804 Slide – American State Trials 1918 Volume X Leo Frank Document

772 X. AMERICAN STATE TRIALS.

The Clerk. Jurors look upon the prisoner; prisoner look
upon the jurors. How say, you, gentlemen, is the prisoner
at the bar, Pedro Gibert, guilty or not guilty.

The Foreman, Guilty.

The same verdict was pronounced against De Soto (the
mate), Ruiz (the carpenter), Boyga, Castille, Garcia and
Montenegro. But Costa (the cabin boy), Ferrer (the negro),
Guzman, Portana and Velasquez, were declared Not Gusliy.

The Foreman read to the Court the following recommends-
tion to mercy:

“The sympathies of the jury have been strongly moved in behalf
of Bernardo De Soto, on account of his generous, noble and self-
sacrificing conduct in saving the lives of more than 70 bumen be-
ings, constituting the passengers and crew of the ship Minerva;
and they desire that his case should be presented to the mercifal
consideration of the Government.”

Jupee Sroey replied that the wish of the jury would cer-
tainly be complied with both by the Court and the prose-
euting officer.

The sequitted prisoners, on motion of Mr. Hilliard, were direeted
to be discharged, upon which several of the othera loudly and angrily
expressed their dissatisfaction at the result of the trial. Caatillo
(a_half-easte, with an extremely mild and pleasing countenance),
pointed towards heaven, and called upon the Almighty to bear wit-
ness that he was innocent; Ruiz uttered some words with great
vehemence; and Garcia said “ail were in the same ship; and it was
strange that some should be permitted to escape while others were

unished.” Most of them on leaving the court uttered some invect
Ive against “the picaro who had eworn their lives away.”

On Costa, the cabin boy, being declared “Not Guilty” some degree
of approbation was manifested by the audience, but instantly
checked by the Jupex, who directed the officers to take into custody
every one expressing either assent or dissent.

The jury were discharged; the Juncs thanking them for the grest
patience and attention they bad exhibited throughout this painfal
trial, and hoping they would find, in the approbation of their fel-
low citizens, and in the testimony of their own consciences, that
revard which always resulted from the performanes of an act of

uty.

The convicted prisoners were then sentenced to death.