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"Mr. Holabird to Mr. Forsyth, 5th September, 1839." U.S. Congress. House. Africans Taken in the Amistad. 26th Congress., 1st sess., 1840.H. Doc. 185.
Mr. Holabird to Mr. Forsyth.
[EXTRACT.]
DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT,
Office of District Attorney, Winchester, September 5, 1839.
SIR: You are undoubtedly apprized of the fact that the marshal of this district
has in custody the Spanish schooner "Amistad," with her cargo and 41 blacks,
supposed to be slaves. A court of inquiry has been holden by the district judge of
this district on board the schooner, and the blacks indicted for the murder of the
captain and mate. It appears from the evidence that the blacks (slaves) were taken
on board the schooner at a port in the island of Cuba, to transport to another port
in the same island; when from seven to ten leagues out, they murdered the captain
and mate, and took possession of the schooner, (27th or 28th of June.) On the 26th
of August last they were discovered off Montauk point by the crew of the surveying
brig Washington, commanded by Lieutenant Gedney, and by him boarded and brought into
the port of New London, in this district. The blacks were committed, and are now
in the jail at New Haven. The schooner and cargo have been libelled by Lieutenant
Gedney and crew for salvage. The next term of our circuit court sits on the 17th
instant, at which time I suppose it will be my duty to bring them to trial,
unless they are in some other way disposed of. Should you have any instructions to
give on the subject, I should like to receive them as soon as may be.
I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
W. S. HOLABIRD,
United States District Attorney.
Hon. JOHN FORSYTH,
Secretary of State.
