New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-03-27
THE SLOOP SPRAY MYSTERY.
Traces of blood in the Cabin.
ARREST OF jAcKAlOo.
NEARLY $40O UPON HIM.
STATEMENT sR xHR PRISONER.

Al an early hour Monday morning boats crew No. =
Of the HarbOr Police, Coxswsin Nesbtt towed the
sOop Spray from her nooripgs off Jersey City to the
Battery basin, where she viii lie, when the tide re-
eeSes almost high ard dry.
At the tide wss fast fslling, and portion OF
her forward deck quite dry, but the wafer was |
still even with the forward hstch. The cabin could Do
distinctly seen and the roofing was at this tine quiIe
dry. The main hatch was uncovered, am the mold |
was flied with water. Toward the stern were some
ARTICLES of elSehina and large bundle containing
cotton.
Some Of tie Harbor Police had fshed up few srS-
dee Of clothxg but they did not give any evidence
NAT s-rrne had been committed The shirts were
dirty and sssned but the stains had more the appear
anee Of iron rust than of blood although several per
sons were of the opision that it was the latter.
The general appearance of the vessel, far can
be SEN, shows thai she is very DID, and in several
places forward great seams have opened in her decks;
sn these may have been caused by the violent collision
that encountered Her bOwsprit has been taken
cut and lies upon the beach. Her taffra at intervals
seems broken, and in some places torn away.
Duripg Sunday 8 nd Monday two United States
officers were dig emily searching in Jersey City
Cor Jekn Canoe, thu Chinaman, who ia supposed to
have murdered Capt Leete and his brother of the sloop
Spray. The Chns man went on shore at Jersey City
about O'Clock Saturday morning, with Capt. Webb
Of the schooner lomas +. French, and tae
Jawl boat up To the dock he prang sshore, and
since that time, TO yesterday afternoon, definite
information had been obtained OF his movements.
The receding tide yesterday afternoon LETT the Spray
cpon the candy beach the south end Of the Battery
short Gstane above the Governors Island Ferry
dock and with stones throw of the South Ferry. AZ
3 O'Clock the tide had fallen sufficiently TO admit of
partial examination being made by the Harbor Polse.
A hole large enough to admit mans body dis
covered ON the larbord bow, AID through this hsd
flowed all the water found in the vessel. This hole
was caused during the collision between the Spray and
Lucinda. BY of boat hooks the officers hauled
out asheet which bore unmstakable marks of blood,
and cpon the mattress in the berth also
crimson stains Various articles of ship stores were
kshed up and hauled on deck but the most minute and
careful search failed to produce body.
One article after another hauled upon deck and
carefully examined with view TO discovering evil
-dence Of crime bn with the exception of the sheet and
mattress above mentioned nothing was found with
bloodstsins thereon Owingt, the quantity of water
that still remained in the hold it impossible TO get
at the articles and freight therein except by means OF
bost52Sks and further search will be impossible until
tq water is pumped out, This, however, cannot be
DOME until the breach in the bow is closed, until the
spray shall be hoisted upon dry-doek.
That bloody murder has been committed upon this
rsssel there can now be little doubt and the sheets
and bedding dabbled with gore serve to strengthen the
probability.
The vessel left here the 18th inst, in company
with the schooner GEN. the captain of which says that
he parted with her in Norwalk Bay, whittier she
headed with view, he supposed, of seeking har
Dor there for the night the weather looked squaly
The suppositon is that the Chinaman dugged the tea,
thus throwing the captain and his brother into deep
sleep and then barbarously murdered them after
the other. On the morning Of the 10th, which was |
rather foggy he weighed anchor and sailed into the
Sound, where, it was thought he threw the bodies |
overheard 1t has subsequently ranspired that John
Canoe or Jacksloo, he is called, pOted the Spray
through Hell Gate toward this city, as he was recog-
mixed at the wheel by a number of pilots, and it was
observed that he was the only man on board.
How the Chinsman managed to get the vessel out |
side of Sandy Hook, and away down to BaInegat |
without assistance without attracting attention,
mains mystery
Sergeant BrevoOrt and COxswain Alexander main |
tanned charge of the wreck until o'clock yesterday,
when Coroner Schirmer as wreekmaster made his ap
pearance and said he would take charge He ordered
Quantity Of rigging and other articles that had been
fshed up to be taken to the Harbor Police Station and
accordingly two or three cart loads removed but
at the orders of the captain of the Harbor Police the
articles were all returned on board the Spray. The /
HarbOr Police viii, however, keep charge until the
vessel is taken of their hands by some responsible
party.
MS L. Stone, a cousin of Capt. Leete says that /
the Chnaman has long been suspected Of entertaining
bad feelings toward the Captain. Mr.. S. commune
Gated the intelligence to the Captains father when |
the old man said he not at all surprised he had
long been afraid of Canoe. 1t is thought by that
the Captain had about 81 900 board, the proceeds
of his cargo while others do not think he had more
than half that amount.
In the berth from which the bloody sheet taken
was a card bearing the following quotation: "Are
you ready for DEATH judgment, and eternityF' "Je-
aus invites you to heaven; are you ready to go?"
Captain Leete and his brother were both quiet and
inofensiye men, and bore excellent characters at home
and abroad in public and private. They did not visit
about much aad were much attached 10 the homestead
They have father mother, and three sisters living,
swo of the sisters being married The Captain and his
brother were single men.
The Chinaman is said to have had an adherence Of
paper money, and would often throw it away when
hap led him he declaring it no good" John Canoe, or
Jsckaloo is described as being of dark complexion,
with long black hair. He had on heavy sou'wester
hal, and old overcoat the left side Of which was
torn ca near the pocket, exposing the lining. His
pSntasons were very much worn, and torn near the
knees.
Inc following is very interesting statement from
Capt Fowler, al intimate friend of Capt. Leete:
sIAIEhLNI OF CAPT r. l.. FOWLER or THE |