The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1855-09-12
From the Standard.
Charleston Items.

charleston Items.
MURDER OF THE CAprArN OF TIE ARIEL
-HER ARRIVAL IN THIS CrrY.-We have
this morning tc record the murder of Capt.
Ayres, of the clipper ship Ariel, and of the
arrest and confinement in this city Of the
suspected murderer. The Ariel sailed from
New York in the latter part Of July last
for Shanghai Her officers under Capt.
Ayres were: lst mate, 2d
mate, Andrew Pratt: 81 mate, S. s. Howe
Her crew was. composed, in all, Of twenty
four hands, Of whom, however, seven were
apprentices, who did not, therefore, room
with the men in the forccastle.
Themurdey was FIRST discovered on the
morning of the l7,h nltimo when the
o..rtsin wus 0und IN his bed, at about
halfpas' seven o'clock, by the steward.
perfectly dead. The body, however, which
was wrapped in n great coat, was still
warm. On examination 1t was found that
his death had been caused by sundry dead.
" wounds, one ofwhich was upon the left
side of the heal. apparently given with a
hatchet, while there were several stabs in
the left breast near the heart. The throat
was also cut.
Henry Z. Girard, one Of the apprenti-
ces, and aged about II years, was the first
arrested, and his arrest was in consequence
of testimony given ,gsinst him by Gerge
Anderson, another apprentice, Of about
the same age. Ii is said that the accusa-
tions of those two young men mutually
crimnate each other, though the particu-
ears OF the accusations are not reported Ia
us. They connect no other than them
selves with the commission Of the crime,
though bloody knife, the blade of which
corresponded with the wound in the Cap
tain's breast, was found in the locker Of
another Of the apprentices, who has not
been arrested.
The Ariel came TO anchor of the Bar
yesterday, where she WAS spoken by the
steamer ALL. Capt. Paine, who was of
there on cruise. The lst officer now
the Captain Of the Ariel, expressed wish
TO C.fpt. Paine TO come up to the city in
the Aid but the ID officer an crew refu
sed to let him leave. Tie 2d officer soon
after coming alongside Of the steamer IN
The ships boat,,he alb I'VE facts were learn
ed from him. Tie Aid, on coming into
port, spoke the U. s. revenue cutter VIM.
Aiken, and advised Capt. Coste Of the
state Of affairs oc board the ship, when
the cutter proceeded Immediately of 10
the Ariel, boarded her, and brought her
to the city, when the young men, Girard
and Anderson, were lodged in the Guard
House TO await the proper examination.
The steamer Aid has Proceeded to tow
the ship Ariel into port, and she will no
doubt be up to the city this morning.
II is said that the Ariel has large
amount Of specie on board, and il is sus-
pected, though there is no certainty what
ever that this is the fact, that the boys
were informed Of this, and by desire TO
become possessed ofthe money were led
70 the commission Of the cri ne with which
they are charged. Girard belon0s 10
Poughkoepsie, New York; and Anderson
Is from New York city. The former has
been before to sea, but this is Anderson's Q
first voyage. We must caution our rea-
ders, that they form no conclusions as TO
the guilt OF these boys. until further de.
velopements shall be made, which, doubt
less, will be in very short time. Il win
be observed that, 40 far ne the facts are
reported TO ms, with the exception Of tho
asrertion that their stories criminate each
other, there is no evidence whatever that
they arsguilty Of hemurder. Itis bet
ter 70 wait st leasluntil the verdict Of the
CoronePs jury shall be declared. And
N the meansime, oas reporter. who has
Visited the boys in The guard. house, says
that they carry no appearance Of guilt,
and declares that they are either innocent
Of the crime with which they stand char
god, or are hardened 10 yillainy very much
beyond their years.
We must not onals 70 acknowledge that