IT was proved against this Prisoner, by Captain _Trahern_ and _George Fenn_, that he was one of those Voluntiers who was at the Attack and Robbery of the Company's Ship, called the _King Solomon_: That he bully'd well among them who dar'd not make any Reply, but was very easy with his Friends, who knew him; for _Moody_, on this Occasion, took a large Glass from him, and threatned to blow his Brains out, (a favourite Phrase with these Pyrates) if he muttered at it.
From others acquitted, it likewise appeared, that he was at first a Voluntier among them, from an Island call'd _Dominico_, in the _West-Indies_, and had to recommend himself, told them, he was a Deserter from the _Rose_ Man of War, and before that, had been on the High-Way; he was always drunk, they said, and so bad at the Time they met with the _Swallow_, that he knew nothing of the Action, but came up vapouring with his Cutlash, after the _Fortune_ had struck her Colours, to know who would go on Board the Prize; and it was some Time before they could perswade him into the Truth of their Condition.
He could say little in Defence of himself, acknowledg'd this latter Part of Drunkenness; a Vice, he says, that had too great a Share in insnaring him into this Course of Life, and had been a greater Motive with him than Gold. _Guilty._
W_Illiam Allen_ deposed, he knew this Prisoner at _Sierraleon_, belonging to the _Ann_ Galley; that he had a Quarrel with, and beat the Mate of that Ship, for which (as he said) being afraid to return to his Duty, he consorted to the idle Customs and Ways of living among the Negroes, from whom he received a Wife, and ungratefully sold her, one Evening, for some Punch to quench his Thirst. After this, having put himself under the Protection of Mr. _Plunket_, Governor there for the Royal _African_ Company: The Relations and Friends of the Woman, apply'd to him for Redress, who immediately surrendered the Prisoner, and told them, he did not care if they took his Head off; but the Negroes wisely judging it would not fetch so good a Price, they sold him in his Turn again to Seignior _Jossee_, a Christian Black, and Native of that Place; who expected and agreed for two Years Service from him, on Consideration of what he had disbursed, for the Redemption of the Woman: But long before the Expiration of this Time, _Roberts_ came into _Sierraleon_ River, where the Prisoner, (as Seignior _Jossee_ assured the Deponent,) entered a Voluntier with them.