of the jurors felt of our pulses, to see if we were unusually excited.
Leroy testified that I had confessed to the murder at twelve o'clock the
night it occurred, and that I had told him of it when the watches were
changed. At my trial it was proved that I had not spoken to him from the
evening before the murder until we were on the revenue cutter.

The coroner's jury ordered that we three be held for trial. So the mate
was handcuffed and the three of us were taken to the Charleston jail,
where we remained for about six months. As soon as the news reached New
York, my father and Leroy's brother got letters of introduction to the
most prominent men in Charleston and started for that city. In the
meantime we had our examination before the United States Court
Commissioner and were held over to the Federal grand jury without bail.
The ship's crew were detained in jail as witnesses. It was a picnic for
them, as they were each to receive one dollar and a half a day,
comfortable quarters, the freedom of a large yard for exercise, and
their food, with no work. On the ship it was hard labour with only
twelve dollars a month for the voyage.

When my father and Mr. Leroy arrived they were welcomed by some of the
leading citizens, and in a short time made many friends. They at once
retained the four best lawyers in the city. We three prisoners were kept
separate, but, as Henry and myself boarded with the jailer's family, we
were together at meal hours. I made many friends, while Henry seemed to
be disliked by everybody. The mate was kept in a cell by himself all the
time. A leading Freemason came from New York to Charleston and retained
a competent law firm for his defence. The Freemasons were the only
friends he had, and they stood by him well.

No indictment was found against Leroy by the grand jury. He was released
and put under bonds as a witness.

My trial came first. It lasted nearly a month and created much
excitement North and South. Leroy's testimony was all there was against
me. In the cross-examination he was badly rattled, and told so many lies
that everybody got disgusted with him. He was proved to be a liar by
some of his old schoolmates. The jury acquitted me without leaving their
seats. They all shook hands with me, and I was congratulated by
everybody. I was put under bonds as a witness.

The first mate's trial then took place. Circumstances looked bad for
him. His cruelty to Leroy and myself made a bad impres