mphreys answered at first
in a very suspicious and ambiguous manner, but at length said, that
Gilbert Smith, the boat-steerer who was saved, and Peter Kidder, were
going to re-take the ship. This appeared highly improbable, but they
were summoned to attend a council at which Comstock presided, and
asked if they had entertained any such intentions. They positively
denied ever having had conversation upon the subject. All this took
place in the evening. The next morning the parties were summoned, and
a jury of two men called. Humphreys under a guard of six men, armed
with muskets, was arraigned, and Smith and Kidder, seated upon a chest
near him. The prisoner was asked a few questions touching his
intentions, which he answered but low and indistinctly. The trial, if
it may be so called, had progressed thus far, when Comstock made a
speech in the following words. "It appears that William Humphreys _has
been accused guilty_, of a _treacherous and base act_, in loading a
pistol for the purpose of shooting Mr. Payne and myself. Having been
tried the jury will now give in their verdict, whether Guilty or Not
Guilty. If guilty he shall be hanged to a studding-sail boom, rigged
out eight feet upon the fore-yard, but if found not guilty, Smith and
Kidder, shall be hung upon the aforementioned gallows!" But the doom
of Humphreys had been sealed the night before, and kept secret _except
from the jury_, who returned a verdict of Guilty.--Preparations were
immediately made for his execution! His watch was taken from him, and
he was then taken forward and seated upon the rail, with a cap drawn
over his face, and the rope placed round his neck.

Every man was ordered to take hold of the execution rope, to be ready
to run him up when Comstock should give the signal, by ringing the
ship's bell!

He was now asked if he had any thing to say, as he had but fourteen
seconds to live! He began by saying, "little did I think I was born to
come to this------;" the bell struck! and he was immediately swung to
the yard-arm! He died without a struggle; and after he had hung a few
minutes, the rope was cut, to let him fall overboard, but getting
entangled aloft, the body was towed some distance along side, when a
_runner hook_,[A] was attached to it, to sink it, when the rope was
again cut and the body disappeared. His chest was now overhauled, and
sixteen dollars in specie found, which he had taken from the Captain's
trunk. Thus ended the life of