The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1887-05-28 00:00:00

KILLED BY HIS SHIPMATES.

At the Thames Police-court on Tuesday afternoon,
before Mr. Lushington, James Cocks (master of the
British barque Lady Douglas), James Gleaves (the
second mate), Edward Evans (the mate), and John
Webster (seaman), were charged on remand with
being concerned in causing the death of a man named
Ilassin, a Malay seaman, by shooting him on board
the Lady Douglas on the high seas. The acci.sed
were arrested on Saturday afternoon, when only police
evidence was taken. When Cocks was charged he
said, "It was on the way home. It was done for the
safety of all the crew and the ship also. Ido not say
I did it with my own hands; but under my direction
the following fired the shots. (Cocks then mentioned
the names of the other prisoners.) I had fired at
him myself, but did not hit him, the day previous,
when he was trying to knock a hole in the ship with a
crowbar." Evans said, "1 shot him in the foot to
diEable him. I believe he died from the effects of
Webster's shot. We did it for our own safety. If he
had not been killed be would have killed some of us."

Peter King, cook on board the Lady Douglas. gave
evidence as to the behaviour of Hassin. Once he was
missing for ten days, being found sleeping in the fore.
peak. Later on the witness saw Hassin again in
the fore-peak with a knife in each hand. The captain
asked him to come on deck and give up the knives;
but he refused to do so, saying, "Suppose I kill one
I die." The hatch was then secured till next day,
when [Casein was repeatedly asked to come on deck;
but he defied everybody—even the captain, when be
fired a revolver shot to frighten him This went on
for four or five days, till one morning the witness
saw Hassin being dragged on board from over the
ship's side by the carpenter and second mate. The
captain told witness that he awoke and found Hassin's
hand on him as he lay in the bunk. When he moved
Hassan ran upon deck, and was found holding on to
the sides of the ship. Hassin was 'hen put in irons
and placed between decks. Next day he slipped the
irons off. They were then put round his legs, and
he was kept in that position for a fortnight or three
weeks, receiving a fun allowance of food. Hassin
again got into the forepeak with a carving-knife, and
refused to come on deck. Before the hatch was
opened next morning each of the crew was supplied
with a revolver. They all agreed to kill Hassin
because he was dangerous, Hassan having tried to
break through the hatch at night. The witness went
down between decks with the captain's revolver to
try and shoot Hassin, who threw a piece of wood at
him and sent him on deck. The carpenter then cut
the planks between decks for the purpose of
getting better sight of Hassin. Witness had a
boarding - pike with him when Evans, the
chief mate, fired a gun and wounded Hassin
in the foot. Bassin was then told that
if he came up be would be forgiven;
but he refused. The hatch was again secured. The
next morning Hassin was seen to be lying between
decks, and the second mate, Gleaves, fired at him
with a gun loaded with slug. Webster also fired with
his revolver. Hassin was wounded somewhere in the
centre of the.body. A sailor named Hunt then went
down and booked Bassin, who was still lying, and they
pulled him up on deck. The witness then saw that
Hassin was bleeding from a wound in his side. All
the crew being present, they then said, "We had
better kill him outright, as he is so badly wounded."
Webster, who had a revolver in his hand, then shot
Hassin in the bead and killed him, About half-an-
hour afterwards the body was thrown overboard.
Mr. Lushington again remanded the prisoners.