Historical Trials Blog

  Mutiny on the Ulysses Historical Trial Series by Eric Fryar Part 2: Preparing for The   Ulysses Trial In 1800, federal authorities tried five sailors for mutiny in one of the most famous trials of its day. In a virtual replay of the Mutiny on the Bounty, the sailors claimed that they had acted in self-defense against the abuse and murderous threats by the captain. On both sides of this high-profile case were the best lawyers in the county. Would the sailors hang?  This is an excerpt from a forthcoming book by Eric Fryar. Awaiting Trial  After the mutiny aboard the Ulysses  on the Northwest Coast of America had been put down, seven of the mutineers, John Salter, John Carnes, Stephen Bruce, John Bullock, Edward Smith, Henry Hutchins and Edward Coffin, the sailors who had voted to continue the mutiny had all been turned over to the U.S. Consul in Canton and sent back to Boston aboard different ships. Carnes and Coffin arrived aboard the  Eliza  in late April 1800. When the  Eliza  reach

Mutiny on the Ulysses Historical Trial Series by Eric Fryar Part 1: Voyage of the Ulysses In 1800, federal authorities tried five sailors for mutiny in one of the most famous trials of its day. In a virtual replay of the Mutiny on the Bounty, the sailors claimed that they had acted in self-defense against the abuse and murderous threats by the captain. On both sides of this high-profile case were the best lawyers in the county. Would the sailors hang?  This is an excerpt from a forthcoming book by Eric Fryar. United States v. John Salter, et al.   On Friday morning, October 24, 1800, thirty-year-old John Salter sat in a crowded Boston courtroom. He was on trial for his life. Next to him sat John Carnes, Stephen Bruce Jr., John Bullock, and Edward Smith. They were all charged with mutiny. John had been the first mate on the merchant ship Ulysses which had sailed from Boston on August 25, 1798, on a voyage all the way around the world. The voyage had been plagued by the incompetence, cr