The New York herald., 1871-03-10
UNITED STATES CIRCUIT COURT.
Arson on the Hieh Seas-The Burning OF the
Ship Robert Edwards.

Arson ON the Hieh sens-The Burning OF the
Ship Robert Edwards.
Before Judge woodruff.
The United States Us. charles Perdue, Charles
Meredith ana Frederick AlN,e-Indicted for burn.
ing the American ship Robert Edwards on the high
seas on the Goth OF June last, was continued yeser
day morning. The examination of witnesses for the
prosecution was resumed. The first witness called
was
Deputy Marshal Allen, who testified that he had
eected the arrest of the prisoners in this disrict
NOTION TO QUAsH THE INDICTMENT.
Counsel for the prisoners then moved to have the
Indictment against the prisoners quashed on the fol-
lowing grounds
FssEBecause it is not sustained by the evidence.
Denied.
,Second-To discharge Meredith because there is
no evidence but his own confession to prove cor
fhtY1-To rule all the confessions OF the prisoners
ont o. the % case as irrelevant on the ground that
aSasR on the ground lSat the owner
s6B And hatIcna q the yesss! are not SUFFICIENTLY
Mr.. Benjamin F, Russei ns.:eedea 70 oren tho
case for the delenss He made lengthy Ps address s
W 1hH Jay, In which he held to the theory tnat the
ship had been fred by accident and that the confess
had been procured in an illegal manner. Counsel
spoke of the total lack OF motive on the part Of the
In the voyage, and SUCH on act as is charged against
them would affect themselves more than any one
Jury ,ury should remember that by firing the
ship the men were jeopardizing their lives.
They We're on the open sea- ~ 500 miles from
ship they were rushing to sure destruction. That
such an act should be Committed by reasonable be-
ings was impossible. Counsel dwelt upon the evi.
dence Of Duncan, which he thought unworthy Of
THE TESTIMONY FOR THE DEFENCE.
r.
he testified he at present resided In Williamsburg;
he was one Of the crew on the last voyage Of the
witness was lying on the hatch, and one OF the
first to see the smoke: he gave the alarm, and called
heard the first mate accuse some of the or set
ting fire 10 the ship; the mate accused In turn
e es strike tns mem with m he ame or time
handspike; the crew were always badly treated; the
officers beat them numerically; the mate and cap.
witness never saw Perdue cry when tho captain
spoke to him; when the captain spoke to him he
beard; Perdue and Meredith were on the hatcn with
Witness when the smoke was first seen; Duncan had
Also been there.
Cross examined by the District Attorney-I re.
ceiyed no money from Duncan since his arrest; re-
cetved some money from Perdue; about fifty dollars.
julius Splnger prisoner In Ludlow Street Jail,
was next called and examined relative to the con.
versations he had had in the jail with the accused,
George Hail, also cs5fned in Ludlow street jail,
testified that he heard Duncan say his shipmates
speak against his shipmatss, and Duncan sH reped. a.
mo; but am going to free myself and get posi-
Uran ]. Mosly, John Ely and several others were
called relative to the prisoners characters all of
which were pronounced good.
rebutta and pronounced Ed. Lockwood an lnvete-
At this stage Of the proceedings Mr. Ira D. Warren,
associate counsel, proceeded 70 sum up the tesii.
inony for the defence. He reviewed the evil
dence with considerable ability, and argued
out a' many s dscrepaSces i IN the % eSl9esce 1eSe
and showed that many Of the statements Of the wit.
Ssrce upon the character Of the confessions made
Dy the men, and endeavored tp show that in every
tImony Of Duncan, who turned States evidence.
counsel said he came upon the stand with rope
ns II neck ( be esed h against II T. his 3 fsw .
truth and released them he would have been indicted
npon the confessions he had made. He contended
premium upon treachery and perjury.
do. woodru ines Tan CHARGE nrnsscaea i cn.ro. n,
fury, He said that without corroboration OF the
testimony Of Duncan, the infermer, they should not
e q Tie % 70 ha as COM
fession was voluntary confession 1t was the first
and strongest Of all testimony. If that confession
was involuntary and the result OF violence threats
or future favor, then It was 40 testimony at all.
tAs '1s rgr 1sl JURY ,e QUESTIONS TO rfn COURT. :.
The jury were out about an hour, when Judge
Woodrun resumed bis seat on the bench ana In.
question to him which no would only hear IN the
presence OF counsel OF the prisoners. T..
Tho Jury were then ordered into court, when
Judge Woodruff, addressing them, said
GENTLEMEN--I have received the following ques.
tion from your foreman. ! desire that It should be
again. The question Is whether you cannot dis
criminate between the prisoners In rendering your
verdict. The answer Of the Court is "Yes for all
fhe purposes Of the trial Is as to each or
the accpsed-as to each severally. II you are
satisfied beyond reasonable doubt by the evidence
~ ~ Ear ID
1ed N regard to The guilt Of one or more you will
81 declare by your vcrdictn
lhe Jury again retired and remained In consulta-
sion until half-past SIX oiclooS wnen they returned
lG.o the court and gave Tie following
VERDICT.
'iwo fnd Pcrdue guilty ana recommend him to
mercy, and VIC ina Meredith ana Allen guilty as
1ecessoiIes before the fact and also recommend
them 10 mercy" Y
lmdco Mnn0ml stated they would hnpc 10 he