New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-03-16
THE COURTS.
ARSON ON THE HIGH SEAS.
BURNING OF THE ROBERT EDwARDs-PURDU
SENTENCED TO BE HUNG


BURNING OF THE ROBERT EDWARDs-PURDUE
SENTENCED TO BIZ HUNG.
In the United States Circuit Court, yester-
day. sentence Of death passed for the first tins In
six years, Charles Purdue found guilty OF burning the
ship Robert Edwards being the victim Of the law After
reviewing the case, and speaking Of the mpartality
with which the trial had been conducted Judge Wood
ruf addressing the prisoner, said
You convicted Of ofense fragrant that 1t finds
scarcely parallel in the catalogue Of crimes On the
10th of May last you sailed with than thirty fellow
mariners a voyage continue, supposed, for
eral years Harmony and good will apparently prevailed
the ship appears TO have awakened anger passion.
Yenge No proyocatOn To inure any one connected with
within less than three months for apparent reason
save restless desire to terminate voyage which did
not you thought hid fair to Weld the hoed for profits
you conceived and the night Of the goth OF July, you
carried into execution your plan to burn the ship a the
Imminent peril nay at the almost certainty OF the loss OF
the hives OF all on board
II is suggested by your counsel and II may possibly he
true that you had at the time an expectation that your
own life and perhaps the lives Of the others would be
sayed-that all might reach the land. If trne, that
neither excuses the ofense nor affects the punishment
prescribed. You burned the shipyou imper1ed human
lives; and even the expectation, II you felt IT, had no
just foundation. In fact oa farof 500 miles from
in human Judgment Of what was possible only the alter
native Of death by fire death by water IL malgity
did not aim at this determined reckessness little less
henOus mperled you; and had the changing elements
been moved from their quiet on :hat night or mao no
IN which refuge was sought from the faInes soon
kindled, neither you your fellOw-mariners would
have told the fate of yor them. 70 who hodeth the
wind i'm his right hand and who can bid the waves De
still" has saved them aud you from the death which
live 10 suffer the penalty OF the law and by your fate To
warn all men to beware of crimes like cha
advert the fearful nature OF your crime not for the
purpose Of giving pain; but would have realize
the guilt that rests upon you in all ts en0rmity mat re-
nenfance NAV come and may avail with Him who can
save you from fearful dOom-the death which Is
fense against laws heinOus but IL may DE ior
given by Him. Seek that forgiveness
The law denounces your crime and DECLARES you ds-
serving OF death The jurors by whom you were tired
in their pity for You I'm your guilt, have recoinennea
Won TO mercy. That recommendation VIII De c0ihinum
Gated to President Of the United states VINO alone
has power to extend mercy to y0Hi Dut L cannon,
In view OF the greatness OF your ofense IN view
OF the danger OF suffering such crimes t0 pass
without their just though fearful, punishment ene0raEe
for moment the hope that any interference WIN Iie
course of the law viii be had N your befa urge you
therefore 10 prepare tO meet the death 10 wDcn IS Ia"
cOnsgns you You can, at your desire nave tne EIee,
the counsel and the prayers of the ministers OF
such az you may select, and God grant that adSd Wy
their coinses your preparation may be SAVING anu SURF
TO Won remains short time in which TO MAKE yoh peaSe
with God On me is deyOlyed the painful Du lhexofa9e
duty TO pronounce the sentence which the law mas de
clared. ,. J., .,o On
Judge Woodruff then sentenced Purdue to be hung on
Friday May TO- 1871 between the hours OF ~ d. H. anu
p III.