Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-12-01 00:00:00

CHARGE OF MURDER ON THE HIGH SEAS.

SECOND DAY'S PROCEEDINGS.

The proceedings in the case of Captain J. A. Christie
and James Millard (the mate of the barque Elizabeth), was
resumed yesterday, at ten o'clock, before Mr. Ma❑sfield,
at the Police-court. Mr. Tyndall appeared for the
prosecution. Mr. Bluck, for the captain, and Mr. Snow-
ball, for the mate. The court was more crowded than on
Saturday, and much interest prevailed as to the result.
James Ritnmer, was the first witness. He said :—I
was an able seaman on hoard the Elizabeth, out to New
Calabar, and was transferred for a fortnight to the Faith
there. I was second mate on the passage out, and as
boatswain on the passage home. The priso❑er (Captain
Christie) came on board as master, and Millard came with
him, as ❑ ai.-, at the same time, from the Faith. Three men
from the Faith joined the Elizabeth. Onewes Roderigo, one
Matio, and the third was called 3oe—l don't know his
other name. I saw them come, and Roderigo was in
good health, to all appearance. He wes an able seaman,
but I consider ha was not capable of doing the duty of
one ; ;I mean in point of ability. He could steer, and I
would put him to do so if in command of the ship. I did
not see any difference from the rest of the crew with him.
I saw the captain illuse him one night only. It was
about when we were fifty or sixty days at 222,. It was in
the dog watch from six to eight, and the man fell down off
the poop with the binnacle lamp, going to the captain.
The lamp knocked about the deck, and I saw the ma❑
knocked down, and kicked by the captain, but I can't tell
where he kicked him. I was sitting in the forecastle
smoking, and could see it all. I can't say how long he
kicked him, but for sonic time he did so, 23 hard as he was
able. The deaeased called for mercy, or words to that effect.
The captain used abusive language whilst kicking him,
but I can't sly what he said. Roderigo crawled forward
afterwards, but I did not take notice more of them. I saw
him next day, and he was complaining of pains all over
him, where the captain had been kicking him. I never
saw the captain ill-use him with the exception of that
time.

Did you ever hear Christie beating him after ?
Mr. Bluck : I object to this—it is
,not legal—Did he
ever hear him ?

Mr. Tyndall.: Did you ever hear Roderigo cry out ?
Yes, the same as a man who would be flogged, and I
heard the captain's voice at the same time, swearing at
him, end calling him a useless scoundrel. I remember the
day he died ; he was taken out of his bunk the same day.
I heard Rolerigo cry out, " Murder, murder, murder," and
ask the captain for a gla,s of spirits ; he was on the deck
between some spare. The captain came forward once, and
said if he did rapt stop that noise he would ropes' end him ;
he said at the time to the captain that he was dying. Ile was
not in my watch, EO I had not much opportunity of seeing
him. I helped to carry him out after he died, but did not
examine his body. We had plenty of scurvy on board.
He did not appear to be suffering like the other men
from scurvy, but he had pains all over his body. I never
noticed anything else about him. I saw him buried, and
the captain read prayers over him. I should say the
captain was rather in liquor at the time.

What time was that Eight in the morning. I got
charge of the ship after, as the captain and mate were
drunk. I begged the captain to wear the ship round and
run for Cork, and he gave me charge, and I ran her into
Cork, where we were paid off. Never saw Roderigo ill-
used by any one but the captain; deceased was a quiet man.
I heard him sing out one night, and the second mate sung
out whose patch it was? and some one answered it was
the " Russian's" look-out ; and I then heard the mate's
voice, but not what he said. Roderigo was in his berth
next day, he was like a man broke down, and could not
walk straight. He did not walk that day b?fore he was
kicked by the captain, but after that he could not walk
straight. He walked lame afterwards.

Cross examined by Mr. Bluck : I saw the captain knock
him down and kick him once. I can't say how long he
was kicking him, but never saw hint ill-use him only that
time. I believe In could steer as well as any man in the
ship. I don't know if he had bad legs or scurvy. I did
not know he was laid up the day he came on board.
Snows the doctor of the Cumbetland, but don't know
who he attended, as there were six or seven men sick. I
know Renshaw, but don't speak to him, and he may be
good or bad, but he is a matt I don't fancy myself. I
know deceased was taken on deck, and shaved and washed,
that was some time after the captain kicked him. The
beating was about the binnacle lamp. It was a fortnight
or three weeks after when he was taken out of the fore-
castle. He was no great seaman, but be could steer as
well as any man on board. When deceased was wall, he
was as clean as any of Vie other ram. I had no conversa-
tion with any of the men about the captain being the
worse for liquor, for I do not speak to the other men. He
was what I call about three sheets like in liq aor I,t the
time of the funeral. The captain w;ts on his feet on board
at day time, but he always turned in at night.
„.. .

Did he read the service properly ? Why he
slipped it over somo way very quickly. I was not
on intimate terms with Roderigo. During the
previous part of the voyage the captain was per-
fectly sober up to that morning from Calabar. We
bad a fair wind before that ; we had comfortable
weather until the sails were split in Carnarvon Bay. He
was quite sober from the time we left Ronny until that
time. I did not see him on deck from twelve to four
that night. I can't say I spoke to him that morning; I
may have done so, but can't remember. He may have
been tired. I was mate of a ship. We had a very
insufficient crew coming home—the refuse of the gaols
and hospitals. We had ten, in all, rated as able seamen.
The crew heing insufficient, give the captain a great deal
of responsibility. I told the captain often, that Raiderigo
was a bad sailor. After the captain kicked him, I often
told ihim (the captain) that he was able to work about
the decks, but not to go aloft.
Was he able to go aloft before ? Witness : Yes, and
could do as well as some of the rest.
Mr. Mansfield : I suppose he could reef, but not
smartly ? Witness : Yes, he could do it one way.
To Mr. Bluck : I had no conversation with any of the
sailors at Queenstown about this affair. Deceased might
be in bed a fortnight before he died. I saw him the day
before be diet, lying straight between a spar and the fore
deck. I can't say who put him there. He could tacit sit
upright. Did not see the mate take messages from the
captain to have him taken care of.
Cross-examined by Mi. Suowbill . I was master of
several vrceb. The last was the Rupert, of London,
belonging. to Thompsoa, of Billiter-square. I think
Renshaw a bit of a blackguard.
Mr. Snowball : So do I.
Mr. Black : So do I.

Are you not one yourself ? Witness : I leave
others to judge of that. I came here from Cork,
but knew nothing about this affair when I came here. I
can read, hut had not rea 1 the papers at the thw.. I went
to Millard's mother, with a man named Asworthy, to
know what about the affair. I did not go to Mrs.
Christie's. I asked i❑ your office where she lived, but
you would not tell me. I said if I could do any good, I
would do so. I was in the mate's watch. I can't say
whether it was a moonlight night or not. The mate had
a fit one morning on the passage home, but never saw the
captain laid up on the voyage: We were all wore out
when we arrived at Cork, and were glad to get ashore.
Mr. Tyndall : What state was the captain in at Bracker
Island ? Witness :He was drunk and in the horrors
before we left that:

Mr. Bluck objected to this line of examination.
Mr. Manstitld did not think anything turned on the
point of drunkenness.

The Witness, in reply to Mr. Tyndall, said the captain
was drunk in the channel continually, until all the grog
was out, when they were off the Hoop Light. It was in
consequence of the drunkenness of the captain and mats
that the crew requested me to take charge of the ship.
With the exception of three men, the captain, and mate,
we had the same crew home as we had out.

Mr. Tyndall : Why, Mr. Bluck said you had sweepings of
the gaols and hospitals.
George Pollock examined : I was steward in the
Elizabeth, and went out and returned in her. Captain
Pickering was the master on the out voyage. Captain
Christie came is charge of her at Bracker Island. Millard
joined her there also. I was transferred to the Cumber-
laud for a short time, and then, on my return, I found the
prisoners in charge of the Elizabeth. I saw three new
hands besides on board. One was the Spaniard. Roderigo
looked perfectly well. We sailed for England on the 24th
July. Roderigo was on board, and looked perfectly well.
I always saw him very quiet, and he obeyed orders. On
the 28th August, Captain Christie beat him, on the poop,
about steering. The captain said he was steering bad ; he
said no, and then the captain said, "you d- brute,
you are steering wrong," and began to beat him, and he
called out, "oh, God ! oh, God !" The captain said, " I
will make you steer right, and you d- brute, I will kill
yen or kill the steward." Saw the captain thump him in
the face, and he also kicked him on that occasion. Saw him
kick him several times after, and on the occasion of the
binnacle lamp ; it was between the 28th August and the
Bth September. It was from 7toB in the evening. The
deceased was bringing the lamp from the binnacle, and I
heard some one fall, and went to look what it was, and I saw
Roderigo with the lamp, and asked was it broken ? He said
no; Captain was in the fore cabin, and asked steward
what was the matter ? I told him ; I took away the
lamp, and saw the Captain kick the " Russian." He said
you d--- brute, you broke the lamp ; and he said no.
I saw the Captain grip him by the neck, and throw him
down and beat him. I saw the Captain's feet on the
Russian's back, and he was crying out " Oh God, Murder,