The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-05-24
capt. KIDS TRUE HISTORY
Employed nv Syndicate to Privateer-
His Acts and Trial.

William Md was DOfH III ocotldHi
and married Sarah Vert. of New York.
Several men of London. England, sub
scribed money. formed a joint stock
company bought the Adventure galley,
fitted her with proper armament, and
provisioned her at d cost of $500. They
employed Mr.. Kidd as commander and
furnished him with q commission to act
against the French and pirates, or, IN
other words. as a privateer. The king
was to receive one-tenth Of whatever
the vessel brought home.
On the way dawn from London his
vessel was boarded by an impressment
crew. his crew taken. and he had to go
ashore and secure such Seamen as he
could who were we'll fitted 10 act as
privateersmen- He sailed, and after
being absent "A Year it began to be
talked that his acts Savored of piracy.
When his voyages in the Indian ocean
We're finished he set sail and appeared
in the sound of New York and set
goods on shore at several places.
lie established himself at Gardi
ner's island, near the Long island
shore, and sent word to Lord Bel
mont at Boston. by man named
Emmot that he had with him $4,000
worth of goods and had left the Quedah
Merchant at Hispa niola in creek there
with valuable cargo: that he would
prove his Innocence Of what he had
been charged with. The letters OF Kidd
and statements of Em1not and two
French passes were placed by Belmont
I,,a rln at hel
same time describes kidd'S messenger
as "a cunning lacobiie, a fast friend Of
Fletchers, and my avowed enemy"
With their consent and in their pres
ance. he furnished MIR. Kidd a safe
conduct Capt. Kidd relied on this
and came to Boston with his wife and
took lodgings at DUNCAN Campbeli ),
the most luxurious honse of entertain
mcnt in Boston. where he remained
several days.
On July 3. 1929. ne was summoned be-
fore his excellepcy and council TO give
an account of his proceedings in his
late voyage to Malaga scar. After Capt.
Kidd had given summary account of
his doings, of the cargo on the sloop
now in port and also on board the YES
sells left at iispanioa, they required of
him to give detailed account of his voy
age, captures.etc Capt. Kidd found that
the safe conduct which they issued was
merely intended to induce him to come
TO Boston. where he would be deprived
of his liberty. He did not make any
further statement and the council or
dered his arrest and imprisonment,
l. 4
island and took everything that his
wife had The treasure chest contained
quite variety of articles. and the fol-
lowing is a list Gifts contents:
No !. one has of gold dust, 3314 onces.
No :, one bag Of cored gold, II ounces, one
bag OF coined gold. l24 ounces
No 3, one bag OF gotd dust 2+sf ounces.
No {, one bag of silver rings, As ounces
No ). one bag Of precious stones i2b9 ounces.
No 6, one bag % unpolishet precious stones.
No :, one bag 81 pieces OF crystal carneIian
No S, one bag OF silver buttons and lamps
No 9, one bag OF broken silver, 1873 ounces
No 10, one bag of gold bars, 1884, ounces.
No II. one bag Of gold bars, 2gsis ounces.
No ~ one bag of gold dust. sos ounces
No. u. one bag Of silver, 100 ounces
The earl of aBelmont was evidently
anxious to get possession of the ship
and treasure and preferred negotia ton
to immediate hostile measures Mr..
Kidd seemed to have been willing to
surrender sh Ups and treasure. but wished
in doing SO to have an assurance or
guarantee of his own protection.
Capt Kidd requested that he should
he ia ken as a prisoner To HiSpaniola to
bring back the Qucdan Merchant. Bel
mont refused. To this refusal of Bel
mont we are indebted to the fact tina
no man knows where the treasure is to-
day. II il the treasure in search of
which the whole coast of New England
has been visited. The law officers and
those of the council who were known
as legal gentlemen decided and argued
that there was no authority to send him
20 England. Belmont and his council
had an elephant on their hands which
they did not care for Opportunity was
allowed for his escape. but he declined
the boon. In my possession is a depo-
sition which is the evidence. and also
that money was ready for him. The
authorities here retained those papers
which he acted under. and sent him Ia
England for trial. Mrs. kidd'S Jewels.
\ silver tankard. silver mug. silver
porringer. spoons and forks were re-
turned to her. with other pieces OF
plate and go pieces Of eight.
In England he was confined closely in
prison two wears and permitted no coun.
eei. The government was represented by
four men Kidd was tried both for mar.
der and for piracv. The murder which
he was supposed To have committed was
that of Moor. his gunner, whose dealt
resulted from blow given by water
bucket in fight without prelncdita
ton. No sentence hut that of man
slaughter was justified by the evidence
He was found guilty Of murder. In IN,
trial for piracy he was treated with IN,
same injustice lie claimed that hi
commission justified him in selling In,
Quedah Merchant. for he said she wa
sailing under a French pass when h,
took her. These passes and other IA
pers Were N the possession of Belmont
and Kidd could not produce them Thi,
case was tried outside 81 the court nN
public hearing. The verdict rendered.
decided TO let his confederates the Joint
stock company ana the king. cscap IT
public censure. The ~evereSt criticism.
made upon the affair was that Belmont
Somers. Halifax and Others were g-uil,y
if he was Nearly all the privataer.
fitted ont at that time pursued The same
course. 1t SO happened that il was fol
the interest Of all parties eNcep; Capt
Kidd that he should he the victim and
that his name and his memory shoald
Toe blackened with crimes OF the dark
est dYe.-Portland TRANSCRIPT