249
PAPERS OF MIR.A.BEAU BUON.A.P.A.RTE LAMAR
l aoking sight of the actual_ piratical act committed in the capture of the Brig Tremont- At the first trial the jury coulq. not agree on a verdict; and being discharged a new trial was granted-At the second trial, in the examination of a new witness the evidence of the capture of the Tremont was elicited and the witness stated that he had accepted the papers of the Brigs Tremont and the Correo, in the hands of Mr Lockett at the time the charges were preferred against the prisoners- Mr Lockett disclaimed any recollection of receiving the papers-The witness appealed to the Deputy Collector l\Ir Gordon, as evidence of the fact of the delivery of the papers to :Hr Lockett-Mr Soule one of the counsel for the prisoners protested against the admission of this testimony respecting the Tremont-but being over ruled by the Court, (Judge Harper) he charged Mr Carleton with the manufactory of tes- timony; to which imputation Mr Carleton gave him the lie direct; whereupon Mr Soule threw a Book at his head- Carleton retorted in like manner-This threw the whole court into confusion. The jury sprung from their seats-the judge thundered silence & order; but with no effect-Amidst the tumult, just as the antagonists were about to close, the Honble Branch T. Archer, (then one of the three Commis- sioners) rushed forward and seizing each of the belligerents by the collar held them apart, until both agreed to a cessation of hostilities, and peace was restored- The trial proceeded-the jury again were divided and could agree upon no verdict-the combattants were thrown into prison- the suit was discontinued, and the prisoners were re- leased- So ends this part of the chapter-- Thompson returned to l\Iexico; was in the Service of the Govt at the time Capt Wheelright, (I believe of the Invincible) was captured, hav- ing on board the Honble Wm H "\Vharton (returning to Texas from Washington City where he had been sent as l\Iinister)- Wheelright was captured off Velasco, and taken to l\fatamoras-Wheelright was badly wounded in the fight-At Matamoras .Thompson succeeded in procur- ing the escape of Wheelright & Wharton; and also J A Wharton who had gone to Matamoras on hearing the capture of his brother, and was himself made prisoner there. Thompson was compelled finally, to leave the place in consequence of his participation in their escapes; came to Galveston. He was appointed by Genl Houston commandant c:f' the [ J station at Velasco- His conduct there, however, was so oppressive, insulting and intolerable that the citizens went to his h ,use, took him out and were about to Lynch him; but were pursuaded Jt .of it by his strong entreaties to spare him for the sake of his amily-He remained at Galveston, running a small vessel down the coast; and left finally about 1841, for Tobasco, where he was killed in grog shop broil- The Schooner Correo, after Thompson's trial was claimed by the Mexican authorities, and was delivered; but no commission in service either of the vessel or Commaacler was found among the papers-The only official paper, was an order from g[enl ?] Coss, to Lieut Thomp- son, directing him to fit out the Vessel at the Brazos Stiago, & proceed in her with dispatches to Capt Tenoria at Anahuac. * * * * *' * * * * *21 21 Several lines omitted where Lamar repeats himself.
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