A TRADE IN HUMAN FLESH.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume II, Issue 166, 22 October 1880, Page 1 (Supplement)

A TRADE IN HUMAN FLESH.

A curious trial has just taken place at Rouen. So loug ago as IS6O, a shipowner named Durege, and a master mariner named Gellett, chartered the Don Juan, from the port of Havre, under the pretence of sending the vessel out to carry Chinese from Macao to their native country. She was, however, taken to the Coast of Guinea, where a Portuguese mail-broker sold the skipper SOI) slaves at the price of 164 francs per head, the whole cargo costing 154,0U0 francs, or some £6,000. Sickness and hunger killed 103 of the negroes on the voyage to Havana, but the planters bought the remainder at the rate of 3,500 francs a head. As soon as the cargo was cleared out the ship burned in the open sea, in order to efface all traces of the horrible crime, which had involved the deaths of nearly 200 human beings. The owner cleared £40,000 by the venture, the captain £20,000, the first mate £2,000, and each seaman £l2O. In spite of the precautions taken, the French authorities heard of what had occurred, and opened an inquiry in IS6I. Most of the accomplices were tried at Rouen, before the Court d’Assises. Those who who wore arrested were condemned, the rest were sentenced in their absence par contmnace. One of the latter, Charles Stool, made his appearance the other day, and was brought before the Court. In view, however, of the loug period of time which had elapsed, and of the difficulty of bringing foward certain proof of guilt, and. of the honourable life led by the prisoner since the occurrence, he was acquitted.