The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-01-29
THRILLING ADVENTURE AT SEA
MUTINOUS SAILOR KILLED FIVE OF THE CREW AND HIS TWO
COMPANIONS BARELY ESCAPED GALLONS.

in mutinous conduct days before. 1t
was after Scott had been overpower-
ed and bound that he killed Coakley.
He was lying upon the deck, and,
without the knowledge of the other
three sailors, had got possession of
n of his murderous revolvers.
Feigning sickness. he called to Coax
ley. requesting that some covering be
placed over him to protect him from
the weather. Coakley humanely hunt
ed an old coat and was in the act of
spreading it over Scott when the lat
ter managed to roll on his side and
discharge the revolver he held in his
hand. strapped at his back. Coakley
fell. mortally wounded.
cot became vindictive because
Adams and Sawyer turned him over to
of fastening guilt upon them. He as
serted that after they had killed the
white officers and their associate
Coakley they spared his life to sur
render him for trial. in the expecta-
ton that they could by their testi-
mony fasten guilt upon him and thus
escape themselves.
The charges and countercharges of
Adams and Sawyer on the one, hand
and Scott on the other furnished rich
material for the jurists and the GRIM
inal lawyers. No harmony could be
brought out of them, and there being
no other living witness of the crimes
the disposition of the case rested upon
deduction and a knowledge of human
nature. Right there the error was
committed. and later it was repeated
by such an eminent authority as the
late Henry M. Hoyt. while acting as
solicitor general. Those upon whom
devolved the responsibility of u%nravcl-
YnSP f11n rn11AiotSy,r ~u-l.-
the conclusion upon the ground that
1t was physically impossible for Scott
to nave murdered the five men alone
and unaided. All three were convict
ed Of murder and sentenced to be
hanged.
Three times before his execution
Scott confessed that he alone was
guilty, and confirmed the testimony
given by Adams and Sawyer as ac-
curate statements Of the method he
pursued in committing the murders
An appeal of the case was taken to
the supreme court Of the United
States. where technical and constitu.
tional objections raised in behalf OF
the convicted men were overruied.
Then executive clemency wa.
sought. In the usual routine the par.
don attorney of the department o.
justice Investigated and made his re.
port, WHICH was reviewed by Henry NJ
Hoyt, then solicitor. Mr.. Hoyt hat
appeared for the government wher
the case was before the supreme
court. and he expressed his opinion
that there was not sufficient .warran,
to justify the exercise of executive
clemency.
He held hat the confession of Scot,
proceeded rather from a spirit o,
bravado and a desire to defeat the
ends Of justice than from any wish
to do justice to Adams and SAWYER
The death sentence of Adams ant
Sawyer was .commuted to life impris.
onment and the two men were sent t.
Atlanta. :,
Then an Englishman by the name
Of Warner became Interested in thu
mysteries Of the case. having a desire
to see that Justice was done. He EN-.
ployed a New York lawyer to investi.
gate every possible detail. his desire
being in the event the statements OF
Adams and Sawyer were substan tiat.
ed to again have the matter called t.
the attention of the authorities IN
Washington. Interested only on thu
grounds Of humanity. Mr.. Warner