SUPPOSED MURDER AT SEA.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4223, 2 October 1874, Page 3

SUPPOSED MURDER AT SEA.

The shipping reporter of tho Otago Daily Times of the 28th ult., in reporting the arrival of the American barque Oueca, Captain Henrique, from New York for Dunedin and Wellington, remarked : —“When we boarded the barque Oneca yesterday, we were startled by sinister rumors respecting foul play in the case of one of the sailors, named John Green, who was lost overboard on the 17th of September. One of his shipmates had, it appears, stated that the unfortunate fellow was knocked down with a belaying-pin by the second mate of the barque, and then thrown overboard. Before leaving the vessel, Captain Henrique informed us that he feared all was not right, but declared that he knew no more about tho occurrence than we did, as ho was below at tho time it happened. He had, however, found it necessary to arrest tho second mate and place hiimin close confinement, and proposed consulting with the American Consul at Dunedin. Since writing the above we have ascertained that the captain of the barque has communicated with the police and placed tho matter in their hands." On the following day tho Times reported;— “What wo have been enabled to further ascertain respecting the Oneca tragedy falls like the shadow of a dark deed that demands the most

searching investigation. ■ The event occurred in lat. 37 south, long. 43 west, on the 17th day of September, at half-past, eleven o’clock at. night. Only one man of the crew is said to have witnessed it, but the cries of the unfortunate man John Green, were heard by others. He was heard to plead for mercy, and then came a splash, followed by grim silence; the man was overboard, but how he went there is a mystery. To save him, even if inclination led in that direction, was next to impossible; the ship was rushing through the water at tenknot speed, and the night was very dark. And so the vessel passed on as John Green’s earthly career closed. Green, the deceased man, is said to be a native of Ireland, and 38 years of age. Sergeant Neil and Constables Coffey and Nicol proceeded on board the Oneca at the captain’s request,. and investigated the affair as in their power lay. Sergeant Neil obtained certain evidence which in his official capacity he is not in a position to make known. He saw reason to leave two constables in charge of Dodd (the second mate) during the night. That Dodd was not at once arrested and brought on shore is due to the fact of his being under the American flag. The question of jurisdiction at once intervened and stayed such a proceeding. The Resident Magistrate of Fort Chalmers, Mr. Mansford, declined to issue a warrant, but he has since placed himself in communication with the AttorneyGeneral. In our opinion the case -will have to be dealt with by the American Consul only. That it will receive the fullest investigation when Mr. Driver, the American Consul, returns from Wellington, we have not the slightest doubt, and that he should happen to he absent at such a juncture of affairs is very much to be regretted. Dodd continues in irons under surveillance. The accused is described as rather an undersized man, of not unprepossessing appearance. He is said to be exceedingly dejected.”