MURDER AT SEA.

Grey River Argus, Volume XVI, Issue 2252, 27 October 1875, Page 2

MURDER AT SEA.

Edward Cooper, -33 years old, was indicted at Liverpool for the wilful murder of Edward Jones,' boatswain of the British ship Coldbeck, on board that vessel. : The vessel sailed- from Liverpool, for .Val- : paraiso on the 23rd of January, and : everything went well until the >2oth of ; April, when it became clear that some illfeeling existed between the deceased and the prisoner, who was an A. B. on the ship. It was noticed that the prisoner had a six- barrelled revolver, and on being told that it was loaded he replied. that he knew that. Four days after that the deceased, who was acting for the second mate, ordered the prisoner to do some work, but the latter laughed at him. An altercation took place, during which the deceased said, " Gome on deck and fight it out like a man," and shortly afterwards the prisoner was seen to raise his hand towards the deceased, and the report of a' pistol followed. The deceased was said to be shot- in the left breast, and died- soon >- afferwards. After firing the shot the prisoner "went to the forecastle, and stated, , in answer to questions ;by his shipmates, ■ that the deceased had cut him before he drew his revolver. The prisoner was put in irons, and on the arrival of thy vessel at Valparaiso ' he and the witnesses were" " sent home by the consul in order that the trial should take place. On behalf of the ■prisoner it wa3 contended that the deceased cut the prisoner's thufnb with}\aT knife, and that the prisoner fired the shot < in- self-defence. .The prisoner '^as; con- '■ jvicted of murder, and sentenced to death; ,