The New York herald., 1871-03-16
ARSON UPON THE EICH SEAS.
Sentence Of Death Pronounced
Upon a Ship Burner.
An Unusual Scene in the Federal
Courts.

The United States Circuit Court room was crowded
yesterday morning as 1t was understood that the
prisoners convicted OF various offences at the present
term, including Charles Perdue, found guilty OF
burning the snip Robert Edwardes at sea, 800 miles
from land tine punishment for this offence being
death would be brought up for sentence
Judge Woodruff took his seat upon the bench
punctualy at the usual hour.
THE BURNING OF THE SHIP ROBERT EDwARDEs-
SENTENCE OF DEATH UPON CHARLES PERDuE
Charles Perdue was brought forward for sen.
tence hush OF solemn silence reigned through
the court room as Judge Woodruff began his re-
marks to the prisoner IN the following terms:-
You, Charles Perdue, were heretofore charged
with Il most heinous crme--the burning OF ship
on the high se0s-unmindful or the horrors or such
Il scene; regardless or the destruction Of property
you were bound to procct and preserve; reckless OF
human lives brought into fearful peril. Upon due
examination and inquiry before the proper officer
the
were such as IN his Judgment, required that you be
held a prisoner TO answer. A grand Jury selected
with care from amonR citizens OF high character
intelligent, impartial, Just men-upon hearing the
evidence tending TO establish your guilt found 1t
their duty present you for trial. Your trial has
been mad. Twelve falr and impartial men. having no
motive and no purpose but to learn and declare the
TRUTH were selected by your own counsel, under the
liberal provisions of our laws, which entitled you
not only to exclude any others from the Jury put
with large fr edom 10 reject any who were not satfs
factory TO you In every respect. Twelve sucn men
were empaneed to inquire whether you were guilty
ton, patient hearing and careful and cautious
scrutiny OF the evidence they, upon their oaths pro-
nounced you
Able counsel appeared ana conducted the trial for
you; the evidence was subjected to
THE MOST SEARCHING CRITICISM;
every fact and circumstance Ill your favor proved
or reasonably inferred from the testimony was urged
with zeal ana power: and vet the proofs OF your
guilt were convincing and the jury were compelled,
on their conscences and before God, SO TO declare
All the forms OF procedure designed TO protect the
innocent against uniounded charges and 70 secure
FAIR AND IMPARTIAL TRIAL
have thus been observed; careful Instructions upon
the law pertinent to the and to the testimony
were given to the jury In manner which gave to
truhiuness OF the Witnesses OF the fact OF crime or
OF your own guilt therein. And yet you now stand
before the court convlcled-convcted OF
AN OFFENCE So FLAGRANT
that 1t finds scarcely parallel IN the catalogue Of
crme.
The Court at TINS point asked the prisoner what
he had to say why sentence should not be pro-
The prisoner replied:--I thank your Honor for the
privilege, but have nothing to state now on my
own behalf My counsel has said all that desired
Judge Woodruff con,inued:-On the 10th OF May
last you sailed with more than thirty mariners toll-
GERS and seamen) on voyage to continue, as sup
posed for several years. Harmony anu good Will
apparently prevailed among all on board.
ship appears to have awakened anger pas
sion or revenge. No provocation TO iniure
any one connected with the vessel seems to have
been given. Nevertheless within less than three
months, Tor no apparent reason, save restless de-
thought. Did fair TO yield the hoped for profits, you
conceived and on the night Of the 10th Ut July you
carried into execution your
PLAN TO BURN THE SHIP,
al the Imminent peril nay at almost certainty, Of
the loss Of the lives or all on board 1t is suggested
by your counsel, and 1t may possibly be true, that
you had al the time an expectation that your own
life and perhaps the lives Of the others would be
neither excuses the offence nor Affects the punish
l meni presented. You barne the SHIP You lmpe-
1t, had no just foundation. In fact
ON A FAR OFF SEA,
eight hundred miles from shore a burning ship
there Was TO your companions IN human Judgment
OF what was probable only the alternative of
DEATH BY FIRE OR DEATH BY WATER.
III mallgnliy did not aim at this determined reck-
essness. little less ncnous impelled you. And had
the changing elements been moved from the quiet
of that night or no vessel had PrOvldentay passed
aud seen the labOring boats In which refuge was
sought from the names you kindled, neither you nor
your fellow mariners would have ever told the fate
OF you or them. He who holdeth the wind in HIS
right hand and who can bid the he still has
saved them aud you from The death which seemed
impending. They live to tel the story you yet live
TO suffer the penalty OF The law. and by your fate
warn all men TO beware OI crimes like this.
advert 10 the fearful nature OF your crIme not
for the purpose OF giving you pain, but would
It's enormy; tnat repentance may follow that, be-
lore IT IS too late before the few days remaining to
you on Earth shall pass,
REPENTANCE MAY COME
and avail with Him VINO can save you from more
fearful doom-that death which Is eternal There
human law so nenous but IL may be forgiven by
HIM. Seek that forgiveness.
The law denOunces your crime and declares you
deserving or death. The Jurors by whom you were
trieu III ther pity LOT YOU ia our Rut nave recon-
mended you to mercy. That recommendation Will
be communicated u the President OF the United
states, who alone has power 10 extend mercy to
you: but cannot, in view OF the greatness of your
offence in view OF suffering such crimes to pass
without their Just, though fearful, punishment,
courage Tor moment the hope that any er erence
with the course Of the law Will be had in your be-
hali. urge you, therefore, to prepare to meet the
death to which the law cOnsgns you. You can, at
your desire, nave the advice, the counsel and the
prayers OF
THE MINISTER'S or RELIGION,
such as y0u may select and God grant that, aided
by their counsels, your preparation may be saving
and sure. TO you remains short time in which to
make your peace with God. On me is devolved the
painful but inexorable duty TO pronounce the SELL
ience which the law has declared. and which is
place from which you came that you be detained in
close custody until Friday, the l2th day or May next,
execution, and there. between the hours OF ten
O'Clock In the forenoon and four O'Clock In after
nooD be hanged by The neck unit. you shall be dead.
Ana may God have mercy on your soul. tMurmurs
OF sensation In court.)
The concluding words or the sentence were pro-
nounced by !ne learned Judge IN slow and solemn
manner, and after tney were uttered Perdue re-
NAMED standing, apparently stupehed. Re kept his
eyes downcast, ana finally was removed by the Off-
GERS. II IS several years. probably seven since there
has been capital conviction aud sentence In the
federal courts OF this CITY, fne execution or pirate
on BedlOes Island anu OF Gordon In the Tombs dur
ing the war were the last under the United States
law In New York Efforts will be made to save
Purdues life, the jury strongly recommended him
to mercy.
Frederick Allen and Charles Meredith who had
pleaded guilty OF attempt to sci fire to the ship
with intent to burn or destroy her, were next
brought up for sentence.
The CAPT ain OF lhe shin, Mr.. Pease was, at the
request OF Mr. b. +. Russell, counsel for the prison.
ers called to the stand. lie stated IN reply to ques-
tions that he had been part owner OF tic ship
Robert Edwardes; that these men had done him all
the injury they ever could do TO him, and he had no
desire to have them punished at all.
Mr.. Russeil-So FAR as yon are concerned you are
not opposed TO mid punishmenty
The Captan-I am not Sir.
Mr.. Russell then made some remarks to the Court
IN mitigation Of punishment.
Judge woodruff sentenced the prisoners to ten
years imprisonment each, at hard labor In Albany
pcnitentiary, remarkng tnat the feeling expressed
bv the captain OF the ship. who said he had no de.