The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-01-17

pen n-knifc at the tail of n deyil-fsh, one OF
which he had formed into 4 sliding ring for
his craNat. Lieutenant GANsEvOoRT also
made an excuse Of duty 10 follow him into the
fore top, where he found him engaged IN
having some love device tattooed sinto his arm
by BENJAMIN ]. GREEN ordinary seaman and
apprentice. Lieutenant GASsEyooRT also
learned that hc had for some days been endea
yoring to learn the rate of the chronometer by
applying 10 Midshipman RoGERs, to whom it
was unknown, and who referred him 10 the
Master. He had been seen in secret and
nigh tly conference with the Boatswains Mate
-. CROMWELL, and seaman ELISHA SMALL.
also heard that he had given money TO
/ several of the crew; to ELISHA SMALL on
the 18th of September, the day before
our departure from New York; the same day
on which, in reply to Commodore PERRY in
junction, he had made the most solemn pro-
misses of reformation, TO SAMUEL CROMWELL, on
/ the passage to Madeira; that lie had been in
the habit of distributing tobacco extensively
among the apprentices, in defiance of the order
of the Navy Department and of the ward
room reiterated ; that he had corrupted the
ward room steward, made him steal brandy
from the ward room mess which hc himself
Mr.. SPENCER, had drunk, occasionally getting
drunk when removed from observation, and
had admins tered it TO the crew that finally he
was in the habit OF amusing the crew by max
ing music with his iaw-he had the faculty of
throwing his jaw out of joint, and by contact
of the bones, playing with accuracy and ele-
gance 4 variety of airs. Servile in his inter
course with me, when among the crew he
loaded me with blasphemous vitupcration,
nd In IN pI hn
task TO roll me overheard or the round house.
He had some time before drawn II brig with n
black flag, and asked one of the midshipmcn
what he thought of il =; he had repeatedly AS
serted in the early part of the cruise that tn"
brig might easily be taken; hc had quite re-
Gently examined the hand of Mid>hipman
RooEEs, told his fortune, and predicted for
him a speedy and violent death"
These We're the reasons, fourteen in all, and
all trivial, and even ridiculous, that So Com
pletcly changed the convictions OF the COM
mander as 10 make kim credit, at ) o'clock,
no doubt of the existence of plot which, at
10 of the same day, he had pronounced impoSSi-
bic. We think all men will agree that no ira
gical issue was ever brought about by more
contemplate agencies -; that no man was ever
hung upon more irrelevant evidence. SPEN-
GER wished, it seems, TO learn the rate of the
chrouometcr he wished, also, 10 learn some
thing about the West Indies, whittier he was
going. There was not only no harm i'll all this.
but in 4 young officer ii was highly commend
able He gave money on two occasions to
two seamen, and tobacco on others He spent
his time in making rings out OF the tail
OF Il devil -iish--he induced the ward-room
steward 10 steal brandy-he had his arm
tattooed with love dcvices-hc blasphcmcd
the Commandcr-and he played variety
of airs, with great grace and execution,
on the bones Of his jaw, which he had
first thrown out of joint for the purpose -
Was there ever such string OF ridiculous nc
cusatonS? ? MidShipman ROGERS afterwards
testified that he had betted with Spencer upon
the time of the ships arrival at ST. Thomas,
and that that was the cause of his anxiety 10
know the rate of the chronomcter. Greater
stress was laid upon the exhibition of palms-
try than upon anything else. ROGERS ii seems,
was 10 die 4 sudden and violent death, and II
was inferred that SPENCER felt himself enabled
TO make this prediction because he had de-
signed to fulfil it himself. To any man not ab-
solutely crazy, the whole thing must seem Il
mere Jest. But MAcKENzIE forgot to add Il
very material portion of this prediction
ROGERS was not only TO die suddenly, but he
was TO die Il gambler also Now rs it takes
some time, and that on land too, 10 make a
gambler out of Il naval officer having no predi-
lection for games of chance, it is very certain
that he did not expect ROGERS 10 die on that
voyage. 1t was wrong to leave out this part
of the prediction. But the report was written
after the slaughter.
Upon this ridiculous batch of surmises,
suspicious, and charges, which, if proved
amounted TO only minor offences, SPENCER was
arrested, the Commander having evidently
already made up his mind 10 hang him. AT
evening quarters, all the officers, except the
midshipman stationed on the forecastle, We're
ordered to lay aft on the quarter deck, the
Master taking the wheel, and those OF the
crew stationed abaft being sent 10 the main
mast. MACKENZIE then approached SPENCER
and said: II am told, Mr. SPENCER, you
aspire 10 the command of the Somers." With
a deferential, but unmoved expression and
smiling countenance, he said "Oh no, sir
Ibid you not tell Mr.. WALES sir, that you
had project to kill the commander, the OH
GERS and n portion of the crew OF this vessel
and convert her into a pirate?" :" may have
told him so, sir, but it was i'll joke " on
admit then, that you told him So - Yes,
sir, but III joke" This, sir, is joking on Il
forbidden subject. This joke may cost you
your life"
To mind not already re-occupied with
the impression of guilt, SPENcER's answer
and the steady and smiling expression of his
countenance would have been proof positive
OF his innocence of any evil design. Gullt
would not have confessed ii would have
e1uivocatcd and denied. But the magma
ton of MACKENZIE was now craZed with fear
Before making the arrest, however, he or
dered SPENCER 10 take of his craNat ana II
being removed and nothing found IN IL, the
Commander inquired for paper containing
an account of his project which lie had ioio
WALES he carried in it. He replied that there
was no such paper; that there hat been 4
nopcr in it, but that it was merely an account
of his day's work, and that he had destroyed
il M,cKRSzIE--''It is singular place 10
keen n day's work in" SPENCER with de-
ferential air." 1t is Il very convenient one
The Commander then told him that he must