The Sun.
London, England, 1839-09-20 00:00:00

ALLEGED MURDER AT SEA.

On Wednesday John Blonk, an American seaman,was
brought before Mr. Broderip at the Thames Police-office
charged with the wilful murder of Peter Sampson, the
second mate of the brig Midas, of Dundee, on the high
seas, within the jurisdiction of the Admiralty of En-
land.

The prisoner is a very intelligent young man, and
was sent home from St. Petersburgh in a steamer,
which reached London on Tuesday night. Two wit-
nesses were sent home in the same vessel by direction
of the British Consul.

The prisoner was charged with the wilful murder of
the second officer, by striking him on the head with a
handspike and inflicting a serious wound, of which he
died on the following morning.
James M'Gee stated that he was a seaman on board
the Midas, and knew the second mate,who was a Swede,
and named Peter Sampson. On the last day of July
the ship was beating up. between Elsineur and Copen-
hagen. The second mate called all hands up to put the
ship about. The whole of the ship's company came
upon deck except the prisoner. The second mate went
to the forecastle soon after, and called out, " Jack,
come up and give us a pull at the lee main brace."
The prisoner answered from below, " I'll see you --
first before I get my dinner." Ia about five or ten mi-
nutes afterwards the prisoner came upon deck and
abused the second mate in a very gross man-
ner. The second mate again told him to go
and give a pull at the lee main brace, but did not abuse
the prisoner at all. Blonk, however, continued to abuse
Sampson, who shoved him down on the chain cable, but
whether he struck him or not he could not say. The
mate allowed the prisoner to get up again, and walked
to the other side of the deck to let go the weather main
braces. After Sampson had made the braces fast the
prisoner continued to abuse him. They were then about
twelve feet apart, not quite the width of the deck. The
mate directly afterwards came towards the prisoner, but
whether he intended to take hold of the prisoner or not
he could not say. At that time the mate's hands were
down. As he was advancing towards the prisoner,
Blonk said, " If any one of you lift your hand to me
again I'll knock you down with a handspike." At the
same moment the prisoner picked up the handspike, and
struck the mate a heavy blow over the left temple. The
mate fell backwards, and witness ran towards him, caught
him in his arms, and took him aft. His temples were
bathed, and everything possible done to restore him, but
l►e was quite senseless, for the blow had stunned him.

Another seaman corroborated this evidence.

The prisoner made a very long defence, in which he
said the mate was in the habit of treating the men on
board very cruelly, and that some harsh words having
passed between them on a point of discipline, the mate
struck and kicked him, and that he (the prisoner) had
dealt the blow with the handspike in self-defence just as
the deceased was again about to strike him.
The witnesses were recalled, and again examined at
great length by Mr. Broderip, who afterwards said it
was his duty to commit the prisoner for trial for the wil-
ful murder of Peter Sampson on the high seas.—The
prisoner was then taken to Newgato.