The Sun.
London, England, 1845-11-18 00:00:00

THE ALLEGED

MUTINIES AND

MURDERS ON BOARD THE TORY.
Yesterday Mr. Clarkson, counsel for the prosecution in the
case of the men charged with piracy and murder on board
the ship Tory, accompanied by Mr. Hawley, clerk to Messrs.
Crowdor and Maynard, solicitors, came to the Thames
Police-court in great haste, and while a night charge was
being heard the learned counsel, who was seated under the
Bench, arranged his papers, and it was announced that he
would make an important application relating to the case.
After the case had terminated, however, he made some com-
munication to Mr. Broderip, the sitting magistrate, and, ac-
companied by Mr. Symons, the chief clerk, and Mr. Hawley,
retired to the magistrate's private room, where they were
closeted for some time. Ultimately Mr. Clarkson left the
building without making any application to the magistrate.
Directly after the conference had terminated, Mr. James
Evans, junior, inspector of Thames police, was sent for, and
received some directions from Mr. Symons. The greatest
secrecy was observed by all parties, and the inspector,
after a very short interview with the chief clerk, left the
Court in great haste. Whether Captain Johnstone was
arrested at that time we are unable to learn, but he was
taken into custody in the course of the day, and lodged in the
Thames Police station-house. The cause which led to this
extraordinary but not unexpected measure, was, that Capt.
Johnstone was making preparations to leave England. The
inspector, in pursuance of directions from Mr. Broderip, had
looked very closely after the captain since he gave such ex-
traordinary evidence on Wednesday last, and alio caused him
to be examined by a surgeon, who found a very slight scar
or scratch behind one of his cars, and a mark on the calf of
his leg.
It will be recollected that Captain Johnstone, in his evi-
dence, said that Mars, the second mate (who was afterwards
murdered on board), inflicted a wound upon his head with a
bayonet, and that he struck Mars in return with a cutlass,
and forced him out of the cabin. He also stated, that when
off Plymouth there was a rush aft, that French (one of the
prisoners) sang out " Mutiny," and that several men entered
the cabin and extinguished the lights, and that he received
a wound in the calf of his leg from a bayonet, and another,
as if from a knife, above the jugular. What motive the sea-
men could have had to get up a disturbance off an English
port, where immediate aid could have been obtained, was
never explained by him. It appears, however, that he has
received a wound in the calf of his leg, but an extremely
slight one. Cone,Gair, and the other wounded men have been
examined by Mr. Davis, the surgeon of the Westminster
Bridewell, who will make a report to the magistrate on the
next examination. It is believed that an application will
be made by Mr. Clarkson to-morrow, when the 15 seamen
will come up for re-examination, for the discharge of some,
if not all of them, that they may be enabled to give evidence
against Captain Johnstone. Mr. Pelham, solicitor, who is
conducting the defence for the prisoners gratuitously, has re-
tained Mr. Ballantine, jun., barrister, on their behalf, and he
has been instructed to apply for the discharge of the men,
and to accuse the captain of the wilful murder of Rambert and
Mars, the first and second mates, and Reason, a seaman. He
has also been instructed to charge the captain with cutting
and wounding several other men. The most extaordinary
disclosures will be made on the next examination. The news
of the 'arrest and detention of Captain Johnstone became
universally known last evening in the eastern part of the
metropolis, and created a considerable sensation.
Joseph Morris, a seaman, who received a pistol-shot in his
leg on board the Tory, still remains in the Dreadnought
hospital-ship in a very precarious condition.