The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-02-27
Sailor Robbers

tons Tor hlliDg the ONCE OF captain exceps DelnR
part owner.
Sailor Robbers
VOYAGE OF THE NRw YORK SHIP UNIVERSE
[Ffom the Liverpool Times. FEB. 9
By reference to police report, published in
yesterdays Northern DAILY Tunes, it will be seen
that six seamen were on Tuesday, committed to
prison, for period of two months EACH on charge
Of robong their fellow seaman and some Of the pas
senger Of the ship Universe on The homeward voyage
from New Y ork
We refer to this case, because the facts there de-
tailed illustrate of the most nefarious systems Of
plumber ever practised - one which has hitherto
escaped punishment. although, in great measure,
the victims have been the poorer classes OF emgrants
who sail from this port for the United States.
may seem, to those who look upon the sailor as the
beau ideal of honesty honor and reckless daring,
believe We are correct in stating that system Of
organized robbery is now being carried out on board
our emgTant ships, by parties who assume that title,
the extent Of which is absolutely startling.
Some men who profess to be sailors are thieves by
profession, and when an effort be made to check the
evil to which We allude, the result may be of the
The mode Of action adopted by these scoundrels
seems to be a. follows-They ship here or at New
York, generally the number Of four six to each
renders them formidable not only to the crew but to
the officers. On the outward voyage to New York
they plumber the unfortunate emgrants to the utmost
possible extent. single trip seems to be sufficient
JOr the gang In any one SNIP Iney gcnef6Ay leave
in New York, and join another ship. On the home
ward voyage they rob their shipmates and again de
camp, seeking fresh spoils amongst the unfortunate
people who happen to be on board the vessel upon
which they are next engaged.
The existence of the system of robbery has not
been unknown but it has hitherto, in most instances,
escaped punishment. The parties aggrieved declin-
ed to prosecute, disputed Jurisdiction and fifty other
vent the action Of the law reaching those who 80
richly deserved its utmost rigor Emboldened by
success, and unresrained by the fear Of punishment,
the six rascals with whom Captain Bird, the able
cursed on his voyage from New York, seem to have
reached the very climax Of audacity, for, not con-
tent with approprating the wearing apparel of the
other seamen, they actually forced Q pair Of rings
happened to form one of the crew! We are delight
eo TO fnda man Of Captain Birds standing crap
ping, and successfully graphing, with this evil,
by securing the punishment of those men. he de-
serves the thanks Of the community, and we trust
his example will be generally folio we'd by his brother
commanders in the emigration trade. A few more
such wholesome examples would operate bene6cially
on the class known to seamen as the forty thieves
Mr.. Hawthorne, the American Consul, was present
during the proceedings in the police court.
From the Glasgow M.n, Feb Of
disgraceful case Of fraud was yesterday brought
under the notice of BAilie Gmour at the Central Po
lice Court, in which q seaman, named William Crit
fin was charged with defrauding two men Of color,
named Nathaniel Collins and Jacob Williams, out Of
large quality of wearing apparel. The prisoner
and the two men were messmates on a voyage from
New York to Glasgow, in course OF which he repre-
scented to them that his mother resided in this city
and that she would wash for them. For this avowed
purpose he carried of the clothes Of the two strsng
err, but sold them, appropriating the proceeds to
his own use. The charge was clearly proved, and
the magistrate animadvertisg in strong terms upon
the utter heartessness exhibited by the prisoner In
imposing upon his shpmates in strange country,
sentenced him to imprisonment for sixty days, with
hard labor.
Foreign Miscellany.
The Wiener Lloyd Of the 4th inst remarks that
in the English newspapers, but more especially In the
Times, all sorts Of idle reports current in the coffee
and play houses Of Vienna, are published as telegra
phic dispatches Thus read to day in the Times,
that Count 0rlof has endeavored in Vienna to OBJ.
tain leave for a Russian corps darmse to march to
Turkey via Presburg. Such absurd fctions as this,
the ssehoed Of which is apable, after wards become
the subjects Of elaborate political arguments.
There are at this moment in the French navy, 2
adm trails II vice admirals 20 rear admirals, SO cap
raips OF the first class, "a captains OF the second
class and 227 captains OF frgates-n all, $40 supe-
rior officers.
The Brussels Herald says-The Russian Princess
Ieven so many years one of the leaders Of the ham
Ton in The French capital and relict OF the former
minister Of that title at our court has just arrived al
Brussels (Hotel de Bsllevue), where other Russian
families have arrived, or are expected, to await the
course Of events
The Plymouth (Eng.) Journal, OF Feb. Sth. re.
marks-N affords US much pleasure to be able to
STATE that although our own government cannot see
the advantages Of this port as q packet station, that
OF the United States can. line Of American pack
cts belonging to the United States, has long traded
bi-monthly between New York, Southampton, and
Havre. This company have decided to withdraw
their ships from Southampton, and they will for the
future dlsembark their mails and passengers at this
pert.
One Of the largest diamonds known was deposited