Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1922-02-28
FAMOUS TRIALS
ARsUTHNoT AND AMsRIsrER


Andrew Jackson, the hero of New
Orleans gained perhaps what was his
first military experience and fame in
the Seminole war. The Seminoles in
Florida were Of a very hostile dispo
sition to the Americans. Determining
to crush them once and for all, Jack
son set out with 5000 white troops and
1000 Indian allies. 1t was not the for
eign agents who had long been prac-
Using their intrigues and villainies in
this country.
Among the men of this class was
Woodbine, Arbuthnot and an officer
named Robert c. Ambrister, Woodbine
was able Quckily) to escape before the
arrival of Jackson. Arbuthnot trusted
to the sanctity of the Spanish neutral
ity with fatal results, and Ambrister
was found at Suwanee. These adven-
turers both Englishmen, were made
prisoners and held for courtmartial
The people who made up the judg-
! ing body were men who were accus-
toned to hate Woodbine and many
! thought that he and Arbuthnot were
one and the same. Those who thought
! otherwise were so piqued at the escape
of the leader of the black and red
rebels. that 1t seemed as though ev-
| erything BODIED Ill for Arbuthnot. He
was charged with melting the Indians
to war, he being a citizen of Great
Britain. with acting as q spy for the
Indians, and with supplying them with
arms and other assistance. The third
charge was that he had melted the In
dfans to kill two American traders
Hambly and Doyle, but the court ruled
that in this matter, It had no power
AS evidence against the older pris-
oner, Arbuthnot a letter was produc-
ed, signed by II chiefs, purporting that
Arbuthnot was to represent them In
: any business whatever and could write
, letters for them.
To the second charge letter wa
: produced written by the prisoner Il
: his son at Suwanee, warning him O
the coming of Jackson and directin,
him to remove all his property to {
place of safety, and also to tell tn,
Indian chief, Bowlegs, that 1t was use
less to oppose ths Americans. Thi
, Information, 1t is beloved, was the caus
. of Jackson's disappointment IN his de-
ire of vengeance. as It allowed the In
s dams to escape into the woods. 1t wa
, then shown by the prosecution tina
Arbuthnot had in his possession
kegs of powder.
e Although offered the services of
: counsel the prisoner spoke in his owl
9 defense He said that the letter to hi
: son was only to enable him to save hi
e property and to warn the Indians t
t submit to the Americans; and as t
J. the powder, he said, It was no NOR
e than a new supply that was needle
e for his trading and hunting with tn
: Indians.
g The court then ruled that whateve
s the purport of the writer when send
t ing the letter. whether for innocer
purposes or not, 1t, nevertheless ha
enabled the Indians to escape annihi
lation. Also that If he had sold the
time 1t would make a great differenc
t in the attitude of the histilities
e The court courtmartial then sen
e fenced the prisoner to death by hang
: ing. Although his fate was undeserve
IS it would not have overtaken a ma
IS of prudence.
Is The same court consisting Of Brew,
Maj. Gen. Gaines, six officers of tn
H. militia and six officers of the reguls
= army, then tried Ambrister. He plead
y ed not guilty and showed that In h
m defense, his escapades were not Il
ID the purpose of wrongdoing, but mol
n for the love of adventure. He was IL
1t nephew of the governor Of New Prov
ie dence, and was about to return to Emf
te land where he expected to be marie
ig but love of adventure had led him
a the India trouble in Florida. He WI
first sentenced to be shot but Il
he court seeing that he had had no sill
IN lister designs refuted this sentence
is one of 80 lashes on the bare back al