755 Page – American State Trials 1918 Volume X Leo Frank Document

Here is the translated text as follows:

PEDRO GIBERT AND OTHERS

I remember going ashore and don't think Perez was in the boat; there were only two of the prisoners, and they were the men whom I have mentioned. I recall going to the River Bona in the Curlew. Some of the prisoners were on board the Esperanza, and others on board the Curlew. The mate, the carpenter, and three others were in irons. The captain of the Panda did some translations for Captain Trotter; Captain Trotter might have regaled him with wine and brandy. When we were in the River Bona, the Esperanza got aground less than a mile from the shore; many of our hands had gone up the river in boats, leaving only fourteen or fifteen on board. I don't know whether all the prisoners were on board at the time. They assisted our men readily in getting her afloat again. I do not think the prisoners outnumbered our men.

While at Nazareth, I considered we were in some danger from the natives—can't tell whether it was by the intercession of the captain and mate of the Panda that Captain Trotter was not killed. A search was made to find the money taken from the Mexican, but it was unsuccessful. Captain Trotter recovered $683 of it at Cape Lopez. I know of no place where slaves cannot be purchased for money, except in the interior. The natives take the dollars to the English merchants and get goods.

The principal objective of the Curlew was the capture of slavers. Four years is not an extraordinary cruise for such a vessel as the Curlew. All the men belonging to the Curlew and Panda were sent ashore. Prisoners were guarded by sentinels; they were allowed to go into the outskirts of the town. I don't know whether prisoners were in irons; I did not see irons on them; I did not see them go ashore. I saw the captain and mate of the Panda in irons on board the Curlew. I do not know whether the sentinels were placed to guard the English crew as well as the prisoners. I cannot say whether any part of the crew of the Curlew was appointed especially to perform guard duty.

Ascension is a small island, perhaps 14 or 15 miles in circumference. Curlew's people were mostly employed about the vessel; some were allowed to go ashore when they chose; I don't know what they did on shore. There were about four hundred soldiers in the town—also a few boats belonging to the island, and our own boat lying on the beach. A sentry was stationed at the end of the wharf. There were no boats in any other part of the town; there are no boats owned by the inhabitants; a guard from the garrison is constantly stationed over the boats; the wharf forms part of the fortifications. Captain Trotter did not cruise after a prize to replace the Panda, that I know of. He (Captain Trotter) could not return to England without orders; I am sure of this; he did not show me his sailing orders; he was not accustomed to do so.

I think there are about four hundred inhabitants in Ascension; they reside in two parts of the island. Prisoners could not have procured a boat to leave the island unless they cut down a tree and made one for themselves. Prisoners never tried to escape, to my knowledge. Once,