Subject: Charles Ramsdell Posted Aug 21, 2002 by Researcher 201124		Post: 1

I read this article with interest and was wondering if anyone knows of any criminal charges brought against Charles Ramsdell (the gentleman who shot Owen Coffin in the second or third boat after he drew the shortest straw)??
The article doesn't allude to any criminal charges but I remember hearing that there was a criminal case brought against him afterwards. Does anyone know if this is true? I'm curious to know the legal/philosophical history of this.

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Subject: Charles Ramsdell Posted Aug 21, 2002 by Blues Shark - For people who like this sort of thing, then this is just the sort of thing they'll like This is a reply to this Posting.		Post: 2

Not so far as I am aware. Certainly nothing like that is mentioned in either Chase's 'Narrative...' or in Phuilbrick's 'Heart of the Ocean'. The latter would appear to be the definitive work on the tragedy of the Essex.

Pollard became a virtual outsider in the community, and was effectively ostracized by Coffin's family, but although it was a gruesome incident, the general feeling amongst the townsfolk, all of whom had a great knowledge of the sea and whaling, was that it was unfortunate but the men had done what was necessary to survive.

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