Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1897-03-13
Captain Hart Sentenced.

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victed of tilibustering in connection
with the steamer Laurada, of which
he is the owner, was to-day refused a
new trial by Judge Butler in the
United States District Court.
The Captain was sentenced to two
1 years imprisonment and 30 pay a
fine of $500 and the costs of the prose-
cution. The costs will amount to
nearly, if not quite, $4,000
In refusing to grant a new trial
Judge Butler said the only debatable
question involved was whether Cap
tain Hart had furnished the Laurada,
knowing at the time that she was to
carry military expedition TO Cuba
to fight against the Spanish govern
ment, and whether he afterward had
Il knowledge of the military character
of the expedition. The court said
that if the cargo was one not pro-
hibited by the laws, the Captain
would have had no reason to conceal
his identity with the movement. In
cOncealing his identity it was APP
parent that it was his intention to
evade the laws. His interest in get
ting together the men who embarked
on the Laurada showed that he had
knowledge of the character OF the
expedition. Judge Rutler, in refer
ring to the newly discovered evidence
in the case, said the testimony of the
two Atlantic City witnesses was in-
credible. 1t injured the case of
Captain Hart, and showed an at
tempt to bride the government wit
neSses and break down the case of
the prosecution.
The Captain was then commanded
to stand up and Judge Butler said
Il am sorry to have to sentence
YOU AS l have already said, be
iieve YOU have been justly convicted
after fair and impartial trial. The
otfense is a grave one. 1t involves
national honor and the national
peace. You entered upon it with
your eyes wide open, with full
knowledge of its gravity. You did it
for the unworthy purpose OF pecun-
iary gain. You took the risk for the
price and you must now bear the
consequences. do not believe you
belong to the criminal classes, and l
am sorry have got to punish you.
at the time you committed the of
Tense the law was well known, and it
is the duty of the court severely to
punish YOU"
The wife and two other female rel
atives of Captain Hart were in court
when the sentence was announced.
They broke down, and were led from
the room weeping.
Later the captains counsel ap-
peared before Judges Acheson, Dial
las and Burlington, in the United
States Court of Appeals and applied
for writ of error Assistant United
States District Attorney Kane said
that while the government did not
assent to the granting of the writ it
did not oppose such action. The
writ, was then granted and Captain
Hart was released upon the entry of
| bail by his former bondsmen in the
sum required before his trial-S7, 000
Captain Hart was born in Accomac
county, Va, and is thirty seven years
old With his father, James H. Hart,
he came to Baltimore about twenty
years ago. The elder Mr.. Hart began
the commission business, and the
West India fruit business, which he
conducted in small sailing vessels.
AT his death his son succeeded him
and was soon bringing fruit to Balti-
more in steamers. The son was sue
cessful for time, but failed as the
president of the Baltimore Fruit
Company. In 1887 he began the fruit
importing business out of Philadel-
phia, in which he has continued up
to the present time.
In addition to his interest in the
Laurada and the Bermuda, Captain
/ Hart is the managing owner of the
steamer Tyrean. About ten years
ago he bought the wreck of the
steamer Dawn, which was brought to
Baltimore and repaired at the Colum
bian Iron Works She was afterward
named the Caroline Miller, and is
now the South Portland, which is
suspected of being with the Laurada
and the Bermuda on their present
expeditions. The South Portland
performed similar work during the
Haytien war.
Captain Hart formerly owned the
Bernard, now of the Boston Fruit
Company's fleet, and the Bluefields,
now of the Ericsson Line from Balti-
more to New York. He is dashing
business man, but was considered
reckless in some of his projects. An
instance of this was the bringing
to Baltimore of more than 10000
punches of bananas in one ship,
most of which cargo had TO be carried
back to sea and discharged.
The wife of Captain Hart was Miss
Kate Staylor, of South Baltimore.
They have three daughters, after
two of whom-Laura and Ada-the
steamer Laurada was named. The
Captain lives in Camden, N. j.