The Eighth, Thomas Morris, Prisoner, had little more to say than pretending that several Persons who were absent, would say something in his Justification; but no one present declared any Thing in his Favour.
The Ninth, George Bendall, Prisoner, had nothing to plead for himself; but desiring Mr. Kerr for Evidence, he was sworn, and declared, That he heard the Prisoner say, that he wish’d he had begun the Life sooner, for he thought it a pleasant One, meaning that of a Pyrate; and farther deposed, that the Prisoner reported, that he had once a strong Inclination to have smother’d John Graves, Esq; his Majesty’s Collector for the Islands, as he lay feeble in his Bed, whose Servant the Prisoner was, but a short Time before he shipp’d himself for the intended Voyage, when he join’d the other Prisoners at the Bar in their Mutiny and Pyracy.
David Meredith being also sworn, declared, That Bunce did once beat the Prisoner, who told him, that if Bunce, &c. beat him once more, he would desert them the first Opportunity.
The Tenth, William Ling had nothing farther to say for himself.
Then the Prisoners were remanded to the Fort; after which, all Manner of Persons were commanded by Proclamation to withdraw.
Then the Court summ’d up the Evidences for the King and the Prisoners, which being debated and considered, all the Prisoners, except John Hipps, were unanimously voted guilty of their Indictment, and the Register was ordered to draw up their Sentence. It was thought convenient to respite the Judgment on John Hipps, Prisoner, till Monday next; and the Court adjourn’d till Four this Afternoon, at which Time being met according to Adjournment, and Proclamation made, the Prisoners were brought to the Bar. Then John Hipps was remanded to the Guardship in Irons, and all the rest asked, if they knew any Cause why Sentence of Death should not be pronounced against them? They had nothing more to say, but to desire some Length of Time for Repentance.
Then the Sentence was read, as follows:
The Court having duly considered of the Evidence which hath been given both for and against you the said John Augur, William Cunningham, Dennis Mackarthy, Geo. Rounsivel, Wm Dowling, Wm Lewis, Tho. Morris, Geo. Bendall and Wm Ling; and having also debated the several Circumstances of the Cases, it is adjudged, that you the said John Augur, Wm Cunningham, Dennis Mackarthy, Geo. Rounsivel, Wm Dowling, Wm Lewis, Tho. Morris, Geo. Bendall and Wm Ling, are guilty of the Mutiny, Felony, and Pyracy, wherewith you and every of you stand accused. And the Court doth accordingly pass Sentence, that you the said John Augur, Wm. Cunningham, Dennis Mackarthy, Geo. Rounsivel, Wm. Dowling, Wm. Lewis, Tho. Morris, Geo. Bendall and Wm. Ling, be carried to Prison from whence you came, and from thence to the Place of Execution, where you are to be hanged by the Neck till you shall be dead, dead, dead; and God have Mercy on your Souls. Given under our Hands this 10th Day of October, Annoq; Dom. 1718, sign’d
Woodes Rogers,
Wm Fairfax,
Robert Beauchamp,
Thomas Walker,
Wingate Gale,
Nathaniel Taylor,
Josias Burgiss,
Peter Courant.
After Sentence of Death pass’d upon the Prisoners, the Governor, as President of the Court, appointed their Execution to be at Ten a-Clock on Friday next in the Morning being the 12th Instant.