MURDER AT SEA.

Kumara Times, Issue 1128, 11 May 1880, Page 4

MURDER AT SEA.

A man named William Davis has been examined at Bow street Police Court, London, charged with the murder of a IBBD named Price, steward of the barque Standard Bearer, and also attempting to kill the mate of that barque. James Craig stated that he was chief mate of the Standard Bearer, a British barque, belonging to the port of Swansea. The prisoner was the master, and James M'Lean, the boatswain, was second mate. There was a crew of about thirteen. They sailed from Swansea in March last to Monte Video, and thence to Buenos Ayres. On July 27th they sailed for Talcahuano, on the coast of Chili. They arrived there in September, and on October 21st sailed for England. While at Talcahuano they shipped a black man of the name of Price, as steward. The other steward had left. While at that port three o* the crew—Lewis, John, Crean—were imprisoned for refusing to join the ship. There had been an inquiry before the consul at the instance of the men, who were ordered to join the vessel. On September 28th the men were, on agreeing to join the vessel, released from gaol. Up to the time of leaving the port for England, on October 21st, witness had often seen the captain drunk. On the voyage home everything went on all right until just before Christmas, when witness had a few words with the prisoner with reference to an order that had been given about the trimming of the sails. Witness was suffering from a severe cold, and could not hear. The prisoner complained that he did not do as he was told ; he had also complained about witness being two-faced, and the witness spoke to him about it. The prisoner got into a great rage, and jumped off the skylight where he was sitting, and said— " I suppose you will say as the others do—that I was drunk." Witness replied that he had often seen him drunk, and the prisoner said that the papers had gone home to England from the consul, and that he would make him piove bis words. Witnesß heard him make a remark to the effect he (witness) had better look out for himself. After thi3 things went on quietly. On Christmas Day it was witness's watch below from eight in morning until noon. About nine he turned in, and went to Bleep in his cabin in the steerage. There was a door from the captain's cabin to the steerage. After witness had been asleep for some time he awoke and noticed the amell of gunpowder. His mouth was full of smoke. He heard no report, but jumpbd up. He saw no one. He put his hand to his mouth, and found he was bleeding. He afterwards found a small hole in his lower lip, and a tooth had been driven out, into his tongue, by a bullet. About eight or ten days afterwards he found a bit of the tooth in his tongue. He did not know what became of the bullet. And finding that he had been injured he jumped up and seized his revolver, and having dressed himself immediately ran on deck and told the crew what had occurred. The steward Price came out of the galley and offered to assist witness. They both went aft, followed by the crew. Witness had his revolver, and cocked it previous to entering the companion ladder leading to the captain's cabin. He was followed by the steward. He saw no one in the steerage, and went on to the cabin. He saw no one there, and did not see anyone in the captain'3 room. He entered -' the steerage again, where the steward was standing. Witness and he were standing together, and witness made a motion towards the water closet door, which was the only closed door in the cabin or steerage. He was standing opposite the closet door, revolver in hand, and he transferred it into his left for the purpose of opening the closet door with his right hand. While in that position he heard a report which he supposed to be the report of a gun. It was louder than the report of a revolver. He afterwards found that he had been shot at the back of the head with small shot. He fell down. On looking round he could see nothing of the steward or any one else. When he was shot he knew of no one but himself and the steward being in the steerage. All the crew were on deck He only heard one report. He remained in the cabin six or seven minutes, and then got up and struggled up by the companion-way to the deck, where he was assisted by the crew on to the poop. He took his revolver with him. He found it lying on the left aide when he was in the steerage. As far as witness lfhew it happened about twenty minutes to twelve. He gave over the charge of the ship to the boatswain and carpenter, giving orders to secure the coptain. On the next day the Sardinia was signalled, and on Saturday, the 27th, the captain of that vessel, with some of his men, came on board, and brought witness some medicine. The prisoner went on board the Sardinia, and the mate of that vessel went on board the Standard Bearer to naivigate*