American Sailor is Tried For Shooting a Black Seaman in England

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/31/2008

A great pair of Civil War-date letters, 6pp. 8vo., written from Liverpool, England, Aug. 16-17, 1861 to the mother of a certain William Crosby, of Maine, who was tried by English courts for shooting a disorderly Black sailor during a riot on a merchant vessel. In part: [William Desiha, Aug. 16, 1861…your son Wm. Crosby was tried yesterday for shooting a Negro in the arm & was…acquitted [and] has…only but one months longer imprisonment…merely to make him more cautious for the future…he desires me to write you. His attorney will also write you. The negro was in court & his arm is quite well…I attended as a witness & gave him a good character…[Barrister Charles R. Copeman, 16 Castle Street, Liverpool, England, Aug. 17]…I have acted as the attorney for your son…the reports of your son's misfortune were exaggerated. The simple facts are these. On the 8th May…your son's vessel…having a crew of blacks, on board, many of whom are well known as disorderly & dangerous characters. On the 9th they found fault with the food without occasion. By the Captain's orders a white crew was taken on boar…their appearance caused the blacks to draw their knives & a row commenced. Your son…treated the men with the utmost consideration…one of the black men advanced upon him with his knife…he [your son] then fired his revolver…intentionally missing the man to frighten the fellow. The shot…struck a harmless man some ten yards…off. Your son…was tried…for 'shooting with the intent to murder' for 'shooting with the intent to do grievous [bodily] harm' and for 'unlaw[full] shooting'…the jury acquitted him but the judge said they must find him, by the law of England guilty of the last offence…after much consultation…the judge…sentenced your son to one month imprisonment without hard labor…William Crosby is convicted of misdemeanor not felony. He will be liberated early in September…my conviction of your son's being the victim of misfortune…has caused me to write this letter…". Negligible paper loss with some soiling, else very good.

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