Shipwrecked by Jonathan W. White

Author:Jonathan W. White
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
Published: 2023-04-29T00:00:00+00:00

The first day of the trial did not involve much more than the opening statements. Oaksmith complained that his mail had been opened and read while he was in prison, but Justice Clifford concluded that “there was no reason for any action in the matter.” Witnesses began to appear the next day. John F. Tucker, a clerk at the Merchants’ Bank in New Bedford, testified that $7,275 had been deposited in that bank “in the name of Oaksmith, or by him” sometime between August 1 and September 9, 1861, and then had been withdrawn before September 12. Thomas E. Borden, a stevedore who had unloaded the Margaret Scott at New Bedford after she had been seized, testified that “she was not fitted out as whalers usually are”—that she had more fresh water and too few provisions for a whaling expedition. Others testified about the sale price of the vessel, that her sails and rigging were insufficient for a long whaling voyage (which could last upwards of three or four years), and that the whaling industry was depressed at this time. A reporter for the New York Herald noted that Oaksmith “appeared much interested in the evidence elicited from the witnesses, taking copious notes of the questions and answers.”

The next witness to appear was Ambrose Landre, the captain of the Margaret Scott. Upon seeing the witness, one newspaper reported, Oaksmith “turned pale, and stroked his beard a little nervously.”14 Sawyer asked whether Landre’s testimony was valid if he was under indictment in that same federal court for his role in the alleged slaving voyage. Justice Clifford replied that his testimony was admissible.

Landre testified that he had met Oaksmith in July 1861 at the wharf in New Bedford and that they had talked for thirty minutes about purchasing a ship to send to Africa on a slaving voyage, although they would try to make it appear like a whaler. They agreed to meet again at 10 p.m. that night at the Parker House in New Bedford, where they decided that Landre should find and purchase a vessel for the voyage and that, after the successful trip, Oaksmith would pay him $5,000, each officer would receive $1,500, and each member of the crew $500. Landre told Oaksmith that $1,500 was not enough for the officers, so Oaksmith agreed that they would be “satisfactorily compensated.” Landre was “to use every endeavor to make her pass as a whaler,” and the officers and crew would be kept in the dark as to the real purpose of the voyage until after they were at sea. Over the ensuing few weeks, the two men corresponded and finally they agreed to purchase the Margaret Scott for $2,400 in the name of Samuel P. Skinner. The vessel was supposed to be cleared on Saturday, September 7, but before she could get underway, she was detained by a revenue steam tug and both Landre and Skinner were arrested. Throughout his three-and-a-half-hour testimony Landre called Oaksmith “Morris,” for throughout their alleged dealings Oaksmith had gone by the name “A.

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