The Sun. — 1806-11-18 (London, England)

MONDAY, NOV. 17.  THE KING. V. JOHN ROBINSON. This. person was brought up by Habeas COrpus, from the county jail of Lancaster, to give security 'for his'appearance to take -his trial before the Court of Admiralty, for- murder committed on the High Seas. From the depositions read on behalf ofthe prosecution, it appeared, that the Defendant, in the year 1805, sailed as i\laster of the .Ship Lancaster, on a voyage from Liverpool to the coast of Africa, from thence to Barbadoes, and back again to the port from whence he first departed. , They proceeded to Old Calabar, with every man peaceable and obedient on board. One evening Robinson, the Captain, came on board in a violent passion ; insisted that one of the crew, named Dunlap, wasp drunk ; ordered him to be tied up to the rigging, -and direCted the Boatswain to infli& upon him a dozen lashes with the cat-o'nine tails. When the sufferer was taken down, the Master, not contented, seized the instrument, and struck the man very! severely ; and Dunlap was obliged to confine himself to his hammock ; he was much bruised, and !died in 'a few days. This happened on the 24th of. :June, 1805 ; and a short period afterwards; another .of the crew, named Grady, likewise fell under Robinson's ,dipleasure; the lash was applied, and the 'death of the sufferer soon followed. These, bow/ • ever, were not the charges against the De" feadant, .for which he stood indicted : the specific allegation was regarding the murder of one James Williams. It happened one night that this person unfortunately haying drank too much liquor, fell asleep during -his watch, and the Captain, Robinson, entering the Ship at the time, discovered it. He immediately waked Williams, and knocked him down several'] times, insisting upon knowing where he had got the spirits. .The man begged, in vain for mercy. Ro binson continued to .beat him, and after having mu-, dered him unable to stand, he kicked him most unMeacifully while 'on the ground.' In a few hours Williams died, ,but not before, the _Defendant had thought fit to call in, too late, the assistance of a medical man, and the body of the seaman vas cast into the sea. The Ship was afterwards captured by a French Privateer, but re-taken by one of His Majesty's Sloops of War. This- account was deposed to by three witnesses :- Law, the boatswain ; Smith, a- seaman ;. and another. On the part of the Defendant the affidavit of Robinson was first read. It stated, that the whole of the prosecution was a mere conspiracy to frighten the Defendant into certain wages claimed by the seamen.. His ship had been captured after an hour's struggle with a vessel of 12.0 men, when five of his crew had been killed, nine wounded, and himself shot through the body by a musket ball. His vessel was, however, re-captured, and it became -necessary each should sustain his share of salvage. This, Law, Smith, and one other (the Prosecutors), refused to do; and a prosecution, to intimidate the Defendant, was first set on foot for the alledged murder' of another man, and afterwards abandoned. Robinson continuing resolute, and! refusing to pay them their wages without deducting the proportion of salvacre, they commenced this indiament : Law, the boatswain, declaring with on oath that he would hang the Defendant; Affidavits were likewise produced from nutherous respectable Merchants and Captains of Ships;! who gave the Defendant an irreproachable charaCter for honour, bravery, and lenity. The Court dire&ed, upon consideratiOn, that Robinson should become security for his appearance in 4001. and that he should find four other peisons to do the same in tool. each; which was immediately done.