Territory of Florida Monroe County City of Key West S.S. Personally appeared before me, Joseph A. Thomon, a notary public duly commissioned and sworn for the county & territory aforesaid, John Sitcher, mariner, who deposeth and saith that in the latter part of July 1838 on the commencement of August in same year whilst ashore on Indian Key on duty being then one of the crew of sloop George Eldridge, he saw two white men named Charles Schanks and Charles Thompson, crew of ship Brilliant (belonging to Jacob Houseman), confined in said Houseman's warehouse in the stocks. He had a conversation with them, and they stated that they had been in that situation then three days and they were only allowed biscuit & water, had no bedding nor mosquito bar, and were obliged to sleep in that situation, & that they were placed in that situation by order of Jacob Houseman, the reputed owner of Indian Key, and deponent was informed by Charles Schanks that he & his shipmate were confined in said situation for eight days. Sworn to and subscribed before me this the 13th day of December, 1838. Joseph A. Thomon Notary Public John Sitcher