The Express.
London, England, 1853-04-02 00:00:00

STATIMENT AT TUR tOLICR COURT.

At the sitting of the police-court, yesterday, Captain
John Duncan was called, amid the greatest attention of a
lalte court.

Mr. Verner-1 believe, Captain Dunetn, you have some
statement to make to the bench.

Captain Duncan—Your worships, I was on my passage
from Liverpool to this port, last night, on board the
steamer Minerva, and when about fifteen miles northward
of the Isle of Man, the steamer came into collision with a
schooner. A few minutes before the collisiou, I was stand-
ing at the forward part of the steamer, and saw a vessel
cumin; from the northward. We were then nearing the
South light. Shortly afterwards the collision took place,
and no Oran was made by those in charge of the steamer to
save thos'., in the schooner. The Minerva was in charr
ef the mate at the time ; and I called, before the collision,
two of the hands standing on the bridge " Fat God's sake
shift your helm," but no change was made in the steamer's
course. I just then heard a voice from the schooner cry
eta "Oh! this is murder," and she then went down.
(Ser.sation.)
Mr. Verner—Where was the captain of the Minerva at
this period?
Captain Duncan—The captain was below, and the
steamer was in charge of the mate. I could not say whether
the mate was on deck at the time of the disaster or not ; but
1 raw the captain on deck afterwards Them were no me-
fiend made ut the time of the occurrence to save the people
in the schooner. The steamer was going at the rate of
about twelve knots an hour—she, at any rate, ran at about
that rote from the time she left Liverpool until abs arrived
at the scene of the disaster.
Mr. V —Could the schooner have been seen at a
distance from the steamer 1
Captain Duncan—She could have been visible at a dis-
tance of two miles. It was about a quarter to eleven
o'clock when the collision took place. The Minerva had
iights up, but the schooner was so close when I observed
her :hat I could not sea whether she had any lights up or
nut. I may now state it as my opinion to your worships,
that, bad those on board the steamer been doing their duty,
the disaster would nut have taken place. (Sensation.)
There was a man at the helm at the time, but it was not
shifted when I gave the alarm. The Minerva was obliged
to stop atter the collision, and a boat was lowered from
the steamer atter the collision, merely to see if she was
injured. The schooner and all on board of her had dis-
arreared some time before this. (Sensation.) A few mi-
nutes after the collision, I saw two men swimming near
one of the paddles of the steamer, but they were not saved.
I myself belong to Belfast, and am of the seafaring pro.
fusion.

Mr. Verner—About what size we, the a:loot:et ?
Captain Dunctan—About 140 tons turthen, your wor-
ship.

Mr. Verner—Did you see any name on her, or do you
know to whom she belonged ?
Captain Duncan—l have no idea of either.
Mr. Verner—For the present, Captain Duncan, your
statement will suffice. Were there any pereoca convenient
to you at the time of the diameter
Captain Duncan—There was another man • passenger
who, I know, belongs to Behan.
Mr. Verncr—Then, Captain Duncan, we shall proceed to
investigate the moire transaction in this court, to-morrow,
at one o'clock, when we shall receive this and any further
statement you may have to macs ; and we shall also ho
prepared to take up the evidence of such other persons
who were on board the steamer at the time as may be able
to throw light on the transaction.
Tie matter then dropped.