New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-03-29
THE MURDERS or THE SLOOP Z. n.
JOHNSON
EXAMINATION OF THE PRISONER.

for the bodies of the persons supposed to have been
Murdered on the sloops f. A. johnson and Spray.
Their crpse commenced at Red Hook and sxtep ded to
the south side of CoDey Island, the officers making
minute inspection Of the whole coast. Although their
search for the bodies was unsuccessful they picked up
on Coney Island three caps, hat, and money bag,
which they brought to this city. The money bag which
was Kicked up bore on one SIDE tie mark, Mechanics
and Farners Bank Albany; s. eco god." On the re-
verse siie as stamped, Mercantile Bank, New-York
$4,000" TIE bag and caps were picked up by Francis
Antoni and Edward Roach the spot where they
found the tarpaun hat and cap. The body Of man
WAS seen floating through Buttermilk Channel but
darkness came on before the police boats which were
sent to secure il, could come up with it.
EXAMINATION OF JOHNSON.
At lOI o'c'ock yesterday morning, the hour appointed
the examination of Albert w. Hicks, alias William
johnson, before United States Commissioner White, on
the charge Of murder and robbery on the high seas,
crowd of people throneed the upper Court room, eager
to catch glimpse of the accused. TIE prisoner was
brought into Cont, under the cuftody of Capt Ryn-
ders end aiven seat beside bis counsel where he re-
NAMED apparently indifferent to his awful position, and
to tie fact that hundreds Of curious eyes were turned
upon him.
At IL o'clock the Court was opened. The District
Attorney told the prisoner to Iise and asked him his
name. The prisoner replied, "My name is William
Jobnson-my right name ID Albert E. Hicks"
District Attorney you anything to say in re-
gard 10 this chaTgei
Prisoner-No, Sir.
The prisoner then sat down. He appeared flushed,
and his brows were closely knitted.
Assistant District. Attorney Dwight presented the
adavis in the matter TO the Court and read the stat
ute that defines robbery in bays seas, or rvers as
piracy. He moved that warrant be issued ana the
prisoner taken into custody As the charge OF murder
could OF be proved without the tndDg OF the BODY,
the Distct-Aorney deemed it best 10 issue warrant
on charge of piracy especially the death penalty
was enacted for this, the same as for murder.
The statement of the facts of the charge was
deem ed so well known that the Distric,-AttOrney
dispensed with reading it, and proceeded to call the
witnesses.
Can't Bepi A. Nickerson-Drect examination-T
Naths heard sbef, was such vessel as the T. A. Johnson
got under way the evening Of the 2Oth of staten sand
a mile half from light run into by
Known vessel could not tell whether she sloop
into my vessel aud her the waters edges L. done
either through fright or ess areesnesi saw only one man
bosrd portion OF the rigging was left vessel which
strange vessel but witness hailed when about yards
tb, occurred about the I'D inst No croexamaa
Capt Daniel Sim noDs-Dreet examiDatiou.-I live
Report snd knew Capt. Burr of the A. Johnson char
o,stes consisted four ell ted, viz the csptain the
who shipped eie sSd two boys named Watts she
peeehalyes q9artsrr ten cent pieces and about $50 IN
ao,hDs with it, 20 gave him two 70 gold pieces two 5 gold
pieces and think So 30 piece the sill was in bag be-
Ion eng to Capt Burr It had siri1s to III had the bag 10 the
safe or two three that bag at the Second Ward
Station House with Capt Weed; saw the h. A. Johnson
Of Fulton Market her her bogspnt add
uiwee and her mast hung overoosrd there blood on the
here cut on the i as though mans hsnd had eung
there and been through blood also there aud bOed
a good desl Of blood sud.hip.a trail the
BIN iowa tue wall body mad been dragged aongi the
.1NUtsh had
led two hcss wee bored in the cabin co as % let It run
su, sbd IN the sides Of the es5a also stained will,
blood the stairs and companion looked IL bleeding body
bad been aged mp ihe donE know where the captain
hs money heie drawer somewhere in The c.bini
TIE captain stopped at Report saw him there Thursd,y
BsSts 0''''
Clos eyamned-I YVES not personally acquainted with any OF
the but know the prisoner on board the vessel o
bin there .dnedey afternoon while she Jing the
foot Spring street. him before dow
wcbmBn thu pier that the vessel had money her aud
tie me paid CAPT, Bur- the money afternoon both
in bills godi tkypot Capt Bs'pe' paid him 500 more
to the crew EXCEPTION Capt BuIt's own statement,
Here of the bags was exhibited to the witness
who identified it by the position Of the string
selah Howell, examned-I live at Islp; am one Of
that Gs hd SihsI a% SiH s
presence Of Oliver Watts that be had hired the prisoners he
to the captain.
4 coat, hat, vest and pants here produced, all
Of which tie witness said he should take TO be the
captains sOihes" as they were precisely similar to
what he had worn
never the prisoner before met him supper with
Capt. BUR-
(rosSamDed recognize private sIks the clothes
exhibited y a1ou. "Wednesday evening that
took tea h the captain The prisoner vessel
The coot Smith Ntts, the cabin Oliver
Watts was on deck The Captain said after supper that be had
engaged pay the prisoner 10 per month did intro
duce him to The Captain and my,e each owned one half
Ct the vefsel
Reuben Runner testified that he follows fishing and
boating Oh GTassend the soop Sunday afternoon the
lB INST a. Coney island she Ihofed outside the bar
weter wind y w. w. ~ W knew none OF the crew eS
cept Cpt Geo Burr; the defendant and
boys shore the mate (d.endAn coming eshors with
the yawl boa. 20 take Watts OIL who had
of together and hove up .be aiately
ttofsf ntd-Ihe T.. A. johnson was living about 100
yards from chores witness spoke Him was coming
athoe be scued The ysT H. the wind being very eh and
hey neatly together witness remarked Nov yoa intend
give her, suppose, and defendant replied Yes Sir
heeEamnedI houtht prisoner had whskors then; ia
coat produceo thought inst the by the prsnne
the Coumssoner ud doubt bat the pdsonef as. m.
MAJ HON be saw In the ysWl boat.
James III, Baker eNaminod-I am engaged in the
oyteT bunsss at Pon hichmoId s. the the defendant
boad the T.. A. johnson when they were glsng Out lie
Oysters, on Neinesday the nth INST.
selling Capt BuIrs oystsr when s,v
the psLeT thought tho latter board on Tued.v con
verted with him by akink him to bx the oysters up e
thought bis whskefs were iuo higher up aud little longer
than PRESENT. be sniar comforter 60 that nov orn
b bn and had a blue shirt aud kosauth hat
Henry healnan of Brooklyn testified as follogs-I
Csp, Burr FOR fourteen years;
ysWIb0st had the hagc office on tie day after too
looI toHsa INTO ports Sa~ TIE Captains waGh the