New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-05-21
HOMICIDE ON SHIPBOARD.
A MATE STABBED BY A SAILOR.

stabbed by J5fnes Summers, ODE Oh tue sdlioir, ouu
died OF bis il uries in short time.
The Mandarin is American vessel engaged in the
Chineee trade. She has been in port for some time
past and was to depart for Shaughae yesterday. She
had received her Custon- House clearance and was y
ing in the stream off Burling slip The sailors had
been on a spree on Wednesday night, and many Of
them being half over when they returned were
somewl at noisy. Sommers more 80 than the rest
and kept some Of the men from sleeping
1t seems that Atkn went into the forecastle to quiet
Sommers apd made Of several epithets while speak
ing TO him. At an early hour all hands were called up
to wash the decks. Sommers rather dilatory,
when Akin went below to arouse him. quarrel
sued and Atkins endeavored "a pull the man from his
bunk. They olencbed when Sommers, as is supposed,
drew knife and stabbed Akin six times. The wound
ed man relaxed bis hold of Sommers and ascending the
cODpahion-way, staggered forward a few PAGES, en-
claiming, ooh God, sm stabbed +" and then fell
dead upon the deck
One of the hands went ashore and notified the police,
who came aboard and arrested Sonmers whom they
conveyed with the body of the deceased to the Second
Precinct StationIIouse. Sommers made opposition
to the officers. He is TALL well. built man, with light
complexion and whis kers. His head was bandaged,
and his face was bloody from a wound over the eye.
The accused says that the mate attacked him with
dirk ss he lay in his bunk He clinched with him, sud,
finally wrestling the weapon from his hand. stabbed
him; but this did not occur until after he himself had
bee n wounded.
Sommers had fresh wound in the right hand, his
fore-GDger berg split nearly thro Ugh, and he has
moreover, wound over the eye.
A large double bladed Spanish dix was the only
weapon found.
INQUEST.
Cororer Gamble, Yesterday afternoon, proceeded to
the Staff House and held an inquest upon the BODY
of ds ceased. ,
The prisoner was brought before the Coroner aud
jury, and during the investigation, maintained very
Indifferent appea rance not seeming to care Que way
or the other M to his fate.
Cant. j. N. G. BeIrit, the commander of the
Mandarin was the first witness called and testified
that the deceased came board the shp as second
mate about eight days ago last sa him aiVe yester.
day; know nothing OF this occurrences deceased
seemed to be decent, sober man; know moth ng OF
his previous character; know nothing Of the prisoner
James Place, one of the crew, was next sworn and
testified follows: clipped on the Mandsrn three
DAYS ago; was acquainted with deceased or pms
oner; was in the fOrecastle this morning ABOUT OF
o'clock the prisoner there the second mate sung
out-prisoner was then in his bunk-second mate went
to the bunk and said " Bill, wha. ave you dong
here 2" and seemed to be pulling him out of the
bunk; / did not stand 50 tO gee how he took hold
of him; the first saw they were clenched; l saw
blood coming from the deceased, and he ran on deck
cryirg: con" 90 oh" prisoner ran after him
deck; saw blood on the hands and face of the prs-
oper old not see any knife instrument went
back TO my bunk and stayed till the officers came; l
was sick; that is all know OF it
On examination by the Jury-Nitness said there
was a disturbance in the forecastle last night; we
were making noise, and the second mate sung out,
q If you don't keep still III be down on you; some
of us laughed and deceased came down; prisoner toa 10
him he had business there; deceased took hold OF
the prisoner and said, " You ID son OF D-n l VIII
show you that have business here didnt see any
blows heard no threats; the second mste soon wenI
-, VtVn
than minute the prisoner was n liquor last evening;
all the hands had been ordered on deck before the oc
curreI ce this morning. ,
deceased along the sailors were walking the
decks deceased then approached the foreca.te ana
inquired if there was any one below; he then de-
scended the steps, and in less than minute alter
ward heard deceased cry out that he was STABBED;
| turned round and saw deceased standing on deck
with bis hands on his breast blood issuing from
wound IN the body Of the deceased endeavored to
assist deceased and sent ashore to get the
police; saw the prisoper soon after the deceased
came out of the forecastle, but did not know that he
had stabbed deceased, although suspected that il
was him; heard no words passing between deceased
and the prisoner; the first words heard were, Oh,
God l am stabbed! understood the scars aud cuts
on the prisoner face were received the evening pre-
vious while fighting with some OF bis sh,pmates IN tue
forecastle; | never saw deceased abuse any OF the
nep; he appeared quiet and sober man.
Albert Wall testified that he shipped on board tue
Mandarin on Wednesday afternoon; know the prs
oner; have been shipmate OF his before; we came
from the West Indies the 10th instant; mad dit-
Gu ty with the prisoner on Wednesday night be was
| drunk end kept all awake he scratched my face
but did not strike him. he was drunk; the second
mate came down while quarrelng ana toto Us
to stop making noise; the mate placed the prisoner
on crest ana went up stairs blows wore struck ny
them at that time; l nothing OF the stabbng al
frsy this morning; i never saw dirk knife IN the
hands of the prisoner the prisoner had no difficulty
with any body else except me- he was tuen 100 drunk
| to fight with any one.
Albert c. Malcolm the pilot, testified to seeing the
| mate falling upon the deck bleeding profusey from
| several WOUNDS in the body, witness went FORWARD
| where ne saw the prisoner walking to and fro; his
face presented the same appearance as II does now
that H. all covered with blood the police came on
board soon afteIwsrd and arrested the prisoner saw
10 violence offered TO the prsoner at any time the
captain and Ast officer absent when the stabbing
l took place. 80 ,
| Policeman Hsyes Of the Second Precinct testified
that about 6 O'Clock he heard there murder on
board the ship Mandarin, then lying in the stream;
| cot a row boat and, in company with two other
| oficers went on board of the vessel when l got
| ON board l saw the body OF the deceased lying
on the deck l went to the iorecaste ana
| asleJ if the man who committed the murder
vas there; the prisoner said, Yes came up
tsi,s ard gave himself into custody the prisoner adj
| m,ted tbat he killed the deceSsed gave the pris-
o. !, +, the custody OF Officer Washburn AID went
Sown into The forecastle there found the witness
| pi,ce who told me be was the eyewitness 10 the
decd. in an hour after takog she prisoner s'nore
searched tie forecastie and there founa ofA knI'
cOyeled with blood the knife proaueea anu EEL ~
fe by the witness when the prisoner au'ii, Nn ~,
irg deceased, lie said " Deceased deserved N1s ne
ao, nm vSs all; the wounds oo the Prscsef "a .