The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-04-20
CAPT. KIDD'S TRUE HISTORY
Employed by Syndicate to Prlvsteer-His
Acts and Trial.
IporUg,,d Ti.onccr;nf

Portland Transcript
William Kidd was born in Scotland, and mar
ried Sarah Wort, of New York. Several men
of London, England, subscribed money, formed
a joint stock company, bought the Adventure
Galley, fitted her with proper armament, and
provisi0ned her at cost of 5000. They en-
plOyed 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 down from London his vessel was
boarded by an impressment crew, his crew
taken, and he had to 20 ashore and secure such
seamen as he could who were well fitted to act
as privateersmen. He sailed, and after being
absent year it began to be talked that his acts
savored of piracy.
When his voyages in the Indian Ocean were
finished he set sail, and appeared in tho Sound
of New York and set goods on shore at several
places. He established himself at Gardeners
Island, near Long Island shore, and sent word
to Lord Belmont at Boston, by named
Emmot, that he had with him $4,000 worth of
goods and had left the Quedah Merchant at
Hispaniola in a creek there with a valuable
cargo; that he wonld prove his innocence OF
what he had been charged with.
The letters Of Kidd and statements Of EN-.
mot and two French passes were placed by
Belmont before his Majestys Council, who at
"a cunning Jacobite, fast friend of Fletcher's.
and my avowed enemy" With their consent,
and in their presence he furnished Mr.. Kidd
"safe conduct" Capt. Kidd relied on this. and
came to Boston with his wife and took lodgings
at Duncan Cempbell's, the most luxurious
house of entertainment In Boston, where he
remained several days.
On July 3, 1899, he was summoned before
His Exoellency and Council to give an account
of his proceedings in his late voyage TO NADIA
gascar. After Capt. Kidd had given a sum-
mary account of his doings, of the cargo on the
slOop now in port, and also on board tho vessels
left at Hispaniola, they required of him to
give detailed account of his voyages captures,
etc. Capt. Kidd found that the safe conduct
which they issued was merely intended to in
duce him TO come to Boston, where he would
be deprived of his liberty. He did not make
any further statement and the Council ordered
his arrest and imprisonment seized his treas
ure chest at Gardeners Island, and took every
thing that his wife had.
The treasure chest contained quite variety
of articles, and the following Is list of its
contents. No. /, one bag Of gold dust. 63a
ounces. No. 2, one bag of coined gold, IL
ounces; one bag of coined gold, 124 ounces.
No. 8, one bag of gold Dust 24f ounces. No.
4, one bag of silver rings, 45 ounces. No. 5.
one bag of precious stones 121 ounces. No. 6.
one bag of unpublished precious stones. No. z,
one bag of pieces Of crystal carnelian. No. 8,
one bag of silver buttons and lamps. No. 9,
one bag of broken silver, 1871 ounces. No. 10,
one bag Of gold bars, 3534 ounces No. IL, one
bag of gold bars, 1881 ounces No. IL, one bag
of gold dust, 59l ounces. No. 49, one bag of
silver 300 ounces.
The Earl of Belmont was evidently anxious
to get possession of the ship and treasure and
preferred negotiation to immediate hostile
measures. Mr. Kidd seemed to have been
willing to surrender ship and treasure but
wished in doing SO to have an assurance or
guarantee of his own protection.
Capt. Kidd requested that he should be taken
as prisoner to Hispaniola to bring back the
Quedah Merchant. Belmont refused. To this
refusal of Belmont we are indebted to the fact
that no man knows where that treasure is to-
day 1t is the treasure in search of which the
whole coast of New England has been visited.
The law officers and those &c the Council
who were known as legal gentleman decided
and argued that there was no authority to send
him to 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 decl ned the boon. In my posses
sion is deposition 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 to England for trial.
Mrs. Kidd,s jewels, silver tankard, silver
mug, silver porringer, spoons and forks were
returned to her, with other pieces OF plate, and
26S pieces of eight.
In England he was confined closely in prison
two years and permitted no counsel. The Gov
eminent was represented by four men. Kidd
was tried both for murder and for piracy. The
murder which he was supposed to have COM
mitted was that OF Moor, his gunner, whose
death resulted from blow given by q water
bucket in a fight without generalization. No
sentence but that of mausaughter was justified
by the evidence. He was found guilty Of MUIR
der. In the trial for piracy ne was treated with
the same injustice
He claimed that his commission justified his
seiziDg the Quedah Merchant, for he said she
WAS sailing under French pass when he took
her. These passes and other papers were in the
possession Of Belmont, aud Kidd could not pro-
duce them.
This case was tried outside of the court by
public hearing. The verdict rendered decided
to let tho confederates, the joint-stock COM
pany and the King escape public censure
The severest criticism made upon the affair was
that Belmont, Somers, Halifax, and others were
guilty if he was Nearly all the privateers
fitted out at that time pursued the same course.
IL SO happened that il was for the interest of
all parties except Capt. Kidd that he should be
the victim and that his name and his memory
should DO blackened with crimes of tho darkest
dye.
Any of our boys can got five of their friends
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