The sea coast echo. [volume] (Bay Saint Louis, Miss.) 1892-current, 1893-06-24

could who were we'll fitted to 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
were finished he set sail and appeared
in the sound of New York and set
goods on shore at several places.
He established himself at Gardi-
ners 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 Hispaniola 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 Emmot and two
French passes were placed by Belmont
before his majesty's council, who at the
same time describes Kidds messenger
as "a cunning Jacobite, fast friend of
Fletcher's and my avowed enemy"
With their consent and in their pres
ence, he furnished Mr.. Kidd "safe
conduct" Capt. Kidd relied on this
and came to Boston with his wife and
took lodgings at Duncan Campbell's,
the most luxurious house of entertain
! ment in Boston, where he remained
several days.
On July 8, 1899, he was summoned be-
fore his excellency and council to give
an account of his proceedings in his
late voyage to Madagascar. After Capt.
Kidd had given a summary account of
his doings, of the cargo on the sloop
now in port and also on board the ves-
sells left at Hispaniola, 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,
seized his treasure chest at Gardeners
island and took everything that his
wife had. The treasure chest contained
quitea variety of articles, and the fol-
lowing is list of its contents:
No ], one bag Of gold dust, SSsl onces
No z, one bag of coined gold, II ounces; one
bag of coined gold 12i ounces.
No. g. one bag of gold dust, 242 ounces
| No. 4, one bag of silver rings, Ak ounces
No. s. one bag Of precious stones, 12H ounces.
NO o, one bag of unpolishei precious stones.
NO. 7, one bag OF pieces of crystal carnelian.
No 8, one bag Of silver buttons and lamps
No O. one bag Of broken silver, I'M ounces.
No. 10, one bag of gold bars, 35S4 ounces.
! No. ii, one bag of gold bars, 2381a ounces
No. IL, one bag of gold dust 59H ounces
No. IL, one bag of silver, 3o9 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 ships 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 Quedan Merchant Bel
mont refused. To this refusal Of Bel
mont we are indebted to the fact that
no man knows where the 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 OF the council who were known
as legal gentlemen 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 declined
the boon. In my possession is 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 to
England for trial. Mrs. Kidd's Jewels,
silver tankard, a silver mug, silver
porrlnger, spoons and forks were re-
turned to her, with other pieces of
plate and 260 pieces of eight.
In England he was confined closely in
prison two years and permitted no coun-
sci. The government was represented by
four men. Kidd was tried both for muir
der and for piracy. The murder which
he was supposed to have committed was
that OF Moor, his gunner, whose death
resulted from blow given by water
bucket in fight without premedita-
tion. No sentence but that of man
slaughter was justified by the evidence
He was found guilty of murder. In the
trial for piracy he was treated with the
same injustice. He claimed that his
commission justified him in seizing the
Quedah Merchant, for he said she was
sailing under a French pass when he
took her. These passes and other pa
pers were in the possession of Belmont,
and Kidd could not produce them. This
case was tried outside of the court bv
public hearing. The verdict rendered
decided to let his confederates, the Joint
stock company and the king, escape
public censure. The severest criticisms
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. 1t so happened that it was for
the interest of all parties except Capt.
Kidd that he should be the victim and
that his name and his memory should
be blackened with crimes of the dark
oct Iuo -Dprt1o nj