The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1828-09-17
From the Boston Balleti,l.
SHOCKING.

"hotC vi u snip crew Dy Lile captain. ms
vessel, the Mary Russell, has arrived at
Cork, and a coroner's inquest upon the bod
les of the murdered men Immediately took
place, during which a number of facts were
developed, that strike the mind with the ut
most horror. 1t appeared that the vessel
was returning from Barbados to Ireland,
and when within about 100 miles of the
coast, the Captain (Stewartl succeeded in
persuading six oe his crew, together with
passenger (Capt. Raynes) to suffer them
selves to be hound, hand and foot, one by
one, in the cabin; where they were all muir
dered IN the most barharous and unheard-o of
manner. The mate, one hand, and three
boys escaped, probably in consequence of
| falling in with another vessel. These indi-
! oner's Jury, and from their evidence as de-
tailed in the Cork newspapers, the annexed
extracts are made.
Daniel Scully, a boy ID years of age, af-
ter detailing many preliminary circumstan-
ces, testified as follows =
"The captain then called him down to
the cabin, and saw all the people tied, one
| by one, down on the fiat of their backs.
/ When they were all tied down together,
they appeared frightened witness then re-
manned about half an hour, during which
time the captain was tying them stronger
than before, with the deep sea lead line
they were complaining of being so tight, and
all their hands were swelled out; the cap
tain loosed them, for the blood was ready
to burst through ConnelPs fingers; there
were three rounds of cord about Murley's
neck, and the froth was coming out of his
mouth, on which the witness was about to
put handkerchief round his neck, but the
captain would not let him. Connell begged
to have his arms loosed, but he would not
do so. Witness then slept with tie other
hoy in the state room and the captain watch
ed, and while the captain slept they'watch-
ed. All this time the ship was hove to I'M
der reefed fore-sails, and the srudder down.
About four o'clock on Sunday morning, the
boys were reused by the captain, and the
people were in the same state as when he
left them; they were all awake, lying down
on their backs, and tied. The captain then
overhanled them all, to see if they were tied.
The captain then came on deck with wit
ness and Deaves, and the witness called out
n sail The captain asked where? Witness
replied, son our lee quarter . on which the
captain replied, "'Twas Almighty God sent
it to get rid of the people"
The ship, which was within half mile of
them then sheered off, and the captain then
went into the cabin, and called witness and
Richards, and said to the people, " The
curse of God is on you all, there's the ship
come to Us twice y and went away and took
up the crow bar, which lay on the floor, and
struck the second mate TSwansonl light on
the point of the skull, and knocked him
senseless at once They all cried out NEST
plteously, "The Lord have mercy on their
souls" and they all gave Scully their bless
ing except Swanson, who was senseless,
, and Captain Raynes who was saying his
prayers; he then killed Murley, Cramer,
Sullivan, Heating, Connell, and Captain
Raynes; he took the cooks axe, and went
round them, and beat out their brains he
went to Captain Raynes, and struck him
repeatedly on his face and eyes with the
cfow-bar. While killing them, he only call
; ed out, You rufhans, you ruffians, you
were going to take my life, but I'll take
yours" He did not seem to be much in a
passion, but the perspiraton was falling off
his face. He then took the crow-bar and
harpoon to the cabin door, and struck the
mate repeatedly, after which he put his
hand on his neck, and finding it cold, he said
that he was done. He then desired the
witness to bring the beef to him, and having
cut some slices of, he drank some gTog, and
smoked his pipe over the dead bodies. He
then had Deaves called down, and he 1.-THE
captain) raised his hand and said" Look,
boys, at my hand, how steady it is j; think
no more of killing them than if they were
dogs" He then repeated that the boys
would get 100 golden guineas, and that he
would get 7000i. or S000L. for saving the
ship, as she was the larges: out of London.
After this he went forward and dashed down
the companion, for fear Howes would attack
him, and he tied the speaking trumpet to it
to know if any one would he there. He
E lashed the sky light afterwards.
1t being now about ten o'clock, he went
to sleep in his clothes, and the boys kept
watch for him-they were locked in the
state cabin-the boys slept from nine TO
twelve, as they were tired. The next morn
ing (Monday) about five o'clock, the vessel
was going steadily in direct course for
Cork, which the captain having ascertained,
he said some person must have been at the
wheel-and they thought it was Howes, on
which the captain called out twice, "John,
: one point to leeward more "-He then slept
Il fo' uPw"rls Of an lIour, and when he awoke
he said, {" the Almighty God told him some
thing" whirh was to take the weapon from
them the boys.l Deaves got pale at the
idea Of the vessels going so well. He then
began to tie the boys, when " little Tommy
Hammond" called out to the captain not to
kill the boys or he would die. The captain
then knelt down, and gave the pistol and
knife he had in his hands to Tommy Ham,
mond; and he took the Bible and gave his
oath that he would not kill the boys, and if
he did any harm to them, for him HAM
mond to shoot him. He then tied Richards
and witness with their hands behind their
backs, and their feet, and at that moment
there was hail from schooner, on which
the captain looked out of the window and