Trial of the Officers and Crew of the Privateer Savannah, on the Charge of Piracy, in the United States Circuit Court for the Southern District of New YorkWarburton, A. F. (Adolphus Frederick)
History
Trial of the Officers and Crew of the Privateer Savannah, on the Charge of Piracy, in the United States Circuit Court for the Southern District of New York
Warburton, A. F. (Adolphus Frederick)
Piracy -- United States; Privateering -- United States; United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865
_A._ I worked as journeyman ten years, and have been seven years in
business of my own.
_By Mr. Smith_:
_Q._ Do you think you can understand English well enough so that you
can, from the evidence, form an opinion of your own?
_A._ I think I will.
_By Mr. Larocque_:
_Q._ You read the account of the capture of the privateer Savannah in
the newspapers?
_A._ Yes, sir; in some German paper.
_Q._ Did you form or express any opinion as to the guilt or innocence
of these prisoners?
_A._ No, sir.
_Q._ Did you form or express an opinion whether the facts charged
against them, if proved, constitute the offence of piracy?
_A._ No, sir.
_Mr. Evarts_: We think the juror's knowledge of the language is shown,
by his own examination, to be such as should at least entitle the
Government to ask that he should stand aside until it is seen if the
panel shall be filled from other jurors--if that right exists. Your
honor held, in the case of the United States _v._ Douglass--a piracy
case tried some ten years ago--that that right did exist.
_The Court_: I think we have since qualified that in the case of
Shackleford. It was intended to settle that debatable question, and it
was held that the Act of Congress, requiring the empanneling of jurors
to be according to the practice in State Courts, did not necessarily
draw after it this right of setting aside. We think the objection taken
is not sustained.
_Juror sworn._
_Matthew P. Bogart_ called. Challenged for principal cause by Mr.
Smith:
_Q._ In a capital case, where the evidence is sufficient to convince
you of the guilt of the prisoner, have you any conscientious scruples
that would prevent your rendering a verdict of guilty?
_A._ No, sir.
_By Mr. Larocque_, for the prisoners:
_Q._ Have you read the account of the capture of the privateer Savannah
in the newspapers?
_A._ I recollect reading it at the time--not since.
_Q._ Have you ever formed or expressed an opinion upon the guilt or
innocence of these prisoners?
_A._ Not to my recollection.
_Q._ Have you ever formed or expressed an opinion whether the facts
charged against them, if proved, constitute the offence of piracy?
_A._ I have not.
Challenge withdrawn. _Juror sworn._
_George Moeller_ called. Challenged for principal cause by Mr. Smith:
_Q._ In a capital case, where the evidence is sufficient to convince
you of the guilt of the prisoner, have you any conscientious scruples
that would prevent your finding a verdict of guilty?
_A._ No, sir.
_By Mr. Larocque_, for the prisoners:
_Q._ Have you read the account of the capture of the Savannah? _A._
Yes, sir.
_Q._ Have you formed or expressed any opinion as to the guilt or
innocence of these prisoners?
_A._ No, sir.
_Q._ Have you formed or expressed any opinion as to whether, if the
facts were proved, as alleged, it was piracy?
_A._ I do not know what the facts are, sir. I have only read an account
of the capture.
Challenge withdrawn. _Juror sworn._
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