The Sun.
London, England, 1858-12-21 00:00:00

THAMES.

SUSPECTED MURDER AT SEA.----TRA MYSTERY Ex-
PLAINED.—Among the numerous
applicants this morning
a stalwart, weather-beaten seaman passed in among the
crowd, and said he had some very
Anportant information to
furnish to the magistrate, which might save much trouble,
and be the means undoubtedly of clearing up a mystery of
a singular nature. On being desired to enter the witness
box he said his name was Francis Reeves, that he was in
the employ of the Trinity House Corporation, and that he
was at present living at No. 1, Titley-street, Poplar, New
Town. He was one of the crew of the Princess, Channel
light-ship, stationed off Herne Bay, and was two months on
board and ono month on shore. On the 4th of Nov. last the
body of a man, who he had no doubt was a maniac in his
life-time, was seen floating past the vessel. The master of
the light-ship gave immediate orders to get up some ballast
to sink the body. The order was obeyed, and the ballast
was tied up in a piece of old canvas and made fast to the
body with a rope. Another canvas bag, also containing
ballast, was made fast to the legs of the deceased, but that
was not sufficient to sink it, and as the tide was drifting
the body past the light vessel, the crew had no time to
attach mere ballast to it, and the master gave orders to
prick it. The body was pierced in several places, and
drifted out towards the " deeps," and was soon lost to view.
On the 15th of November he read in •a newspaper, left
on board by a passing steam tug, an amount of the
finding of a body at Westgate Bay, near Margate, and an
account of the Coroner's inquest upon it. It was stated
that the body presented marks of violence, was stabbed in
several places, and two bags of canvas were attached to it.
The jury had come to the conclusion, from the extraordinary
circumstances connected with the case, that a foul murder
had been 014141ittA and that the deceased had Mu war-

dered on board ship, and after he was repeatedly stabbed,
bags of sand were attached to the body, and it was thrown
overboard. A verdict of wilful murder was returned against
some persons unknown, and the Coroner was in communi-
cation with the authorities in a foreign country, to which the
ship from which the body is supposed to have been thrown
had returned. He had no doubt whatever that the body,
which drifted into Westgate Bay, was the same as that
which floated past the light-ship, and to which bags of
ballast were attached, and afterwards pierced. The holes
made in the body with a harpoon were mistaken for stabs
inflicted before death, and the description given of the body,
on which the inquest was held, corresponded in every re-
spect with the body which was handled by the crew of the
' light-ship. He had thought it his duty to communicate
with his worship directly he came on shore, that innocent
persons might not be brought into trouble, and charged
with a murder they had not committed. He believed the
body had been identified as that of a North Sea pilot, who
left a port in the north with a foreign ship which was
wrecked, and the crew, or a portion thereof, saved.
Mr. Yardley said he had road of the finding of a body in
Westgate Bay, and that its peculiar appearance led to a
suspicion that a murder had been committed at sea. The
statement just made was of the highest importance, and
the more publicity was given to it the bettor. The appli-
cant had done quite right in coming to that court and
making the statement he had done, and ho hoped that if
anybody was taken into custody on suspicion of murder, the
Justice who would have to hear the case would be written
to and informed of what had taken place.
The applicant then retired, and said ho should communi-
cate by letter with the authorities at Margate.

THE COMMON COUNCIL .I...ECTIONS.
(THIS DAY.)

This being St. Thomas' day, the annual election of the
Common Council took place in the City. In the majority
of the wards the old members were re-elected.

WALBROOK WARD.

The wardmote was held this morning at tho Mansion-
House, the Right Hon. D. W. Wire, Lord Mayor, and
aldermen of the ward, presided.

The following gentlemen were re-elected as Common
Councilmen :—Mr. Deputy Conder, Mr. Ford Hale, Mr.
Wm. Dawson, Mr. T. Rowley, Mr. H. E. Murrell, and
Mr. T. H. Fry.

Mr. WATKINS moved, and Mr. RocK seconded, a vote
of congratulation to the Lord Mayor on his recovery from
his severe indisposition. The vote was enthusiastically
agreed to.

The Lottn MAYOR briefly returned thanks, and:the pro
ceedings terminated.

LIME-STREET WARD.

This wardmote took place at the School-house, St. Mary-
axe. After the usual preliminaries the following were re-
elected to represent the ward in Common Council for the
ensuing year :—Mr. Deputy Cork, Mr. T. B. Simpson, Mr.
T. Symonds, and Mr. W. Simpson.