The Express.
London, England, 1864-12-06 00:00:00

THE CHARGE OF SCUTTLING A SHIP.

Joseph Joho blitcheson White, of 6, Ogle-terrace,
South Shields, and Robert flatten, of 5, Itobinem-terrsos,
Sunderland, were yesterday again placed at the bar of the
Ilausiou House, in the custody of Detective Sergeant Moss,
to undergo a further examination before the Lord Mayor,
upon the charge, that they being respectively the captain
and chief nista, did, on the 41h day of October leak out of
the liberty of any country of the realm, and within the
jurisdiction of the Admiralty of England, unlawfully, null-
ciously, and feloniously destroy a certain British ship called
the Snowdrop, then being on the high sees, with intent
thereby to defraud various peruse who bad underwritten
certain policies of insurance upon the said ship, contrary to
the statute 24 and 2:1 Vic., cap. 9', sec. 43.
Mr. Lewis, jun., again appeared to prosecute, on behalf
of Lloyd's Salvage Association; Mr. Sleigh, instructed by
Mr. Mullen*, of the Poultry, appeared for White; and Mr.
Beard appeared for Sutton.
The prisoner White was captain, and the prisoner Sutton
chief mate, of a vessel called the Snowdrop, of Newcastle,
which sailed from London in September, bound for Cron-
stadt. in ballast. The vessel. it appeared, wu insured for
• total lose in • sum of 2,0004, sod in that mai, in the
event of any accident happening to the rued, the owner,
would be liable for the amount of damage, and the under-
writers would be under no responsibility unless the vessel
became entirely destroyed. The Snowdrop proceeded on
her voyage until the 4th of October, and on that day, at
about 4 o'clock, she struck as some reefs, off the comet of
Russia.

Mr. Lewis, on the part of the prosecution, admitted
that the striking of the vessel might have been accidental ;
but the came which it was endeavoured to prove was that
the captain (whose brother wee a port owner of the vessel),
knowing that the owners would be responsible for any
amount of damage sustained by the vessel if she were not
entirely lost, together with the mate, directed the ship's
carpenter to bore boles io the abip's bottom, in consequence :
of the vessel not having made any water for some hours
after she struck, and that in consequence of the holes being
bored, as they dincted, the vessel tilled, and was destroyed.
The evidence adduced on the but occasion was that of
Craig, ships carpenter on board the Snowdrop, who, it
will be remembered, stated that when the vessel struck she
made no water for some hours, and he, by the captain's
orders, bored some boles in her sides, the mate (Sutton)
being present part of the time.
William Clay mid be was 000 k and steward on board the
Snowdrop, which sailed from London in September last.
The prisoner White wee master, and Sutton the rude. The
veasl was bolted from London to Croostadt, in ballast.
She proceeded on her voyage, nothing particular occurring
until the 4th of October. On the morning of that day he
was in bed, and was awoke by the vessel striking on some
rocks. It was 4 o'clock. He ran up on deck. Bound the
forepart of the vessel be saw reefs, and on the right he
saw a small island. He went down stairs again and saw
the captain. who did not know he had been ma deck,
and said to him that the ship was on reefs, and be told
him to get his things together, as be had 1101. worth in the
state cabin. Witness heard the sails clewed up, and heard
the carpenter, Craig, report to the captain several times
after the vessel struck that she was making no water.
Witness himself went down ia the bold about an hour and
a bell after she struck and found no water. The vessel
struck twice or three times after she went on the reefs, and
bumped several times during the day. About six o'clock in
the morning he row the captain in the robin with the car-
penter. He wag sent on deck to give the men some rum,
god was absent about ten minutes, and when be returned
the carpenter was still in the cabin with the captain. At
that time the ship was making no water. Witness was
one of the men who wait in the jolly boat with one
man, two boys, and the mate Sutton. They went out for
the purpose of taking out the anchor. They ought to have
gone round the after part of the vessel, to tow the long boat,
which held the anchor, out to sea. They only went a little
way, however, as they were not able to pull, sod the wit-
, ness made the remark that he was but a cook and steward,
and not a seaman, and the carpenter ought to have been
sent into the boat hatted of him. The anchor was not let
into the eater, sod the long boat did not leave the ship's
gide. When witness went on board again be heard the
water coming in at the after part of the ship, es he passed
the batches, and told the captain so, and he said "Never
mind," and told him to go on with his work. Witness went
down in the rabic mid proceeded with packing up, and while so
engaged he heard a hammerics and arush of water bathe hold.
He did sot hear the water until thee the knocking. He
went on deck, and went halfway down the main hatchway
ladder, and there saw the captain and the carpenter stand-
big near the pumps talking. He heard the captain say,
" I'll make you all right," or some words like that. Witham
mid to the captain, " Captain, here's your belt," handing
him his belt, and the captain seemed confused and said he
did not want it, and told him to keep it. Witness bad not
up to this time MOD the pumps used. Witness went into
the forehold to get a cask of pork to take ashore, and he
saw the water " whirling" up. When the wither went
ashore the captain's things were ashore, and he had not up to
that time seen any pumping. It was about six home after
the vessel struck that he in noticed the water coming in.
When witness arrived in England he made a statement of
what he knew,

By Mr. Sleigb—Witness had been in England about three
weelm. He had not been living with the carpenter since
be came to England.
Francis Brewer' boatswain and second mate in the Snow-
drop, and Wm. Mildletou, a seaman ou board the Stow-
drop, were then examitecL
Herbert &ague, an underwriter it the Australasian In-
surance Company, said the Snowdrop was insured at his
office for the sum of 504/. The insurance wee effected on
the 6th September spinet ell risks.
Cyril right, • clerk in the Alliance, of Capel-court,
produced a policy of 500/. on the Snowdrop, " free of par
ticular average," that was to say, only against the total loss
of the ship.
Mr. Lewis then asked for another remand.
. .

------ .
Mr. Sleigh addressed his lordship, with a view to induce
him to admit his cheat to bail, sod Mr. Beard made a
similar application ; but the Lord Mayor said the penalties
were so severe in case a omviction should take place, that
be did not teal justified is taking the responsibility, sad
declined to accede to the application.

ACCIDENT IN THE HUNTING FIELD. —A very
painful, but we hope not otherwise serious accident occurred
to Sir James Laogrishe, Bart., whilst bunting on Wednes-
day last with the Kilkenny bouuda, resulting, we are sorry
toast., in the dislocation of his collar-bone. Sir James,
in his well-known love for the chase, was sustaining the
prestige of the Kilkenny eportanian, by leading the field
with his wonted ability and success, but happening to
come to a large and loosely built stone wall, at which
the most daring well might pause, be dashed at it, sod
unfortunately • portion of the structure, yielding to the
peeigu re of the horse's feet, gave way, and precipitated both
the animal and its rider into the adjoining field. Prompt
assistance was immediately renders!, and • conveyance
having been procured, Sir James was brought to Knock.
topher Abbey, when he was shortly afterwards visited by
his medical attendant. Although suffering most acutely
for the time, we we happy to Isom that Sir Janice Is pro-
gressing as favourably as the nature of the injuries would
allow, and we trust that he will shortly be restored to
perfect health and strength.—Kilkoirly Mod,rator.
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