By the Court.  Thomas J. Wansley, you have heard what has been said by the District Attorney—­by the Grand Jury of the South District of New York, you have been arraigned for the wilful murder of Captain Thornby, of the brig Vineyard; you have been put upon your trial, and after a patient and impartial hearing, you have been found Guilty.  The public prosecutor now moves for judgment on that verdict; have you any thing to say, why the sentence of the law should not be passed upon you?

Thomas J. Wansley.  I will say a few words, but it is perhaps of no use.  I have often understood that there is a great deal of difference in respect of color, and I have seen it in this Court.  Dawes and Brownrigg were as guilty as I am, and these witnesses have tried to fasten upon me greater guilt than is just, for their life has been given to them.  You have taken the blacks from their own country, to bring them here to treat them ill.  I have seen this.  The witnesses, the jury, and the prosecuting Attorney consider me more guilty than Dawes, to condemn me—­for otherwise the law must have punished him; he should have had the same verdict, for he was a perpetrator in the conspiracy.  Notwithstanding my participating, they have sworn falsely for the purpose of taking my life; they would not even inform the Court, how I gave information of money being on board; they had the biggest part of the money, and have sworn falsely.  I have said enough.  I will say no more.

By the Court.  The Court will wait patiently and hear all you have to say; if you have any thing further to add, proceed.

Wansley then proceeded.  In the first place, I was the first to ship on board the Vineyard at New Orleans, I knew nobody; I saw the money come on board.  The judge that first examined me, did not take my deposition down correctly.  When talking with the crew on board, said the brig was an old craft, and when we arrived at Philadelphia, we all agreed to leave her.  It was mentioned to me that there was plenty of money on board.  Henry Atwell said “let’s have it.”  I knew no more of this for some days.  Atwell came to me again and asked “what think you of taking the money.”  I thought it was a joke, and paid no attention to it.  The next day he said they had determined to take the brig and money, and that they were the strongest party, and would murder the officers, and he that informed should suffer with them.  I knew Church in Boston, and in a joke asked him how it was made up in the ship’s company; his reply, that it was he and Dawes.  There was no arms on board as was ascertained; the conspiracy was known to the whole company, and had I informed, my life would have been taken, and though I knew if I was found out my life would be taken by law, which is the same thing, so I did not inform.  I have committed murder and I know I must die for it.

By the Court.  If you wish to add any thing further you will still be heard.