Pencil drawing of a black man in a greatcoat with an inscription in ink below: 'one of the witnesses against the/ 10 Slaver Pirates tried at/ Exeter Summer Ass[izes] for the/ murder of Mr. Palmer Mid/=shiprman & 9 English Sailors/ in Coast of Africa - / Judgement/ convicted/ afterwards arrested.' Mounted on paper and on the reverse a large, ornate 'J' has been sketched in pencil. Part of the Michael Graham-Stewart slavery collection.

An episode culminating in the murder of Midshipman Thomas Palmer and nine English sailors of HMS 'Wasp' took place during the Royal Navy's anti-slavery operations during the mid-1840s. An account of the events is recorded in 'The Royal Navy, A history from the earliest times to 1900', vol. VI, by William L. Clowes (p. 364): 'On February 27th, 1845, the 'Wasp', 16, Commander Sydney Henry Ussher, was cruising near Lagos, when she sighted a strange sail, and sent Lieutenant Robert Douglas Stupart in a boat in pursuit. In the evening the stranger was come up with, and found to be the Brazilian slave schooner 'Felicidade', with a crew of 28 men. All of these, except the master and one other man, were transferred to the 'Wasp', and Stupart, with a midshipman [Thomas Palmer] and fifteen seamen, remained in charge. On March 1st the boats of the 'Felicidade' captured another prize, the 'Echo', with 430 slaves on board. Stupart shifted to her, leaving the midshipman (Mr. Harmer) [Palmer], and eight men in the 'Felicidade'; and both vessels then headed for Sierra Leone, where they were to have been condemned. They unfortunately separated, and most of the 'Echo's' people having been transferred to the 'Felicidade', there was a rising which resulted in the murder of all the Englishmen in the latter vessel, and the recapture of the slaver. She was, however, again taken on March 6th by the 'Star', 6, Commander Robert John Wallace Dunlop, who, suspecting foul play, took the pirates to Ascension, and put Lt John Wilson in charge of the prize to carry her to Sierra Leone.'.

The trial of the members of the crew of the 'Felicidade' took place at Exeter, Devon, from 25-27 July, 1845. The accused included: Janus Majeval, 22 [the subject of ZBA2553]; Francisco Feriera De Santo, 38; Manuel Josi Alves, 23; Florenco Ribiero Joaquin, 25; Sebastian De Santos, 26; Manual Antonio, 22; and Joye Antonio, 18. These young men were accused of the murder of Thomas Palmer, midshipmen of HMS 'Wasp' and nine English sailors. Janus Majeval was accused of stabbing Palmer and throwing him overboard. The plea was self-defence.

The account in Trewman's Exeter Flying Post, 27 July 1845, states: 'The crime of murder cannot be defended, and it would be prejudging the question at issue to enquire now as to what facts may be adduced which may palliate or extenuate the offence. Separated from us by a different language, manners and customs, we are sure that every means will be adopted to give the Prisoners all possible facility for a thorough comprehension of the various forms which are observed in our Judicial Proceedings'. Although half the jury were 'foreigners' to ensure a fair trial, the men were sentenced to death. A full report with a picture of the accused appeared in the Exeter Flying Post, 31 July 1845.