The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-05-15 00:00:00

THE "JEFFERSON BORDEN."

At the Bow-street police-court, in London, on Saturday,
application was made for a warrant to detain and bring up
for examination three men, George Miller, William Smith,
and John Clew, on the charge of murder and mutiny on the

high seas.
Mr. Frigout, of the United States' Consulate-General,
watched the case on behalf of Mr. Joshua Nunn, the United
States' Vice-Consul-General.
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The swoin information of William Man sonTatterson,
the captain of the Jefferson Borden, was then taken by
Mr. J. W. Humphreys, the Chief Clerk. Mr. Patter-
son said he was captain of the Jefferson Borden, three-
masted schooner, 561 tons, from 'Boston. George
Town, of Boston, is the chief owner. Witness has a
share in the ship. Charles Toft was also quarter-
owner of the ship. They sailed from New Orleans on
the sth of March last, bound for London with a cargo
of oilcake. His brother, Corydon Prask Patterson,
was the chief mate, and his cousin, Charles A. Patter-
son, the second mate. The steward's name was
Aitken, and George Miller, William Smith, John
Clew, and Jacob Wheeler were seamen. There was
also a French boy called Henry. John Clew was the
only Englishman on board. He said in the first in-
stance that he came from London. On the voyage he
said he was a Frenchman. On the starting day Miller
tried to make a disturbance with the officers by
talking disrespectfully to them. He continued abus-
ing the officers and witness for the next eight days,
and said that as he carried a revolver before ever he
saw them he was not to be frightened very easily. For
the next week he created a disturbance with the mates.
On the eighth day he commenced his insolence again
with witness, who threatened to put him in irons. The
irons were brought out, and witness and two mates
tried to force him into them. He pulled out a knife,
but was overpowered and put in irons. Forty-eight
hours afterwards he promised to do better, and signed
the official log to that effect. The rest of the crew
signed a declaration to the effect that if Miller
tried to make any fresh disturbance they would
inform against him. Everything went on well
until the 20th of April, when about midnight
Miller came into witness's room and told him that the
man John Clew had fallen forward and broken his
leg, and he wanted witness to go forward and assist
him at onee. Before witness left he cabin his wife
asked him to be careful what he was about. He went
to the cabin door and called to the second mate, but
received no answer. It would be the watch of the
second mate, and he should have been on deck to
answer the call. Miller came from behind the hawse
and asked why he did not go forward., remarking,
For God's sake help the man; he is dying." He had
something in his hand, and witness, feeling that
something was wrong, stepped into the cabin and
would not go forward. Miller then asked the steward
to go forward, but witness requested him not to
go. When daylight came witness saw the three
men forward. The bey Llenry at this time came
through the hatch into the cabin. The three men
declined to come forward, or to give information
as to what bad become of the mates. Witness
told them that if they still declined he should use force.
He gave them one more chance, and then fired with
his double-barrelled gun. That did not appear to
frighten them, so witness fired his revolver. The men
then threw iron and bottles at them. The ship during
this time was at the mercy of the waves. The wheel
was lashed, and the ship merely drifted. It had to be
pumped, but the men gave no help. At night they
tried to get the boat out, but she was too heavy for
them. Witness got forward and managed to close the
forecastle door, and thus shut them in. They still
refused to give in, and witness shot at them through
the window until they did so. This was about twelve
o'clock on the second day. Witness asked what they
had done with the mate. Miller said he had killed the
mate, and that Smith and Clew helped him to throw
him overboard. He asked where the second mate
was, and Smith said he killed him and with Clew's
assistance threw him overboard. 'Witness then took
them out of the orecastle and put irons on them.
They were confined for a time in the forecastle, but at
night-time were separated. Miller and Smith were
made to assist at the pumps in irons. Clew never as
;he was too much hurt. Witness dressed their
wounds, as they were all wounded. Eight days after
that affair he fell in with a Norwegian bark. From
this he got one sailor to help to bring the ship into
port. A pilot came on board off Beachy Head. The
vessel arrived on the 6th at the London Docks, and
witness made a report to the American Consul. The
men were removed to the London Hospital, where
they are now.
Henri Malahiendie, a French lad, twenty years old,
said he joined the Jefferson Borden at Calais, about a
year ago. In March last they left New Orleans. On
the night of the mutiny he was asleep, but the men
took him out of bed and gagged him with a handker-
chief. It was Miller, the Russian, who gagged him.
He asked them not to throw him overboard, as he
thought they meant to do. They had often threatened
him because he liked the captain. They put him into
the hold, but after some time he got to the captain's
cabin, remaining there until it was all over. The men
told him they had killed the mates and thrown them
overboard. They asked him once whether the captain
had any money on board. He said he did not know;
it was no business of his. He never saw either of the
mates illtreat any of the men, and it was his opinion
that if the captain had not been so kind the mutiny
would not have happened.
William Alstin, superintendent of Thames Police,
said he boarded the Jefferson Borden on Thursday,
May 6. He found three sailors—Miller, Clew, and
Smith. They were all in irons, and Clew appeared to
be suffering much. Witness left two constables on
board all night. In the morning the doctor certified
that one of the men was dangerouely wounded. Witness
sent a report to the Commissioners, and the same day
all three men were removed to the London Hospital.
Miller was asked who proposed the mutiny., and he
hninglis head and did not reply. Witness visited the
men in the hospitaijihat morning, and the surgeon
said that Miller and 'Clew were dangerously ill. Smith
could walk.
Sir Thomas Henry asked how long it would be
before the men could be brought up.
Witness said it would be some time yet.
Sir Thomas Henry said he would grant the warrant.
Addressing Mr. Frigout, he said that, this being an
offence on the high seas and on board an American
ship, the case could not be tried in this country. The
case came under the Extradition Acts and Treaties,
and the demand for the extradition of the three
prisoners would have to be made to the Minister of
State in the usual way. In the meanwhile the warrant
would be granted, and as soon as the men are well
enough they will be brought to this Court and have an
opportunity of cross-examining the captain and the
other witnesses.