Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1857-04-25
Atrocious Case of Cruelty.

A Boston Negro Tortured TO Death on
Board q British Vessel.
In the Western Circuit, (Excter) March
20, Hugh Orr, a sea captain, was tried
for the murder Of Edward Devoe.
A case of such fearful cruelty and atro-
city as was detailed in the opening of the
case, was perhaps, never heard. The pris-
oner, fine looking man, was captain
of vessel called the Hannah Jane, of
about 100 tons burden. The deceased
was black man, native of Boston, a.
bout 80 years of age, and was engaged as
cook in The ship. The crew of the ship
consisted of the captain, six men and boy.
In February, 1856, the vessel sailed from
London to Newcastle for cargo of Goals,
and then proceeded to Senegal, then to
Cape Verde Islands, to Rio Grande, and
then back to England. While they were
in the Senegal river the Captain commen-
ced series of cruelties beating and fog
ging the cook day by day for four weeks
until, becoming weaker and weaker from
these cruelties, death, more mercful than
his prosecutor, relieved him from his suf-
ferings on the Sd of July. He was beaten
by the Captain and mate with ropes, with
a Scat and when his back was sore he was
scrubbed with brush. The poor fellow
used to cry for mercy, and called upon the
crew to come and help him, but the crew
dared not interfere. When the yes sci
reached Rio Grande, the crew informed
the Consul there Of the treatment the cook
had received, and of his death, but he said
he could not do anything in the matter
The ship arrived at Plymouth in Decem
ber, and an inquiry was instituted, which
ended in The Capt. being sent to prison fol
trial. A seaman testifed:-
l saw the Captain and mate beat th,
cook wish the stave of cask. l saw the
captain making the cat with par! ofa broom
stick and some cords, and that night heart
the cook crying out in the cabin. 1 wa:
then forward. The next night, l heard til,
cook crying out in the cabin, and 1 went an,
looked, and I saw both Captain and mat
fogging the cook, who was lashed down t,
the handle of the captains chest by tn
thumbs. He was fogged on the bare back
The mate aogged him first and then th
Captain afterwards. l saw this repeated
every night. have seen his back covered
with sores.
The Sunday before he died he was lashe
up to the fore rigging, his heels higher tina
his head. The mate beat him with broom
stick. He was lashed by the neck an
legs. l have seen him oiled by the captain
who ordered me to scrub him said coul
not do it, as 1 did not like to, his bac
was so sore. Coun, scrubbed his back
He was fogged after that. Two days bt
fore his death they gave him 800 and SON
odd lashes,
Another stated
! scrubbed the cooks back with sea wa
ter and brush by order Of the captain
Once l saw the captain and mate fog hin
and | counted the lasbes. The captai
give him AZ and the mate 366. The caI
tain beat him with the cat and the mat
with plated rope with knots in it. Whe
he was dead the body was cut everywhere
The mate saw him lying on the deck Il
night before he died, and kicked him o
the breast with his heavy sea boots, and h
struck him with large heavy bloch.
heard him moaning after this, but | nevt
heard him speak after that.
The jury returned verdict of guilty
manslaughter, and the prisoner was senten
ced to be transported for life,