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

106 X. AMERICAN STATE TRIALS.

to some accident, she shortly afterwards blew up, thereby
Killing several of the Curlew’s men. Capt. Trotter then sailed
to other ports, still making efforta to discover the crew of
the Panda, and at last succeeded in arresting the individuals
now present.

One of these men, named Perez, had been received as
State’s evidence, and two other persons, Portuguese, who had
served on board the Panda, but had not been concerned in
the robbery of the Mexican, would also appear and give their
testimony.

Mr. Dunlap paid a high compliment to the British govern-
ment and navy, for the perseverance manifested in ferreting
out the individnals concerned in this act of piracy, and for
the feelings of courtesy and good will which had dictated the
transfer of the prisoners to this country, instead of at once
subjecting them, as might have been justly done, to trial and
punishment in England. He then cited to the jury the law
of the United States in relation to piracy.

THE WITNESSES FOR THE PROSECUTION.

Joseph Peabody. Am sole own-
er of the brig Mexican; shipped
on board ten boxes, eaeh contain-
ing $2000 when the brig sailed
from Salem on 29th August,
1832; next time I saw her was
forty-two days after; have fre-
quently made the voyage from
Salem to Havana; believe a ves-
sel sailing from the former place,
on 20th August, for Rio Janeiro,
would moet another sailing on
the 20th from the latter place,
in lat. 33, lon. 34-30, where the
piracy was committed.

Capt. John Groves Butman.
Am master of the brig Mexican,
of Salem; sailed from that port
20th August, 1832; had on board
$20,000 in ten boxes, containing
$2000 each. On the 20th of Sep-
tember, fell in, lat, 33, lon, 3414,

with a schooner, about 4 in the
morning—looked like a Baiti-
more clipper—had a low, long,
straight hull—when it became
quite light, found her on our
weather quarter, standing from
us; she then tacked and passed
to windward of us—between 9
and 10 she was on our weather
bow; about 10, tacked and en-
deavored to escape from her—
did not like her looks—saw a
man at the mast-head looking ont
—thought her a very suspicious
Tooking vessel. About ten min-
utes after he set his square sail,
and came directly down upon us
—when within gun-shot he fired
& gun to leeward—we then hove
to. Firing a gon is the vsnal
signal to heave to, Saw a great
number of men on board, and