American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1858-09-09
ESTABLISHED IN 1928
Horrible cohIession Of 4 P,ratr.

N-%-~ACN~-"fA-
Peter Williams, nnder sentence Of death
at Auburn, Ne, with coldred man named
Abraham Coz, for the murder at sea Of
the captain, two mates, and one man, Of
the brig AIbien Cooper,s Of Portland, has
made confessfon. which Is printed 10 ths-
Lewiston FaHs Journal.
Williams represents that he was born ID
ostsDd, Belgium, in 1880. his father being
sailor; he ran away from school aud nav
or learned to read He first went to Pea
when nine years Of age, and has served on
ship board ever since. 10 all parts Of tbs
world-al one time on german ship Of
war, and then again 10 the employ Of the
East 1ndia Company. acting ss captain Of
the mantop in one Of their vessels.
ln July 1857 he bera acquainted with
an Irishmah named Thomas Fahay, and
both went to Portsmouth and shipped in
the Albion Cooper.
The ship soon after leaving port was
found to be lsaky; the SECOND mate is sta
ted to have tTested both Williams and Cox
the nsgroe. with great bsrbarily, and e.
nslly Williams stabbed him. for which he
was placed IN irons. Afterwards the mate
called him into the room. drove nail into
beam and hing him up by the beam. the
forward part Of his feet 'st touching the
, floor. He was in great pain, and huallyt
tainted. Finally Cox broached the subjee.
Of the murder Of the captain and crew
. and supplied some knives aud raizors. which
: WiIliams fastened to sticks. The Irish
: man Fahay was alone taken into their con-
+ fdence.
9 They first killed Captain Humphrey who
4 was aslesp on the deck. with klwo tlows
on the head with hstehet. His head
: partly tutned, but he died without a
!, struggle. He then went behind the seek
Y otd mate and struck him in the head with
n 4 hstchet.
:. His cries brought oat the first mate, who
st was also struck in the head. He retreated
J. 10 his cabin, where lie had struggle with
his murderers, but was finally despatched
= As be came out, Williams met The second
10 mate, whom he had left for Cox. and 6u
,r isl,e / him with few blows Of the hstch
re- ct. The last murder was Of q sestnai
? named Burns, or Davis. They put iron
y with the bodies and threw them overheard
Afterwards theV go ~. ,,ossoI a.
va | ahahdona1 =. = s"' e W 'ne 'eeooi "n
70 SoA"'' :. IL, and were picked up by an
en- other vessel when Fahey disclosed the ter
ge rihle tragedy in which they had recent
cir been engaged.
Williams and Cox will be hung on ih
to eth inst. DR.. j. Haynes, who has tisi
ne ed them, says that tue chronological sol
ty gans of Williams denote that his origin On
organisation were gross and sensual. m
ng his intellect Of low order, though BY d
'Y means iepulsise OF dangerous. He bi
cit light or sandy hair. and is Of the sanguit
phIegmAtic tsmpersment,an and bears stror
i'd resemblance to the low Ditch. He q
M ssmbles Somewhat Heath; how ia Il
he. Charleston State Prison. Cox. the negr
al las what hegtos seldom possess-much
ew the nervous temperament; Is quick; res
Ias less and impulsiSe. His head Is comp
ng rativ+ly lAtge. and should think he pc
ns. sssses considerable intellect. His foreheI
'm is high aud Slightly tecading; hut the. Ia
ilic teral portion Of the brain is immensely lar
be esl ecially 10 the region Of cotnsstivenes
lis destrGciiveuess. secreliveness. acquisitiv
en- ness, Caution, 6rmness and self-estee
rks are likewise large: His moral faculti
the are fairly developed. His peculiar cast
=. intellect predisposes to suspicion, jsalou
W and revenge.