739 Sheet – American State Trials 1918 Volume X Leo Frank Document

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Reading Time: 4 minutes [588 words]

Here is the translated text as follows:

PEDRO GIBERT AND OTHERS

The incident began with the sighting of a schooner, which appeared to have two long guns. There was also something covered up amidships, though I couldn't ascertain whether it was a gun or not. The crew of the schooner asked where we were from and where we were bound. After I informed them, they inquired about our cargo, to which I replied that it was saltpeter and tea. They then ordered me to come aboard the schooner.

At that time, the schooner's crew was on deck, numbering about fifty or sixty men. I lowered my boat, ordered four men into it, and went in myself, rowing towards the schooner. We initially steered for the gangway but were directed to go towards the fore-chains. Complying, I held on by the chains when five of the schooner's men jumped into the boat and ordered me to row back to the brig.

Upon boarding the brig, they directed me to go into the cabin, which I did, followed by two or three of them. Two of them presented their knives to my chest and demanded the money on board the vessel. Alarmed, I told them where it was. The pirates ordered the crew to retrieve the money immediately, beating them with the handles of their knives because they were not working fast enough. The boxes containing the money were marked 'P' and were handed on deck as they were retrieved from the hold. The knives used by the pirates were large.

The men accused me of having more money and began searching. One of them threatened to cut my throat if they found more money. Shortly afterward, another came down and insisted I had more money. He had my speaking trumpet in his hand and beat me severely with it.

A short time later, I saw their boat heading towards the schooner with the boxes. About fifteen minutes later, a boat full of them, about twelve in all, returned. I heard them jump on deck, close the cabin doors, and the after-hatchway. There was a great noise, as if the yards were coming down, and I smelled smoke shortly afterward. From the cabin window, I saw them return to their vessel, taking my boat and one of my spars with them. They hoisted in their own boat and scuttled mine, as it filled with water immediately after they cast it off.

The schooner then made sail from the brig. I managed to get up out of the cabin skylight, which they had neglected to fasten. Everything was in disorder, with the rigging, yards, etc., flying about. All the running rigging and halyards were cut away, and the sails were also cut to pieces. The mainsail was hanging over the caboose, the roof of which was on fire. I found a tub of tarred rope-yarns in the caboose. If we had not come upon deck at that moment, the caboose would have set the mainsail on fire, and nothing could have saved the vessel.

I could not swear that any of the men now present were those who boarded the Mexican. However, I saw and recognized a man who landed with these prisoners at the Town Hall in Salem. The man I allude to recently committed suicide in jail. He was one of the two who drew their knives on me in the cabin.

Cross-examined, the schooner was about one hundred and fifty tons burden, of the Baltimore build. There are many vessels of this sort engaged in similar activities.

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