The Sun.
London, England, 1867-09-18 00:00:00

BOROUGH HOP.

Picking has now become fully general in the hop-grow-
ing districts, and, notwithstanding the favourable antici-
pations a few weeks since, the yield is pronounced to be
deficient both as to quantity and quality. There is a fair
demand at this market for new samples, but prices are
irregular, owing to the variable qualities of the packets
brought forward. We quote:—
New Sussex
New Kent
New Farnham
Yearlings
Olds 69s to 100 s „

LIVERPOOL COTTON lIIARKE7—This Day.

The market has a steadier appearance and a better
demand. Sales probably 12,000 or 15,000 bales.

Charge of Murder at Bea.

Yesterday Captain Matthew Irvin, the master of
the ship Balcamarra, was brought before Mr. Ben-
son, at the Thames Police court, charged with the
wilful murder of Joseph Heck, a seaman.
Mr. Pelham defended the prisoner.

Inspector Alston, of the Thames police, stated
that in consequence of information he arrested the
prisoner that day, and told him he was charged with
assaulting Joseph Heck on board the ship Balca-
marra, on the 7th July last, and causing him to jump
overboard. The prisoner said he expected a prosecu•
tion by the Board of Trade, but not by the police,
and added, " Well, it cannot be helped." The wit-
ness ;then put in the official log-book of the Bal-
camarra. There was no entry of the occurrence in
question in any leaf of the log, but a sheet of foolscap
was pasted within it, in which appeared the follow-
ing statement, which seemed to have been recently
written :—" Sunday morning, July 7, 1867, 10 a.m.,
34.24 longitude, 17 deg. E.—This morning Joseph
Heck, A. 8., being at the wheel, the mate, carpen-
ter, and the master talking together at the front,
or break of the poop: John Nash, seaman, called
out, ' Joe is overboard.' Immediately the mate
came aft, the man holding on to the boom-guy,
which hangs over the taffrail, but before the mate
could reach him he lost his hold and fell into the
water. The master ordered the helm to be put
down, and to call all hands, and he ran aft with the
life-buoy, and hove it to the man, within a few
fathoms of him. The ship immediately came to
the wind, and the boat was launched in five minutes.
The boatswain had been ordered to the masthead,
and was there keeping a look-out for him. The
boat was at the place of his falling into the water
in less than fifteen minutes after he fell overboard,
but they could not see him. The boatswain
reported after the boat came back, which
was in three-quarters of an hour, that after
swimming to within two or three fathoms of the
life-buoy the man suddenly disappeared; done all
in our power to save him, but to no effect. At 9
a.m. hoisted in the boat and kept the ship on her
course, the chief mate taking an inventory of his
effects. Matthew Irvin, master ; Andrew David
Morgan, chief mate; Robert Dennison, boatswain ;
and Peter Olson, carpenter.. "
Jas. Taylor, an apprentice om board the Balca-
marra on her last voyage to Ceylon, stated that on
the 7th July the crew were washing the poop. He
was in the mizen chains drawing water between
six and eight in the morning. The captain was
reading a book belonging to Heck, who had
made entries in it relating to his bad treatment on
board, and all at once the captain hit the deceased
and abused him. The captain said, " Pat that
down, and add it up and see what it will amount
to." The captain then struck Heck several times
with his spy-glass, and knocked him down three or
four times. As fast as Heck got up the captain
knocked him down again. Heck appeared to be
very much hurt and tried to escape from the cap-
tain, but was unable to do so. Three or four
minutes afterwards there was a cry of " Joe over-
board," aild he was seen in the water and went
down.
Mr. Benson--By Joe, you mean the deceased?

Witness—Yes, sir.
In answer to other questions by the Ilfagistrate,
the witness said that they had rounded the Cape
when the affair occurred. The ship arrived in the
port of London on Monday afternoon. Eight of
the crew left the ship at St. Helena.

Inspector Alston said he expected that some of
the men who had left the Balcamarra at St. Helena
to arrive here shortly, and they could give material
evidence. The steward of the ship, who was a very
timid man, and who had been ill-used, was in Lon-
don, and did not like to attend.
Mr. Benson—lll used by whom ?
Inspector Alston—By the captain.
Mr. Benson—lf it is necessary he must be sum-
moned.
Mr. Pelhath submitted there was no evidence to
substantiate any criminal charge against the pri-
soner, and there was not a blemish on his character.
The charge on the police-sheet was not proved.
Mr. Benson—That he feloniously assaulted the
deceased and caused him to jump into the sea and
was drowned? A man on the edge of a play, and
so brutally ill used that, to escape further punish-
ment, he jumps into the river before him and is
drowned, that would be wilful murder.
Mr. Pelham—There is no prima facie evidence
that the deceased jumped into the sea to escape ill-
treatment by the captain.
Mr. Benson said that it was proved that the
captain beat the seaman with his telescope and
knocked him down several times, and that three or
four minutes afterwards the seaman was overboard
and was drowned. The charge was of a very serious
nature, and must undergo a full investigation. He
should remand the prisoner.
Mr. Pelham asked the magistrate to accept of
bail.

Mr. Benson said he would accept of sureties for
the prisoner, himself in his own personal recogni-
sauces of £2o'), and two sureties.

Mr. Pelham said that one gentleman present would
give bail to any amount, but at that late hour of the
day, if two sureties were required, the prisoner must
go to prison for the night.

After some discussion,
Mr. Benson accepted the bail of Mr. James Pat-
terson Traill, shipowner, of No. 63, Fenehurch-
street, in the sum of £2OO, and the prisoner in the
like amount, and he was liberated.

Barrack Sergeant Honing, Woolwich Division
Royal Marines, yesterday received his promotion as
quartermaster, and is appointed to Plymouth, vice
Lieut. and Quartermaster Pritchett, whose period
of Staff service has expired; and Sergeant-Nlajor
Woon has been promoted as quartermaster and ap-
pointed to Chatham.