After this, the witness heard Captain Kimber say, that Dowling’s conduct was so bad, he could not keep him: he used to bleed, when it was evidently dangerous, and commit other improprieties in his professional line.
The witness also knew Devereux to have been dismissed from the Wasp for mutiny.
Mr. Dowling was again called, and asked whether it was true, that he had told Mr. Jacks, Lawer, and Riddle, that he would be revenged of, and ruin Captain Kimber if he could. He persisted in his former assertion, and declared that he had never said any such thing. He told the Court, that if they would indulge him with a hearing, he should clear every matter to their satisfaction; but having proceeded in a desultory manner, he was prevented from speaking.
Captain Thomas Philips was examined by Mr. Knowles.
He deposed, that he was on the Coast of Africa when the prisoner was there. Devereux had been turned out of the Wasp for mutiny, and had acknowledged the charges against him to be true: and the witness knew him to be a bad man.
There were, he said, on board Captain Kimber’s ship, great quantities of oranges, which Dowling used to give to the slaves. The witness told him often, that fruits were bad for them; that they would cause the flux, which disease, it appeared, the deceased girl was afflicted with: and he knew, for twenty years he had been in that climate, such diseases carry off persons in the space of two days.
The witness knew the prisoner since he was at school, and he never heard any thing injurious to his character, until the present charge was preferred against him. He was always humane and good natured.
Thomas Lancaster was a mate belonging to the Wasp. He said, that Devereux had admitted the charges made against him: and all the ship’s company looked on him as a dangerous fellow. After he had been turned out of the ship, he remained on shore for two months; and if Captain Kimber had not taken him under his protection, it would be impossible to tell what should become of him.
Devereux was again called, and questioned, as to the truth of what had been said against him: and he declared it was as false as that one was two.