The Sun.
London, England, 1861-02-16 00:00:00

DARING ROBBERY AND SUPPOSED MURDER
AT FALMOUTH.

Great consternation prevailed at Falmouth on
Thursday, in consequence of an extensive robbery
having been committed on board a vessel in Fal-

mouth Harbour, and the supposed murder of the
mate, and an attempt to murder the apprentice
boy belonging to the same vessel. It appears
that the schooner Viscata, of Aberayron, from
Portsmouth, David Jones, master, in ballast, put
into Falmouth, on Sunday last, having sailed
from Portsmouth on Saturday morning. The
crew consisted of the master, the mate, Martin
flaly, of Cork, who is described as a short set
man, having no whiskers, aged 25, two seamen,
who gave their names as John Brown, aged 25,
and William Ellis, aged 19, and James Jones, an

apprentice aged 18. Brown and Ellis shipped at
Portsmouth. The vessel was lying in St. Just
Creek, in Falmouth harbour, and on Tuesday the
captain came ashore in company with Brown,
Ellis, and the mate, leaving the apprentice on
hoard. On Wednesday afternoon the captain and
the three same parties left in their boat to go on
board another vessel in Falmouth harbour; the
captain and mate remained there, but the two sea-
men, Brown and Ellis, left to go to the Viscata, it
being then about five or six o'clock in the afternoon.
About eight or nine o'clock the same evening, the
mate also left the vessel to go on board the Viscata,
and at about half-past 10 the captain, accompanied
by Capt. W.Jones,of the schooner City of Chester,also
went on board, when to their great astonishment
and alarm they found no one on board but the ap-
prentice boy, who was then in the cabin quite in-
sensible, blood flowing freely from his head, and
lying in his blood in the cabin. His head was
severely cut, the skull bone being broken an inch
deep; the state-room had been broken open, locks
wrenched off, the captain's clothes, his watch, two
£5 notes, four sovereigns, and 10s. in silver stolen,
the ship's register and other documents removed,
Ind a great deal of property damaged. From
he large quantity of blood on deck, and other
matter, as if from vomiting, it appeared that
a scuffle had taken place there, and it
is feared that the mate, who it is supposed
came on board before he was expected, was also
attacked. Although every search has been made
for him, he has not been heard of, and it is supposed
that he was murdered and thrown overboard. The
ipprentice, who is removed to the Sailors' Home,
is recovered a little, and states that he did not go
on deck ; that the two seamen, Brown and Ellis,
came down in the cabin to him ; that Brown struck
him on the bead with a piece of iron, and from that
time he was insensible, but that he never saw or
heard the mate. Both Ellis and Brown, were ap-
prehended at Falmouth, each having on at that
time some of the captain's clothes. There was also
found on them two £5 notes, two sovereigns, the cap-
tain's watch, and some silver. They were brought
before Jacob Olver, Esq., mayor, and Thomas
Rogers, Esq., and the case is remanded until Mon-
day. The two prisoners slept at the King's Arms
on Wednesday night, and on being asked for the
mate, said that "he was gone ; he was no good."
Ellis says that he belongs to Brighton, and Brown
T hat he is from Exeter. A piece of iron about 101bs.
in weight, was found on board, with blood on it, to
which was attached some human hair from the
head. The boat belonging to the schooner is mis-
sing. The prisoners were observed to enter the
George and Dragon beerhouse on Thursday morn-
ing, and they ran through at the backdoor, making
their escape over a wall before they were captured.
They are both delicate looking young men, and not
such as would be supposed to commit such a
dreadful deed.