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

The United States Circuit Court room was crowded
yesterday morning, as it was understood that the
prisoners convicted OF various offences ut the present
term, including Charles Perdue, found guilty OF
burning the snip Robert Edwardes at sea- 800 miles
from land ttne punishment for this offence being
DEATH. would be brought up for sentence.
Judge Woodruff took his seat upon the bench
punctually at the usual hour.
THE BURNING OF THE SHIP ROBERT EDwARDEs-
SENTENCE OF DEATH UPON CHARLES pERDuE.
Charles Pcrdue was brought forward for sen.
tence. hush OF solemn silence reigned through
the court room Judge Woodruff began his re-
marks to the prisoner in the following terms:-
You, Charles Perdue, heretofore charged
WIN most helhous crime-tne burning OF snlp
on the high se0s-unmindfu or the horrors OF such
q scene; regardless OF the destruction OF properly
you were bound to pro'ect ana preserve reckless OF
examination and inquiry before the proper officer
the
PROOFS OF YOUR GUILT
such as, IN his Judgment required that you be
held prisoner TO answer. grand jury, selected
intelligent impartial, just men-upon hearing the
evidence tending TO establish your guilt found 1t
their duty TO present you for trial. Your trial has
been mad Twelve far and impartial men. having no
motive and no purpose but to learn and declare the
truth were selected Dy your own COUNSEL, unaSr inc
not only to exclude any others from the jury, but
with large fr edom 10 reject any who were not salts
factory TO you In every respect. Twelve 5ucn men
were empanelled to Inquire whether you were guilty
or not OF the offence, and after q full investlga-
Lon patient hearing and a careful and cautious
scrutiny OF the evidence they, upon their oaths, pro-
nounced you
GUILTY.
Able counsel appeared anu conducted the trial for
you; the evidence was subjected TO
THE MOST SEARCHING CRITICISM;
every fact and circumstance III 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 cOnsciences and before God so TO declare.
All the forms OF procedure designed to protect tho
| MT a. . m anh In
FAIR AND IMPARTIAL TRIAL
have thus been observed; careful Instructions upon
the law pertinent to the case and to the testimony
were given to the jury IN manner which gave to
you the sene1t OF every reasonable doubt OF the
ruthfulness or the witnesses OF fact OF crime
OF your own guilt therein. And yet you now stand
before the court convlcled-cOnvlcted OF
AN OFFENCE So FLAGRANT
that 1t finds scarcely parallel III the catalogue OF
The Court at TINS point asked the prisoner what
he had to say why sentence should not be pro-
n0unced upon nm.
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 tofi
GERS and seamen) voyage to continue, as sup
apparently prevailed among all board.
No ilttreatnent rom the officers OF me
sion or revenge. No provocaton To injure
any one connected with the vessel seems to have
months, ior no apparent reason, save restless de-
sire 10 terminate voyage which did not, you
thought Did fair 10 yield the hoped for profits, you
conceived and on the night VI the 10th Uf July you
carried into execution your
PLAN To BURN THE SHIP,
al the imminent peril nay ut almost certainty, OF
the loss Of the lives or al on board. 1t Is suggested
by your counsel and IL may possibly be true, that
you had III the time an expectation that your own
life and perhaps the lives OF the others would be
saved-that all might reach the land. II true, that
neither excuses the offence nor Affects the punish
meDt prescribed. You burne the snip. You lmpe-
rllled human lives; even the expectation, you ielt
IT, had no just foundation. In fact,
ON A FAR OFF SEA,
eight hundred miles lron shore on 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 al this determined reck-
lessness. little less henous. impeled you. Aud had
the changing elements been moved from the quiet
@ dnat nlg OF no vessel had proyiaentay passed
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 waves be still has
saved them aud you from The death winch seemed
To sar the peny Of w an :; yoa e.
warn all men to beware OF crines like this.
advert TO the fearful nature oil your crime, not
for the purpose OF giving you PAIN, but would
have you realize the gullt that rests upon you IN all
Its enormly; tnat repentance may follow that, be.
lore it is too late before the few days remaining TO
you on Earth shall pass
REPENTANCE NAY COME,
and avail with Him VINO can save you from more
fearful dOOm--that death which IL eternal There
Is no crime against man so great, offence against
human law so nenUus. but II may be forgiven by
HIM. Seek that forgiveness
MERCY
The law denounces your crime and declares You
deserving OF death. The Jurors by whom you were
tried, in their pity Tor YOU III guilt have recon-
mended you to mercy. That recommendation Will
be communicated To the President OF The United
states, who alone has power 10 extend mercy to
offence, in view OF suffering such crimes to pass
without their just though fearful, punishment,
courage 1Or moment the hope that any ner erence
hall. urge you, therefore, to prepare to meet the
death to which the law constgns you. Yon can, at
your desire, have the advice, the counsel and The
THE MINISTER'S or RELIGION.
such as you may select, and God grant that, aided
by their counses, your preparation may be saving
and sure. To you remains a short time in which to
make your peace with God. On me IS devolved the
painful but nexorabe duty to pronounce the
tence which the law has declared, and which is
place from which you came that you be Detained in
close custody until Friday, The 18th day Of May next,
ana tnat on tnat ,iay you oe taken to the place OF
O'Clock In the forenoon and four O'Clock In the after
noon, be hanged by The neck until you shall be dead.
And may God nave mercy on your soul. (Murmurs
OF sensation IN cOlrt.)
The concluding words OF the sentence were pro-
nounced by the learned Judge IN slow and solemn
manner, and after they were uttered Perdue re-
NAMED standing, apparently stupe1ed. Fe kept ms
eyes downcast, ana finally was removed by The ori-
GERS. 1t Is several years. probably seven, since there
has been capital conviction aud sentence IN the
federal courts OF this city. Tne execution or pirate
Bedloe's Island ana 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, as 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 The ship, Mr.. Pease was, at the
request OF Mr. b. F. Russell, counsel for the prison.
ers, called TO the stand. He stated in reply Gues
tions that he had been part owner OF the ship
Robert Eowardes; 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 O mid punishmenty
The Capain-I anl 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
Penitentlary remarking tfat the feeling expressed