New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-11-28

damage and Il was then determined 10 postpone the
launching till this morning, st u O'Clock.
TIE xURDKR ~ BOARD TIE sLooP-oY-wAR HOOK
LYE--RKyOLTiEG CRUELTY.
We have been placed ia Possession Of y let er sd
dressed TO tie sister Of George Ritter the young man
from tile city WHO cruelty beaten 30 death on
board tie United States oOTOf war Brooklyn while
~ ~ in New YORK Bay, of Staten Isand. That uch
Ceyish Of torture should &c operated board
American shiTs VI war, in &c presence Of naval OIL
cers burning shame to country, and disgrace
10 tie fsg We are wont 10 roudly to boast of.
Tie letter n eianed by twelve Of the men who were
eyew nIeeses to the revolving spectacle, and from Il
" make me exuhcis.
Alter breaking 10 q sister the death Of her brother,
IN gentle words sailors warm heart can do, tho
statement TO- that on a 9Th Of November the deceased
was ordered IN confinement by Lieut.. Mitchell, the
officer Of the deck. marine, and the ships corpo-
ra named Charles Cooper, seized Ritter and dragged
him TO the MAIN batch, when Cooper took him BY the
legs ard pulled him down the hold of the ship, his
lead striking each step Of the ladder a. be was drawn
down. Alter this, Sergeant Ray, Of the Marine
Quad struck Ritter ia the face with his cenched hot
several tmes and then kicked him in the face say
ing "lOu If ! ever catch you on the
beach II murder you Ray aiterward grabbed hun
~ tie hair beat his head against the deck three time
ard then ordered Cooper to bring him gag. Inc Q
der was obey ed and Cooper refused 10 give Ray IN
sag, sayipg he would gag him. Cooper then LAID XII
teI's head on the deck, face upward, and taking "a
gag in both bands tired to force Il into hs mouth NO
tucC eedng in doing So he raised his cenched INST an
struck Ritter several times in the mouth.
lie then rain ed his head and putting his knee to the
back OF hls neck forced his jaws upward with the gag.
Tie gag is about four inches in circumference ana
foot IN length. Tie gag was then tied tightly aronn
Ritters head after which he was thrown against the
bulkle cad, where be lay for twenty minutes having
every az earsnce of corpse. ActingSergeant Powell
subsequently in and gave orders to the sentinels
permit any 10 interfere with Ritter, or re-
move The gag from his mouth. About fifteen minutes
afielWaTd, Cooper came in, and was told that Ritter
wac sufiOcating He picked him up and looked at hini,
ard then threw him bach against the bulkhead saying,
Oh him, let him lay" seaman shortly after
tH touched Ritter ana found him cold, which TACT WAS
rel orted to Sergeant Walsh. The gag was then cut
iron lis mouth and the dead body WIS then taken out
. Of the double irons and ,he surgeon notified.
The witnesses 10 the transaction were kept IN double
irons and not allowed to appear at the coroners in-
quest or communicate with any person whatever.
CoOTer one of the principal murderers, was allowed
70 20 Oh shore by Capt karrtgu and would have So
cal cd bad not tie boat called 10 the citizens on
Staten Island to arrest him, as he was murderer.
Some Of the citizens desired to detan the bouts crew
s witnesses but the officer in charge gave his word OF
honor a. an officer and gentle man. thai be would re-
turn to the shore with Capt. FaTagut and the same
boats crew. The boat was holsted up as soon "a II
reached the ship, and the latter Immediately proceeded
10
Tie authorities of any city at which this ship may
arrive should the arrest VI the parties Implicated
in this atroeious murder and the Secretary OF the Navy
will We trust act IN the premises az becomes An Of
fcer who chershes any regard for his honor ana the
c.use of humanity. Piila News foi' 70.