The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-03-08
The Henaicide On Board the United states
Steamer Brooklyn.

Inc hrst witness examined was Dr.. Thoodore WaDtcr'-
Was one Of the physicians who held the post mortem
examination on George Ritter; was assisted by Dr. Rich
oson and Dr. Gum; cannot recoect the date; was on
election day; the examination held In the Quarantine
boat house; was made about eighteen hours after the
dcesn OF Nter cannot reoect the appearance Of tho
body now witness and Dr. Richardson signed the certificate
Of the examnaon there were oontusions on the side and
back head cannot say how many Commissions we're on
the hide Of the head The certificate spoken Of and signed
by tho doctors Ut the me here handed him for the
purpose OF assisting bis memory After reading II the
examination was continued Three Commissions were
found on the right side of the head; none were
found the back OF his head; there had been any
they would have been put down In the certihcae the
skull was mot fractured there were INJURIES no frac
turs Of the spinal column; made - thorough an exam
nation circumstances permitted apparently there
were oontusions the left side Of the head there
about the bruises the face there deep ndenta
ton from the angle Of the mouth towards the back Of the
neck the ndentaon was on both sides OF the face the
corners OF the mouth were drawn down; cannot reco
lect they were cut; cannot reoollect he discovered
any bruises under either ear except the ndenons and
side Of the head and Se Above he ear these Srusos
were not Of serious characerwcre very severe; did
not know any Of the teeth Of the deceased were
III does not know the eyes were swollen; the whole
face was more or les swollen from the neck upwards
me BRAIN was very much Congested throughout;
blood between the membranes three or four ounces Of
blood and bloody serum; there nothing remarkable
ton extended towards the spine, and the small blood
vessels near the deep seated muscles Of the spne near
the third or fourth vertebra were ruptured the heart
ed and The right one slightly edemaous the heart Alto
gesher, but particularly The right vertice was filed with
h % q
were sas far - discovered In healthy state O. What
was the cause in your opinion docor Of the appearance
cause was the excessive congestion Of the brain and the
eusion Of blood the immediate cause Of the DEATH con-
sider was the congestion Of the BRAIN the other injuries
would not IN the opinion Of witness have caused II;
the congestion Of the BRAIN in the Judgment Of the
witness, was the gagsing Of the man. done IN this in
brain In caused readily in an intoxicated man par
uculary after concusson the bruises OF the head may
have had some effect in modifying the congestion Of the
to cause DEATH does not remember II there was any
bruise on the bridge Of the nose.
any other bruises ON the face at the time had there bean
any did not BEE but what witness has already stated
be saw; man has received q blow capable Of pro-
ducng ooncusson Of the brain serious enough 70 cause
death, he becomes unconscious not perfectly co. and
unable 70 speak or mako any voluntary motion; con.
bruises on the side Of the Sesd appear 70 have been sbou
the size Of twenty-five cent piece; the skin was be
believes, not broken; noticed deep, dscoored indenta
back Of the neck below the ear indentations caused
By the srangulaton the vessels Of the BRAIN gorged by
blood was another instance Of death by strangua@;
the congestion of the lungs and their edamaous oondi
sn another evidence OF the same the right ventrice
Of the heart being ned with dark fluid blood one Of
was examined, and found in normal state: there wa
slight congestion OF the stomach all the other organs Of
the body, but those mentioned - unsound, were In .
healthy condition; the mouth and noetris OF deceased
were filled with blood and roh, which flowed out from
them; this s also common sign Of death by strangula
immedntA Of the death N
Dr. George n Richardson who was associated with DR..
Wsltser in the post mortem examination spoken Of, was
then sworn, and corroborated in full his testimony
The next witness sworn was Capt David G. Ferragut-
Ii commander Of the United States steamer Brcokyn
s.d thu. II the was in the capacity Of
board since jan &c. 1852 the time the steamer was put
in commission authorized the prisoner to gag any
man on boar dhs vessel there has been order
Of any kind to gag any witness vessel the officers
have no authority give any such ORDERS sasgng
Of the usases Of the service from time mmemora when
men are violent and abusve knew nothing OF the gaggng
Of Ritter until after he was dead; never knew until be
(witness heard yesterday, from Of the sailors on
ss % s mad ever been on
olden times pump bolt was used; ia gag Is wanted,
something suitable for the purpose used under
stands gag TO be q piece Of or iron placed
across the mouth to prevent the person from being
abusive when drunk or disordery; does not recoeci
wanted not difficult 10 find piece of round wood
aboard the vessel to answer the purpose knew nothing
the death Of Ritter until he was dead the body be-
saw him.
Marnes the sergeant OF marines is the highest non
mssioned officer Of marnes the duty of the marines ia
to maintain the internal discipline and police Of the ship
q ls not the duty Of all officers, commissioned or nom
commissioned, whether duty or not To maintain the
internal discipline Of the ship in Of riot or dsorderS
A. 10; this is particularly required Of those on
duty; ALL however, have act in case their services are
necessary @ To whose Is the brig and the prison
ers therein entrusted A. The Of the brig and those
In IN Tho zr
confined to the sergeant Of marines duty his corporas
and sentinels all officers, commissioned or otherwise
on duty OF not are required 70 stop all tumult or loud
now that those who are not on duty, and commission
ed ones, are more than ever required in case of q
disturbance noise and tumult on board vessels con-
sidered rs disorder and perversve of the discipline of
the ship where there many
in 20 small space, every one were allowed TO make
~ much noise az he pleased would be difficult for the
officers to be heard there 10 place appropriated for
combining noisy persons In this ship; ships have
the duties Of the ships corpora9 He with The master.
alarms confines the prisoners the master at arms 10 the
superor they are the police officers Of the ship. Are
rnes empowered TO use much force may be neces
sary for the purpose requred2 A. These officers must
use ss much force to gu: the orders they have re-
cretonary authority, although they report Immediately
after 70 their superiors 70 use the gag. The
te and that the had ell been on liberty; and
lying along side Of the wharf 1t the Navy Yard, where
ths f.ciies for getting liquor through the employees in
intoxicated Those who had sense enough 70 keep them
solves quiet and orderly NOT disturbed on the con-
trsry, those who were violent and nsubordinate
confined n the brig In this weasel there su ,h place.
properly speaking; does not remember how many were
IN confinement heard on this trial that there had been
fifteen; supposed that number right; all were In for
drunkenness and deserton, but one, he believed in
New York just before sailing there great difficulty and
trouble on beard, owing TO the temptations on shore
the duties Of the ships corporal are more par.
ticularly connected with the confined men than
the sergeat Of the Marines the arms 10 the chief
pohce the corporas are his deputies Of whom there
two hss no particular knowledge Of the character Of Ser
geant Ray; seemed 70 be good soldier and attentive 10
mis- duties never heard any complaint against him except
In this instance.
Evidence elected by States Attorney-Has three SER
geans on board all OF grade except the orderly;
their duties the same does not know II Sergeant Ray
was on duty the night spoken Of O. Which 10 the supe
rior Officer sergeant Of the marines ships corporal
A. One is police officer and the other Is marine; one
assists the oher does not know which should take prece
dence ships corporal, he thinks receives the highest
pay witness had heard the testimony In this He
was then asked by the District Attorney IL 1t cus-
omary TO force such used on Ritter? Witness
answered that he did not think II was.