The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-01-24 00:00:00

MORE VIOLENCE ON BOARD AN AMERICAN

SHIP.

A case of considerable interest came before Mr. Mans-
field yesterday at the Police court, when Mr. Aspinall,
barrister, appeared to sustain a charge of assault pre-
ferred by two Germans and a Frenchman, against the
mate of the American ship Albert Gallatin, The
defendant's name was Joseph Creely, for whom Mr.
Snowball appeared. Mr. Aspinall, in opening the case,
said he appeared for-the first complainant, a Frenchman,
named Frederick Muffler, whom the ship's people, called
William Williams. He was instructed in the case by
that very excellent Society for the Protection of Foreigners
in Distress, who, in bringing the ease before the court,
wished also to bring it before the public, so that a
knowledge of the conduct pursued on board American
ships to poor foreigners and others might go to the
world, and by that means cause some measures to be
adopted to put a stop to the shocking brutality resorted
to on board American vessels. Perhaps this would be
the nr,ans of attracting the attention of the American
authorities here, and also bringing the subject before the
American people at home, an that.such a knowledge
would be the means of putting an end to the atrocities
practised on board the United States ships—atrocities
that were truly disgraceful to civilised countries. The
lanerican Consul (said Mr. A.) had notice of this
case, and I am very sorry he is not present here to
day. Indeed he is not seen here as frequently as
he ought to be, when American cases come before tha
court. He seldom comes here, unless to dispute the
jurisdiction of the court, in matters concerning Ameri-
cans; but I have no doubt this case will be brought
under his notice, and I trust be will take such steps, and
make such representations to his government at home.
that it will be the means of wipieg off the
degrading and outrageous system assumed by American
ships officers, over foreigners and others. It seems, that
there exists a system in America, of advertising in New'
York and other papers, that persons who wanted to
'return home to Europe, would get good wages on board
Chips, where they would be only asked to work on deck,
as landsmen. In this way, many anti rtunate persons
were dot on board ships, but, so far from being only
asked to work as landsmen on deck, they were put to the
work of able seamen, and, of course, they could not do
this, and then they were treated in the foulest manner,
and with the most abominable cruelty. Whether the
American people at home were aware of this state Of
things or not, he was unable to say ; but if they were
not, he trusted that as soon as they were informed of it,
that they would take steps to prevent it ;al future, because
it was impossible that anything Could be more
degrading
to tha character of the
esuntry. His client s got on
Albert Criallatin, in New York, in the usual
way, but instead of twenty dollars el month, he was not
able to get one farthing of 'inoney, as it was alleged
that the 'money had
in Nevt York for been paid to some one
, him. This was another most
disgraces syste:,,n
on the part of the Americans
whoever ttey were that sanctioned it. From the
time the
.:: man went on board until he arrived in Liver-
Deo'. he was subject to a series of the most abominable
drutalities at the hands of the mate and second mate (not
present); but he knew his learned friend, Mr. Snowball,
would object to his saying anything in reference to what
happened on the voyage, because the ship being Ame-
rican, the bench had no jurisdiction to decide what
happened on the high seas in such a vessel ; but if he
(:sir A.) were permitted to enter on that, he would show
a series of the most brutal assaults and—
Mr. Snowball: I object to this; you cannot go
into it.
Mr. Aspinall : I knew you would object, and therefore
l will confine myself to what happened in the Waterloo
'dock on the 11th January. The mate, on that day, com-
'rnitted a most serious assault on the poor fellow who
now complains of him. He beat-him with a rope over
the head and slaoulders,kickedhinemost severely,and other-
wise ill treated him ; and the society alluded to thought
'it time to expose such ruffianism and bring it before both
'countries, so that measures might be adopted to stop
'such brutal conduct on board American vessels. He
then called,
Frederick Mulder, a Frenchman, who splice
through an interpreter (the secretary of the Society for
the Protection of Foreigners in Distress), and stated
that he shipped as a deck labourer on the Albert
Gallatin ; he was induced to go there by an advertisement
in thepapers.

Mr. Snowball objected to this line of examination.
The witness went on to
.say that when they got into
the river the anehof was let . go, but he was not able to
work, and the first mate beat him with a rope and kicked
him. His hand was frostbitten, and the mate knew that.
When in the dock the mate struck him with a rope over
'the back and shoulders, and also kicked him. He was
not doing anything wrong at the time.
Mr. Aspinall asked how was he trea'ed during the
',toy age ?
Mr. Snowball objected.
Mr. Aspinall said he had he had a right to show the
aggrareation of the assault.
lir. Mansfield : I think you have shown malice enough
already.
Mr. Snowball then went on to cross examine the,
Witness, but there was nothing particular elicited.
Charles Zimmerman, a German, who spoke English
very well, said be shipped under the same circumstances
as the last witness. He saw the advertisements in the
New York papers, and he was to get 20 dollars a month,
but he did not get any money. He proved the assault
committed by the defendant on the complainant.
Another witness, named Zill, who was on board under
the same circumstances, corroborated the evidence.
Mr, Snowball addressed the bench, and contended that
the case was brought forward to libel the American
service by the "too humane society." He contended that
the case was a sham one, got up for the purpose stated,
by the'humanity mongers. He produced a witness who
said he did not see any assault committed in the dock,
but he saw a good deal of kicking and cuffing on the
Voyage, and got clouted and kicked and licked himself
both on the voyage and in the dock. He caused a good
deal of laughter by the calmness in which he talked
about" kicking and cuffing," as if it was a matter of
course, and a portion of the business of the mate to
" lick" the men without " mercy." Two other witnesses
were examined for the defence, and they stated that they
did not see the mate kick or strike the complainant.
One of them swore that the complainant was traated with
the "height of care, civility, end delicacy !" Three
others were then produced, and if their evidence was
correct, the Albert Gallatin was a perfect floating para-
dise. The evidence caused a large amount of laughter.
Mr. Aspinall having replied to the evidence
Mr. :Mansfield said, he would stick to the' point at
issue, without being led away by any prejudice that
might exist in regard to the conduct said to be practised
by American officers, It seemed to him that the mate
had acted exceedingly wrong in striking the man.
Dismissing all prejudices that might exist in relation to
American ships, he must say, that he was of opinion an
assault had been committed. It was not a very severe
assault, but it was a very wanton assault on the part of
the mate. He fully believed the evidence for the com-
plainant, and he must say he was glad to find th it such
practices were not to be found in British ships. He
would treat the case the same as he would treat a street
assault in the town, and fine the mate £2 and costs.
Mr. Aspinall then proceeded with two other 'chargrF.,s
preferred against the mate by Zimmerman and Zill. The
evidence was to the same effect as in the last, except
that Zimmerman's was the mostserious and severe assault,
he having been kicked in the side in a rather dangerous
manner. For this the defendant was fined £5 and costs,
and in the case of Zill, he was fined £2 and costs, making
altogether L 9 33a 6d. The defendant looked rather
astonished, bat paid the fines.

GENERAL BEaysox.—lt is very much doubted whether
the court martial which was announced would be held to
inquire into the charges preferred against General Beat-
son by General Vivian, will now take place. It is said
that so many obstacles have been interposed by tha War
office to the holding of the court martial, that it would no:
be a matter of surprise if General Beatson abandons the idea
of a military investigation, and institutes an action in the
Civil Courts for defamation of character against General
Vivian.

•
BRIGANDS IN THE P,PE'S DOMINIONS.—The Giornale
dilltoma`contains,the following:—" We have the satisfac_
Lion of announcing that the band of the notorious Lazza
rini has been destroyed. It will be remembered that
daring the night of the Bth: inst the troop of the detach.t
ment of Predeppio, commanded by Andrea Tanesini, had
returned towards Piggio, a village of Tuscany. This
trooa, and that of the detachment of Mortano, commanded
by Matteo.Agostinelli, acted in concert with the gendar_
merle of the Grand Duke, and, in accordance with infor-
mation which they had received, at live o'clock on the
morning of the 9th the gendarmes attacked the house of
the former, Michell Leoni, at a place named Casella
where they met with a violent resistance from two
assassins, Joseph Affliti, named Lazzarini, and Henri
Casadio, known by the name of Pasottino. The valiant
Tanesini, who was first in advance, was killed, but the
other officer succeeded in killing, at the first blow, one of
the robbers, who was afterwards recognised as Pasottino.
Lazzarini managed to take to flight, but the troop was
soon on his traces, and we have been informed that on the
IMt he was arrested by the gendarmie of the :Grand
Duko on the farm:of Pisello. While we deplore the death
of Tanesini, we have much pleasure in stating that the
chief of so mischievous a; band of robbers has fallen into
the hands of justice.'