32 
subject. All this took place in the eve¬ 
ning. The next morning the parties 
were summoned, and a jury of two men 
called. Humphreys under a guard of 
six men, armed with muskets, was ar¬ 
raigned, and Smith and Kidder, seated 
upon a chest near him. The prisoner 
was asked a few questions touching his 
intentions, which he answered but low 
and indistinctly. The trial, if it may 
be so called, had progressed thus far, 
when Comstock made a speech in the 
following words. “ It appears that Wil¬ 
liam Humphreys has been accused guilty, 
of a treacherous and base act, in loading 
a pistol for the purpose of shooting Mr. 
Payne and myself. Having been tried 
the jury will now give in their verdict, 
whether Guilty or Not Guilty. If guil¬ 
ty he shall be hanged to a studding-sail 
boom, rigged out eight feet upon the 
fore-yard, but if found not guilty, Smith 
and Kidder, shall be hung upon the 
aforementionedgallows!” But the doom 
of Humphreys had been sealed the 
night before, and kept secret except from 
