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CHARGE OF INCITING TO CRIME. SOME STRANGE STATEMENTS. Joseph Amarally and Capetula, the cooliemen who were arrested some time ago on a charge of arson, and who,on the application of their solicitors in the Police Court, were ordered to be indicted in stead on a charge al inciting to commit crime, were brought up in the Kingston [Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday Bef ore Mr. E. Vickers. “ They were charged with Osue and soliciting William Spleen and Edward Kirby to set fire to a house Mr. R. Hori ball and Mr W. H. Heyliger, Clerk of the Courts, prosecuted ; and Merare, Lake, Simpson, and Samuels appeared for both defendants. His Honour said he did not know whether more than one solicitor could ap pear for one man. The case, however, proceeded. Mr. Hudball, in opening, said that the aecuted were charged with ieciting and soliciting two men to set fire to the dwelling house of another coolie, Mr. Samuels objected that the case was beyond the jurisdiction of the Covurt, as they were not charged with a misdemean our. After reading the information, it was found that it was only a misdemeanour and nots felony, and the case wont on Mr. Honibasll continuing said that the owner of the house, Mary Marriage, sad the defendants were constantly quarrel ling, and in March, the evidence would rove the defendant Capetula sent for Kirby and Spleen. They were promised as each TO BEAT THE WOMAN Marriage and her husband, and if they could not do this they were to set fire to their house. Spleen, who was also called “Big William,” and Kirby went to the Police and reported the matter to them. They were men of notorious character, and that was consis tent with the fact that one respectable person, would ever have been approached with such an offer. William Spleen, slias “Big William,” said he knew both of the defendants. He met Capetuls on the 12th of March. The accused said, Massa William, I wanted to see you long ago. I heard you were going to beat Amarally for Mary Marhaze. He has gone to Port Antonio, but when he returns he will give you some moneys and rum. On the loch be and Edward Kirby went to Capetala’s house in Smith Village. Capetala said his friend had gone to pin coolie depot and told him to come the next day. On the 7th he met Amarally along with Jovepti Heath who took him to a rum shop and offered him a half pint. He refused that, and asked for A BIG @ILL OF RUM and four cigars. After drinking the rum, they met Edward Kirby, but Amaraly did not want to spesk. He told him he was not an @ bat a friend. They then received 7 each and Amarally said, ‘IT want you to beat Mary Marriage and her husband and also to SET A LITTLE FIRE to the house.’ He thought it strange, and straightway went to the police station and reported the matter. Cross-examined by Mr. Samuels. They spent the money, with the exception of 104., which he took to the police, Cross examined by Mr. Simpson. He did not tell the police that he was employed to “burn down’ the house but only “to set a little fire’ He went along with Kirby and Heath to Marbbage’s house after receiving the moneys. He never stopped anywhere after, except at a rum shop, where they spent nearly all the money while he was going to the goal. He spent 33.141. for drinks for himself He did not know how much Kirby paid for his. Mr. Lake suggested, it being 345 pm. that they should adjourn, as both the witness and Kirby would communicate, and they would not be able to test then properly. His Honour said he would continue with the case. Continuing, witness said he took the run by the “big - There were about seven off in the shop drinking. He could not give the names of any. They called him “ Watcher,’ and he called them the same. He was not “gone” after taking those drinks, as ho uld take a lot of drinks without getting luck. He had FREQUENTLY BEEN TO PRISON but never for larceny Edward Kirby said on the 16th inst., he and William Spleen went to Capetolas house,and they were told that they were wanted by Amarally to beat Marbege -end, his wife and also to burn down the hut if they could not oa them for the whipping. He went to Amaraly’s hoose and introduced “ Big William’ on the 16th March, and got similar instructions. They met again on the 17th March near Ebenezer Church, and got instructions again to seat the other coolies or set fire to the house. They received 4s each in advance for drinks, which they spent. After this, they went to the police aod made state ments. Crone-eximined by Mr. Lake. He gave evidence some long time ago before Mr. Egerton to a similar case, in which he was incited to commit murder. The man was discharged. Mr. Lake: Mr. Honibal!, in opening said you were a notorious character. Is that true? Witness: Quite true. Mr. Lake Con tinuing, he said he spent Is 34 in drinks with his friends, he paid is 91 for rent, and returned the other shilling to the police. He would drink rum with any man whether he knew him or not. He took the 4s after they consented to do the net. He took the money chiefly to drink. He did not know the bat, but said it was thatched because he heard so. He saw the remains of the hut after it was burnt. Cross-examined by Mr. Simpson. The money was io florins, and they went in a rum shop immediately after receiving it. Each man drank his own rum, which he paid for himself. All the arrange ments took place at Ebenezer Church gate. They were to get more money, as the dollar was only for drinks, ~ | the Court; he did see Mary Marriage's place before the fire, and it was a mistake when he said he never saw the place There were three of them in in the ram shop, and Amserally was in another apartment. If “Big William” said they were in “ Miss Ada's ram shop, it would not be true at being 5 o'clock, the court adjourned until noon today.
Newspaper Details
Kingston Daily Gleaner
Kingston, Kingston, JM
Thu, Apr 10, 1902
Page 7
Full Page
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Anonymous
USA 06 Dec 2025
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