The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-07-20
tack Upon his ship, the Rssolu-

1
to their stations. The crew stood in
knots. Finally.a majority sent Kidd
word that they would rather night
for than against Culliford. Kidd was
furious but cool. His adherents to
save his life locked him In his cabin.
Culliford breathed easily. When Kidd
heard the drunken shouts Of the
pirates that night he barricaded him.
self and prepared for more trouble
1t did not come. The pirates were
afraid of him. Also, they respected
him and many of them had a liking
for him.
In the latter part of 1898 Kidd
sailed from Madagascar. Except as
pirate his venture was a failure ana
he refused to be a pirate. His first
port homeward was Anguilla, West
Indies. He was short of provisions.
He found that he was short of news
also. He had been proclaimed a pirate
by the Government, which was in
partnership with him. The Queens
borough man of war was looking for
him. A pardon was offered to all
pirates who surrendered before the
last day of 1898. except Capt. William
Kidd. This was a facer. His plans
were changed. It had been his in
|
to New York and there tell all that
had happened. His wits were acute.
He saw his danger. He knew that
he was to be made a scapegoat. Well.
he would fight. Through one BALM
he bought a swift sloop at Curacao
He transferred all moneys and port
sbe valuables from the Queddah Mer-
chant to the Antonio. The latter could
carry but small part of the ships
cargo In the latter was $50 bales
Of the finest silks. He left ship and
cargo to BALM. to do the best he
could with. Twenty-Five of the crew
remained with her.
With a crew of twenty the Antonio
was pointed for Delaware Bay. There
Kidd learned that Lord Bellomont was
anxious to lay him by the heels. Kidd
warned his crew of the danger of
standing by him. Only one man,
Gillian, took his own and left. The
Antonio dropped anchor In Gardeners
Bay. Her captain had many talks
with Mr.. Gardiner. owner of Gardeners
Islands. The Antonio sailed for Oyster
Bay. From that place he sent his
story TO LORD Belomont The latter
promised to send him a safe conduct.
Later he did so. Mrs. Kidd met her
|
with him for Block Island She brought
the family silver. thinking he might
need money. Meanwhile he had planted
most of the Antonio's cargo
Reaches Boston.
On June l. 1899. Capt. Kidd sailed
into Boston harbor and at once paid
hi; respects to Lord Bellomont. His
arrival caused much excitement.
Everywhere he was followed by a
crowd He held his head hizh and
was a figure Of uncommon interest.
KIDD had been in Boston six dayr
l%hen he was put in prison. The same
fate met such of his crew as he could
not force to leave him. He was ex-
amined repeatedly by a commission.
His papers fell into Lord Bellomont,s
hands. He asked for a trial. His ac.
cusers were afraid OF his popularity
and refused TO give him a trial in
America. Col Livingstone was the
orly one OF his associates who stood
by him. He remained in Boston until
the winter of 1901. He reached LON
don April of the same year.
London was seething. The prints Of
the day were full of THE CORPORATION
OF Pirates" when the text OF the
grant issued to Capt. Kidd and his as
sociates became public property Lon
oon traders, especially those who had
Iost money through piracy. cooked
their ears. The London merchant Of
the day may have been slow. but he
was ooSSed IN pursuit of his rights
90 ne muttered, IF any Of my goods
a are recovered from the original pirates
m they are to be conhscated for the ben
no ing soon became a roar Now the Lon
ey don traders had friends in the Gov
eminent and friends In the opposition.
IN and they worked both against Cant.
r Kidd and his associates. The Govern
Ill ment to save itself must perforce have
ne scapegoat. Its choice was made AZ
n, orce. Capt Kidd
n The Grand Jury brought out AN in.
!" dictment against Kidd for the killing N
ct Moore, the mutineer. who abused him
lis because he would not take a Dutch
Id ship, the Loyal Captain. His trial bc-
10 fore the Admiralty Court began at the
err Old Bailey on May /. 1901. At ne
N stage of his trial was he allowed
Of counsel He refused TO plead until the
ed Court told him that further refusal
lie would imper!l his life. Then he
in pleaded not guilty. He was his owp
re witness and his own counsel. The
a very atmosphere told him that he was
be doomed yet he was as cool and COL
TX lected as when he stood on the deck
ry OF his own ship in happier days. The
ID Government witnesses were well
OF trained, so was the jury, and Kidd was
p convicted, The trial was a wretched
er farce. not a trial.
III on the following day Kidd and nine
ne OF his men were put on trial for piracy.
~ Kidd asked for counsel for himself and
10 his men. This was refused The
, pirate witnesses told their we'll drilled
:. tale Again Kidd made one OF them
=. admit that he was in the hands of this
- mutineers when thee oueddah Mer.
-, chant, the only ship mentioned in the
~ indictment, was taken, It was to no
% purpose No testimony would have
IA gotten him out of the moose The
a. Government was determined TO take
n his life, and so with the cut and dried
to assistance of the Admiralty Court
Id Kidd and his men were found guilty
m and sentenced to be hanged
Nv The prints of the day said that the
Mt trial was rapid beyond measure" This
Old Bailey WAS MACLEOD