
the provisions Of the Foreign enlistment Ae 9naer
which the indictment framed and conts nded that
there was no satisfactory evidence that CDiOett lad
used the words which would bring them wtain the pro-
III
might have been used by Capt Waddell but then that
was when they were at sea- ard when the ship was not
under the authority of the British Government
He maintained that even suppOsing the words i'm
pued were used by the defendant they rot within
the meaning of the Act Of Parliament because they
were not used within her Majesty's domlnions He
contended that her MajeStys dCninions could not DO
construed into meaning the high but ouly 10 the
British vessels sailing upon the high seas therefore as
this vessel had ceased to be British in consequence q
its having been sold. the did not come within tie
meaning Of the Act OF Parliament. He concluded by
taking credit for the Government having done It's best
10 maintain its principles OF neutrality aud that their
efforts had failed the failure had been the fault OF the
uries who had tried the cases. The witnesses for the
defense were under examination when the court rose
On Dec. l, Mr.. L. James eontended. on the part Of
Capt COIbot that be had not ransgressed the law OF
the land. All be did to employ men for ordinary
voyage. The engagements were made in the ordinary
way and among the men SO engaged there were 10
mariners. The was of an ordinary character OF
coal aud he (CCp COrbctO did not know that the YES.
sci was be handed 20 the Confederate service
and he submitted that there was no evidence to prove
otherw e.
The Solicitor General then addressed the jury, and
said it manifest that some persons had evadedthe
Foreign Enlistment Act. and that the men were sao'
iected to temptation OF pnze money under certain con-
sideratons when upon the high seas. lie asks Why
Capt COIbett went to Madeira. lt was ne sald De-
cause he another vessel in the distance. but how
could he tell what the vessel was unless gted by second
sightf He then h0sted signal, TO which tue Laurel
responded; and aitorward shipped the warllkc cargo
from the Laurel 10 the Sea King Aiter referring TO
various points in the evidence for the prosecution he
dhe Solicitor GeneroD said that no case was clearer.
Capt Corbett ostensibly took ont the men for
voyage to Bombay, but on meeting the Confederate
cruiser he stood passively by and allowed the tempta
tons To be made to the men, aving previously said to
them Il have sold the vessel to this gentleman Capt.
Nnddel who stood by; aud he then said that those
who wished TO return could 10 by the steamer near,
bnt that those who desired to remain in addition 10
what they might get from the Shenandoah would have
extra two months pay. Having further alluded to
the principal facts us given in evidence he left the
fol- 10 AL rotin Of ha Ia