Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-07-28

The fine bark Lapwing, Capt. Kelly, arrived at
this port yesterday, bringing $3.50 bags Of coffee,
consigned to Messrs. Hugh jenkins Co., and the
following passengers James McGrather, Of Rio;
DR.. II. II. Goldsmith, ~ Dixon Walker, Nelson >.
Read, and J. w. Davis Of Baltimore.
The Lapwng sailed from Rio ON the 2lst OF
June, and made the Capes In the short space OF ~
days.
We are indebted TO Capt Kelly for the follow.
ing particulars Of most brutal murder committed
on board the ship Sea- Witch, Captain Frazier,
bound TO China from New York.
The clipper ship Sea-Witch, Capt. Frazier, own
ed by Rowland & Aspinwall Of New York, arrived
in the port of Rio Janeiro on the 18th of June,
and, on being boarded by the officer of the Gus
toms, II was discovered that the Captain had been
murdered. The custom-house officer Immediately
sent for guard and took charge Of the ship. The
American consul, Mr. Scott, was then notified Of
the affair." and he, accompanied by Captain Rowan,
of the United States brig cambridge, promptly re-
paired on board. The men were all put in irons,
and Mr. Scott entered into an examination OF this
melancholy affair.
From the evidence TAKEN it appears that on the
night of the 9th of June, between the hours OF IL
and o'clock, the first mate, who then had charge
of the deck, went to the room occupied by the
ships surgeon, DR.. Brolasky, and hurriedly re-
quested him to get up, stating that he believed
the captain was murdered. The doctor immedi-
ment beheld him bathed in blood, and he mme-
diately gave the alarm. The watch on deck came
down and assisted the DR.. to raise the captain up,
and on carefully examining the wounds, it was dis
covered that the skull had been fractured by three
distinct blows, each blow being sufficient TO have
caused his DEATH as the skull absolutely driven
in on the brain. The captain died the next day,
and the body was placed in hogshead Of spirits.
The ship was then in the latitude of "a deg. s.,
and in the longitude of n deg. W., about 900
miles from Rio. The doctor insisted upon going
into Rio, it was the nesrest port, but the mate
wished to keep off However, the doctor told
him he suspected him as the murderer, and if he
manifested the slightest symptom of treachery he
would shoot him. This seems to have overawed
the mate, as he put into Rio Ea
On the 10th of June, DIR. nudenstein, of the
United States brig cambridge, accompanied by
Penncl, physician resident in Rio, made an en-
animation of the body They discovered those
fractures in the skull and concluded that they
the cause Of his DEATH On examining the apart
ment of the mate a marling-spike was found, which
being applied to the fractures fitted them exactly
and, further, there was deep indentation in the
wood OF the cabin Just above the captain head, to
which the head Of the marlingspke also CORE
sponded. And, on examining the marling-apike
more closely, a small portion of paint was discov-
cred, which was identified by chemical tests as of
the same quality as that of the cabin. The second
tnsse, on being examined stated that the marling-
| spike had never been painted; the first mate
thought ID had.
The examination having proceeded thus far, the
consul ordered the first mate Sylvanus N. Spencer,
to be arrested and placed in irons. He requested
leave to dress to being taken ashore
aud as marine was knocking off the irons, Spencer
drew knife and stabbed himself in the left breast.
The wound is slight, the knife glanced over the
ribs and the wretched man failed in his attempt.
He was carefully attended and conveyed to prison
to remain until the consul can send him 10 the
United States. All the men, except three, have
been liberated and they also WILDE set free
as examined Thus far circumstances point very
strongly to the mate as the pepetrator ofthe crime.
Messrs Maxwell, Wright & Co., the agents of
Aspinwall & Co., have charge of the ship, and will
expedite her on her journey us soon as possible.
The Consul appointed Captain Long to the COM
mand of the ship, and he has remained on board
throughout the whole of the examination, dligent.
ly performing the duties of this melancholy occa-
Glen. The body of Captain Frazier, we are
informed, will be sent to New York in the ship
Union, which was about. TO sail when the Lapwing
left-Bditimore Sun.