The Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-11-16 00:00:00

THE RECENT MURDER ON THE MERSEY.

CONSIDERABLE dissatisfaction has been felt and
expressed, that the Coroner's investigation into
the circumstances attending the death of HENRY
HATCHWAY, the poor and friendless Malay, should
have been of so very meagre a character. There
is, moreover, a pretty general impression that the
facts proved before the Coroner's jury were suffi-
cient to have called for a very different verdict.
In any case, it is argued by many that the
enquiry should have been adjourned, and that
the crew of the ship on board which the catas-
trophe occurred ought not to have been allowed
to sail until the truth had been further elicited.
The facts, so far as ascertained, are as follow:
The American ship Jeremiah Thompson, Captain
BLAKE, was bound for New York. She left the
dock on Sunday last, and was to have sailed on
Monday morning. HENRY HATCHWAY had signed
articles as a seaman, and joined his ship in the
river. He was then in perfect health, and showed
himself to be a very good hand. Four of the 1
crew stated that they saw JOHN KEEGAN, the
boatswain, ill-use the deceased. While HATCH-
WAY was at work at the capstan, KEEGAN went
behind him and struck him in the face, swell-
ing his lips. The capstan bar came out, and
the deceased fell, but got up again immediately
and resumed his work. Deceased went into the
forecastle to get a drink, when KEEGAN entered
and " butted" him with his head. Some time
afterwards deceased was clearing away the gear
off the forecastle, when KEEGAN Went up to him
and cursed him for being so long about it, and on
the deceased telling him that he was doing
his work as quickly as he could, KEEGAN
kicked him on the thighs. The chief mate
said he was not aware of these acts of ill-
usage until after the man was dead ; but
at half-past two he stated that he had observed
HATCHWAY standing by the watercloset trying to
vomit. He asked him what was the matter, but
received no reply. He admits that he then saw
him fall upon the deck ; and, having told one of
the men to pick him up, the chief mate left him
and went below. When he again went on deck,
KEEGAN inforMed him that there was a man
' dead in the forecastle. The second officer also
denies any knowledge of KEEGAN'S abuse of the
deceased, but stated that between two and three
o'clock he left HATCHWAY at his work, apparently
quite well. Returning in about a quarter-of-an-
hour, he found the deceased lying upon the main
deck. He had the poor man removed into the fore-
castle and endeavoured to restore him, but it was
then discovered that he was dead. At apost-nzortent
examination it was found that the cause of death
was fracture of the skull, the result of external
violence. The fracture could not, in the opinion
of the surgeon, have been caused by falling at the
capstan, as described by the crew; and there
were no other marks of violence. These medical
opinions are, so far, supported by the testimony of
the crew, all of whom declare that the blows and
kicks of KEEGAN did not seem such as were
likely to do the deceased any serious injury.
The value of the supposition of one of the witneses
that the deceased was seriously' hurt by his fall
owing to the bar slipping out of the capstan, is
set aside altogether by the evidence of the sur-
geon. We are thus forcei to conclude from the
evidence that the fatal wound was inflicted un-
seen by any of the witnesses examined. The
murderous stroke was dealt, it would seem,
between two and three o'clock in the afternoon.
It is clear that the chief mate saw HATCHWAY
fall dead upon the deck, and it does not appear
that any of the rest of the crew were witnesses
of that last fall. Of course the chief mate says
he did not know the cause of the fall, or the fact
that the man was dead., It is remarkable, how-
ever, that the first person to announce the fact of
the death to the chief mate should have been, as
he says, the boatswain KEEGAN.
Before any searching inquiry as to the cause of
the man's death, the chief mate admits having
set about making preparations for the disposal of
the body, which were not less extraordinary than
they are questionable, if not suspicious. We say
he did so without searching inquiry, because he
stated that he ordered these preparations before
knowing from the men, as he easily might have
done, that KEEGAN had quarrelled with and
struck the deceased. Why this haste ? The
arrangement contemplated by the chief mate was
to have the body sent ashore in a box as " dry
goods," and to have the same deposited on the
Landing-stage on Sunday night, where it very
probably might have been allowed to remain
uninvestigated until next day, by which time it
was believed the ship would have been got to sea.
KEEGAN must have been well aware of these ar-
rangements having been made for the safe dispo-
sal of the body ; and yet it is asserted that about
four hours after the death of the Malay he leaped
overboard and is supposed to have been drowned,
as he has not since been seen or heard of. Now,
not one of the witnesses supported the chief
mate's evidence as to the fact of a man having
gone overboard. The chief mate subsequently
told the second mate that such a thing had
happened, but no one on board saw or heard
anything to corroborate the statement. No
doubt the captain of the ferry-boat heard some
cries,—but he saw nothing. The cries may or
may not have been those of real distress—may or
may not have been from KEEGAN or from the water.
Upon the whole, the conduct of the mate and of
KEEGAN, as well as KEEGAN'S supposed dis-
appearance, seem to be equally inexplicable,
consistently with the innocence of the one and
the complicity of the other. It is quite clear, at
all events, that there was a desire on the part of
the mate, at least, to get rid of the body without
further investigation. Of course his motive
might at first have been merely to prevent the
detention of the ship in the river. But when he
had ascertained that KEEGAN was supposed to
have killed him, was not his perseverance in the
attempt to conceal the truth something like the
act of an accessary, at least after the fact ? Was
it not his bounden duty to have secured KEEGAN
and handed him over to justice ? KEEGAN is
not said to have disappeared until long after the
death, and the mate had thus every opportunity
of taking him in charge. But he did not do so;
and even the reported suicide stands unconfirmed
by a single witness, or contingent probability.
The Coroner, in summing up the evidence, and ,
putting the case to the jury, said that death had
been caused by ~ violence of some sort or other."
Now, the medical evidence showed clearly what
kind of violence had caused death. It was not
by a fall, but by a blow from a heavy blunt
instrument. Therefore, a murder was committed
by some person or persons, perhaps unknown ;
and yet, the Coroner recommended the open ver-
dict of " Died from injuries not known how
received." As to the supposed suicide of KEEGAN,
the Coroner urged that it was of little conse-
quence, as there did not appear to be evidence
sufficient to convict him of murder. But still we
hold it to have been proved that a murder had
been committed ; and, therefore, in the circum-
stances, it was of the utmost importance to ascer-
tain,more definitely whether KEEGAN was living or
not. No adequate effort of this twit Was made ; and

whether KEEGAN is dead or alive, must now, we
fear, remain a mystery. The Jeremiah Thom' -
son has sailed for America, and we have small
chance of learning more of the true state of de
facts.

Thus, there has been added another name to
the already frightfully long list of recently com-
mitted murders, whose perpetrators seem des-
tined to remain concealed in impenetrable
mystery. We wish sincerely that we could per-
suade ourselves that all was done that might and
ought to have been done to detect the author or
authors of such an atrocious crime.

FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.

GARIBALDI AND VICTOR EIINIANUEL-

(FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.)

TURIN, 11th November, 1860.

The public were not a little surprised to
Garibaldi retire without, as it appeared, any
reward having been offered to him, commensurate
with the brilliancy of the services which he has
rendered. The fact is, however,. the Government
did all it was possible for it to do in this respect-
It is useless any longer to conceal the truth;
There is not one single point upon which Victor
Emmanuel and the ex-Dictator of the Two Sicilies
are agreed. Garibaldi has departed for his iskra
home without having been nominated either
prince, marshal, duke, count, or chevalier of the
Order of the Annonciate, one and all of which
dignities public rtnnenr had assigned to him, and
yet every one of these titles was offered to him
nay, pressed upon his acceptance, but he entreated
the King not to impose upot him the necessity of
responding to so many favours by a public refusal,
and the King was obliged to submit,
Garibaldi's chief complaint against the Govern'
meat of Turin is, that every one of his friends l4
excluded from the Government, a slight *tall
especially wounds him in the case of those IVO
followed him with arms in their hands on hie
first expedition. The generals Sirtori, Cose:11
Medici, and Bixio, will be permitted to retain
the rank which they have acquired, and the last
mentioned has declared that he will follow the
fortune of his chief whithersoever it leads him.
Garibaldi, whether he will or not, is about to
become a rallying point for opposition to the
Government ; this is easily gathered from the
language of the opposition journals. No one can
doubt that his absolute withdrawal from public
life, coupled with his sincere disinterestedness,
has a kind of romantic grandeur about it,. which
is eminently calculated to excite the admiration:
of the masses. Caprera is neither a place of
punishment, nor even a St. Helena. tis looked
upon as a sort of diminutive Elba, from which
island it is not far separated.
The language of the opposition journals lies,
already become very violent. The Unita Italians
talks of "ingratitude having been converted into
a system of Government." The Diratta says the
Government has fallen into the hands of a coterie
which is in the highest degree exclusive : the
simple fact, however, is, that every endeavour is
being made to turn to account, in favour of Maz-
zinism, all the discontent and dissatisfaction
which have been caused in Southern Italy by the
removals and changes that have been made in the
administration. This advanced party wish Gari-
baldi to put himself at the head of all the mal-
contents ; and it is insinuated by them that his
departure for Caprera, and his refusals to accept
the honours that were offered to him, are occa-
sioned by the ungrateful conduct which the Mi-
nistry has pursued towards him. This is a clever
piece of tactics, but no one need be afraid of its
succeeding; for the nation, as a whole, is beyond
doubt with the King, and with the majority of
the Parliament. Besides, one is now quite accus-
tomed to see Garibaldi fall out with people, and
afterwards be reconciled to them as soon as the
evil influences with which he was surrounded et
the moment, have yielded to better advice. At
the same time it must be admitted that Gari-
baldi's retirement in this way, without any out-
ward mark of reward, has caused on all sides
disagreeable impression.

The Turin papers contain lengthened details
.
respecting the future organisation of the Italian
army, but the correctness of the information thus
given is not to be relied on, for nothing definite
has yet been fixed on the subject. One of the
great difficulties is how to deal with the army of
Garibaldi, or how to reconcile the respect which
is due to the rights which have been acquired by
the officers and men composing that army, with
the exigencies of the public service in other
respects. This is one of the questions to which g•
de Cavour, who is acting as Minister of War
ad interinz, is at this moment•directing his atten-
tion. Meanwhile the military preparations are
not for a moment relaxed, and they are urged 'well
the Government by public opinion. It is not one
journal in particular which echoes this feeling----
all of them do so, and the universal cry is that it is
necessary to arm, to organise, and to make the
nation, a nation of soldiers. I notice also that
the Austrian journals written in Italian, whose
language had been much softened down of late,
have resumed their former tone of antagonism.
The prevailing impression on the subject of the
rupture with Russia is, that ere very long former
diplomatic relations will be re-established. It i 4
said that since the interview at Warsaw, M. de
Cavour has received a private letter of a very
friendly kind from M. Stackelberg to this.effect.
Last night the band of the National Guard gave
a serenade to Sir J. Hudson, to testify to the repre'
sentative of Great Britain the satisfaction which
had been produced in Italy by the policy of the
English Government, as expressed with so much
plainness by Lord J. Russell in his last despatch.
_ _

By-the-bye, the Grand Collar of the Annoir
ciate is to be given to the Marquis Palla-
vicino, Garibaldi's pro-dictator. The Council of
Ministers have hifupon this expedient as a delicate
mode of doing honour to Garibaldi. This bestowal
of an order which sovereigns are proud to weer
upon -the man whom Garibaldi had selected 55
his lieutenant, will prove in an unmistakable
manner that the ex-dictator is regarded as far
above all ordinary honours.

It is designed to establish a regular line of clip Per
ships between New York and Kanagawa Japan. The
chief promoter of this line is R. H. Gallaber, a merchant',
of New York, having- a house in Japan. The first 514
was announced to sail at an early day, between twentY
and thirty passengers, and nearly 1,000 tons of freight,
consisting of machinery, frame-houses, and assorted
merchandise, having been secured for transportation on
her outward voyage. ~I,mong other things depended on
for a return cargo is a q aantity of Japanese seed wheat,
which has been ordered, and is said to be of a supeltr
quality.—Arew York, cor respondent of the "London 0'
China Telegraph."
AN UGLY VISITOR.- —The Ind,ependant of Constar!'
tina relates the followin g rather extraordinary incident'
hut which, according tc, the Arabs, is not without prece-
dent in the history of the lion. During an extensive eon'
flag•ration of brushwood, which lately converted the plaint 4
in the neighbourhood of Jemmapes into a complete shee
of fire, a large lion, which was surprised in his lair by the
flames, and not knowi rig in what direction to escaPe'
hounded off towards an krab douar, putting to flight all the
horses, mules, sheep, &c. which were round it. Seeing
a tent open, the affrighted animal sought refuge inside,
where the family were assembled. They naturally 'Vern
horror-struck at the entrance of the intruder, wb°s-
-
bristling mane and rolling eyes threw them into the
greatest consternation. They had no means of escaPc'
for the lion crouched do wn at the entrance of the tent,
and completely barred the only outlet. Nothing remained
for the family but to rest quiet, lie down on the ground'
and he as still as possible_ In that way they rensaine
• •3,
the whole night, when at daybreak the lion, givin,- 0
by way of adieu, dashed off towards th
mountains.
A FRENCH STORY OF AN ENGLISH HEIRESS .'"""11,
Larcher supplies this anecdote for the information n
the lovers of truth :—" Sonie years since a rich citizeti.
' of London died, and left -hissß., who did not at a
know him, a fortune mounting up to several million%a
No one would be able to imagine the motive of 0131.
unexpected munificence, I beg,' he wrote, `Miss o
to accept the gift of my entire fortune, too small te
express the inexpressible sensations which, for Oren
years, the contemplation of her adorable nose has gil3,
. me.' Fearing some error of mystification, Miss re
inquired of the lawyers, who came to get her signattles
for the acceptance of the legacy, if the testator :ro
• interred ? No,' replied they. Then conduct 311, i 6
him.' Here the astonishment became general. -"lie
he ! ' cried Miss 8., on uncovering the face of
deceased, It is the man who for three years purstlel`,
me with his compliments and his verses in honour
,';4;
my nose ! At Hyde-park, at Covent-garden, he )3,
alwas before me, and incessantly staring! ' Miss
deigned to accept the millions."--Diekens's "1111 the
Year I?oand."
GAROTTE ROBBERY AT MANCHESTER.-011 -nr„aneg'
dat the City Police-court, Thomas Leggott, a stalsecum_i
man, middle aged, who has just returned from
servitude, was brought up on remand, charged
.14
robbery with violence. On the previous Thursday nig.l4_,
the prosecutor, Mr. John Ogden, was going along T,crlo-1,
street, London-road, about a quarter before eleven o
and
when the prisoner seized him round the throat, and nu',
him tightly until another man rifled the prosecutori.
trousers pockets, containing 14s. 6d. The men got away
-
at the time, hut the prisoner was subsequently re
hended.—For the defence an alibi was set up, aloPtPl .:.1,
policeman was called who saw the prisoner in the locafi
of the robbery, a few minutes before it was committed
The prisoner was committed for trial. •