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PEDRO GIBERT AND OTHERS. 149

will be convinced, on a moment’s reflection that this could not
have been the case.

T may have trespassed in my cross-examination, gentlemen,
upon your patience; I may have been more minute in minor
particulars than prudence would seem to dictate; if we had
been posseased of any other resort this would not have been
the case. But, as it was, we could obtain not a ray of light,
excepting by the strictest scrutiny and closest examination.
Perez tells you at first that the men on board wore both black
and white shoes; and afterwards, that he saw no black shoes
on board, and, still farther, that the officers wore black shoes.
Again, he says that the boatswain was a poor man and could
not afford to wear 4 jacket; and afterwards he tells you that
the boatswain had a black monkey jacket. How can you ree-
oneile statements given in testimony so directly contrary in
point of fact? Why, this witness seems to me to think it a
luxury to lie; yes, he seems to luxuriate in these equivocal
statements and falsehoods. I do not think we can account
for his conduct in any other way, unless, indeed, he be in-
sane; and if that is the case; if this poor, unfortunate indi-
vidual is suffering under the visitation of God, whereby he
is deprived of reason, then that is a sufficient reason for re-
jecting his whole testimony.

‘We next come to the division of the money, concerning
which this witness informs you there was no rule of prin-
ciple adopted. Now, I would ask, if it is probable that men
would act thus carelessly respecting the darling object of
their souls; to obtain which they had forfeited their honor,
their reputation and their very livest The money, saya Pe-
rez, was found in bags like velvet. How does this agree with
another of his statements, that the bags were made of dark,
eoarse linen? He also tells you that he is but twenty-two
years of age; and the next moment states that he was a cabin
boy during the wars of Morillo.

And I call your attention to the statements made by Pe-
rez in relation to the confessions at Fernando Po, and upon

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