The Sun.
London, England, 1860-04-24 00:00:00

APP.RETIENSION OF A MURDERER IN

AMERICA.

The Boston Courier of the 2d mentions the arrest
of a man named James Johnson on board the ship
Brewster, Capt. Fessenden, from Calcutta, Nov. 30,
on a charge of murdering three seamen belonging
to the British man-of-war Retribution, from Cal-
cutta, about five months since. The facts in the case,
as near as can be ascertained, are as follows :

" Johnson is an Englishman by birth, and states
that he is 23 years of age, although he appears
several years older. He belonged to the British
army in India, from which be deserted two or three
years since: He afterwards acted as a bar-tender
at a low rum shop in Calcutta, and it was here that
he, with others, murdered the three seamen. The
men were killed by being beaten over the head with
a slung shot and glass bottles. They were supposed
to have been murdered for their money. Johnson
was supposed to be the chief perpetrator of this
horrible murder, and officers -were sent in every
direction to ferret him out if possible. Ho escaped,
however, by hiding behind a chimney in the house
of a friend, where he remained three days without
anything to eat. At the end of that time he left,
and smuggled himself on board the ship North
America, which was to sail immediately for the
United States. He bribed the mate by giving him
a gold watch to allow him to remain. He was de-
tected, however, by some of the crew, as a fugitive
from justice, and sent on shore. He then went on
board the bark Clarissa Currier, which was bound
for Boston, and bribed the mate by giving two gold
rings and a silver watch to allow him to stay ; but
here he was discovered again while going down the
river Iloogly, and to get rid of him they sent him
on board the ship Brewster, which was just leaving
for this port. He climbed over the bows of that ship,
and, when one of the sailors asked him what he
wanted, he said, " For God's sake save me ; if the
officers get hold of me I shall catch the seven
stretchers.' rhey concluded to bring him over, and
did not suspect at the time that he was a murderer.
The sailors state that during the passage he has
been seen to start up in his sleep, and cry out, Go
away, I did not murder you alone ; he helped me to
do it.' My God, there they are !" See the blood !'
and other exclamations of horror, mingled with
oaths. The police are in search of the mate of the
Clarissa Currier, to whom the prisoner is supposed
to have confes'sed the crime. The ship arrived here
about a week since, and the mate has concealed him-
self on account of a debt for which he has become
liable, and for which a warrant has been issued
against him. The evidence is probably strong
enough to convict him without the testimony of the
mate, but the British Consul desires to have the evi-
dence beyond a doubt before sending him to Cal-
cutta. Johnson is of medium size, and has a decidedly
hard-looking face, especially when looked upon as
a murderer. He refuses to hold any conversation in
regard to the crime with which he is charged."

The colonelcy of the 10th Regiment remains
vacant by the death of Sir Thomas M‘Mahon, and no re-
commendation has yet been made to her Majesty respecting
the selection of the officer to be appointed is his place,—
oarilly and :Yoz7l Gazette.