He inſiſted for himſelf likewiſe, on Captain Turner’s Affidavit of his being forced, on which others (his Ship-mates) had been cleared.
The Court conſidering the Partiality that might be objected in acquitting one, and condemning another of the ſame ſtanding, thought fit to remark it as a clear Teſtimony of their Integrity, that their Care and Indulgence to each Man, in allowing his particular Defence, was to exempt from the Rigour of the Law, ſuch, who it muſt be allowed, would have ſtood too promiſcuouſly condemned, if they had not been heard upon any other Fact than that of the Swallow; and herein what could better direct them, than a Character and Behaviour from their own Aſſociates; for tho’ a voluntary Entry with the Pyrates may be doubtful, yet his conſequent Actions are not, and it is not ſo material how a Man comes among Pyrates, as how he acts when he is there. Guilty.
George Wilſon.
John Sharp, Maſter of the Elizabeth, in which Ship the Priſoner was Paſſenger, and fell a ſecond Time into the Pyrates Hands, depoſes, that he took the ſaid Wilſon off from Seſtos, on this Coaſt, paying to the Negroes for his Ranſom, the Value of three Pound five Shillings in Goods, for which he had taken a Note, that he thought he had done a charitable Act in this, till meeting with one Captain Canning, he was ask’d, why he would releaſe ſuch a Rogue as Wilſon was? For that he had been a Voluntier with the Pyrates, out of John Tarlton. And when the Deponent came to be a Priſoner himſelf, he found Thomas, the Brother of this John Tarlton, a Priſoner with the Pyrates alſo, who was immediately on Wilſon’s Inſtigation, in a moſt ſad manner miſuſed and beat, and had been ſhot, through the Fury and Rage of ſome of thoſeFellows
