The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-03-30
THE OYSTER SLOOP TRAGEDIES.
Conn tttal OF the Prisoner Hicks A. -,
Jehnsor, ON Charges OF Murder An Rob-
berry ON the High Seas, Both >unisna-
ble with Death.
UNITED STATES ooMMiss .oyEe's COURT.
p.1,.a Kannqth

.lNT
Before Kenneth d. White, Esq
MAncs qs-Tns United sat.s G, wu,tam Johnson, alsss
Lneyt W. Hicks .ns case the excitement seems to
be the increase, the body Of the court room being
densey crowded long eore the hour appointed for the
reopening of the Ease. The anxiety TO sc, glimpse
At the prisoner was great that tho counsel,
reporters AM. others having business at the
proceedings obliged TO enter ut
private DOR johnson brought mo court by dcru
Ties De Angels and Duggan On his way to the court the
prisoer told Mr. De Argels thai he a. period Of
hn life for three days and three nights wreck-on
s Mobile OF Bath. BE also said TO the officers that they
need be afraid that he would away. De Angels
replied, 81 not afraid Of that for you know well If you
attempted 1t l would shoot you" Oome," SAID he "put
on the darbles (handcufs) put them on many man
myself In my lifetime" The prisoner says that he sailed
once the Wright, under Capt Marshall, between
New York Liverpool, and that be has met great
many haIdshps in his life.
We are requested by Mr. Dwight, the prosecuting off,
GER TO state that the finding OF the body necessary
IN all cases TO convict OF murder.
The first warrant, charging defendant with the
murder Of Captain Burr, issued on Monday, 26th
INST and defendant committed for examination Murder
high declared by the United States statutes
20 be piracy, and punishable with death.
The second warrant was issued on Wednesday, March
2 at the commencement OF the examination for muir der.
On the sfdavits made and the additional made by
George Nyn the second warrant issued for robbery
Of Capt Burr on the high This Is also declared piracy,
The evidence. in the two cases being parallel, Mr.
Dwight asked tina. the examination in the two charges
proceed together which was assented TO by the prisoners
counsel.
reer Van Pelt deposed-I reside at vsnderbts Land
mg;i keep oyster and liquor place do not know the
prisoner; my clerk is Augustus Gisler.
Augustus deposed that he attends bar for the last
witness; remember the morning Of the 2lst Q
coming 70 place; saw him again on Sunday last;
him in court points out the prsoner ut was about
y tl,au bA nj No
had none then asked for two eggs aud whiskey skin,
which given to him. he pulled out $40 gold piece
TO pay but a,erward gave me quarter he left by the
seven O'Clock boat the southheld he there about
twenty minutes he asked for two eggs Mr. Egbert,
whom prisoner asked TO take drink inquired Of the
prisoner he was a seafaripg man; he said he cap
eain of a soop; he eaid they into by another
vessel that one man was Killed oy me mast and snohe-
was knocked overheard that he (prisoner) was in the
cabin the of the collision, aud had barely time TO
himself at the same time he shook bag; he had
gray monkey jacket on with patches he had on Kossuth
CSoss examined-Never that before; took
Hce OF him because he hal wild kind Of q look; first
came 70 New York TO see the prisoner on Sunday last
they down TO Staten Island and told me they had
The man
To Mr. Dwighi-Saw him in the station house with
other men; he was not pointed out to me.
Abraham S. ERbert deposed that he the prisoner
NJ the Vanderbilt landing, Staten Island on Wednesday,
ave.k yesterday; he asked me what wanted sup.
pcsed he thought was the ferry master and told him
Inst the boat would not be in for half an hour; he
ssked me where he could get something good;'
Thought he meant to drink directed him. he went 70
rot any and directed him where TO get it, he 0he prison
e) and back sgan, and said they not
mp; he then asked me would take drink; took some
GIN and sugar and he took whiskey; had some CONVEX
ration with him he said the captain OF the William
Tell; that he had with collision with sloop, but did
not know her name; that smashed between
the and the deck Of the vessel and another
Knocked overheard; asked him he was sure the man
had been Knocked overheard, might he not have
capped; he said he he knocked overheard;
the prisoner called for oyster stew after he ate his
eggs; he offered the boy $40 gold piece in payment
xocQ. led nv Mr. Il In n fornan
al the station house, that the man saw was five feet
eight inches Blu. was mistaken in his height the prso
William Drum, lad depoeed that he the prisoner
ut the South ferry on "Wednesday morning, ago
yesterday carried his bag for him to the corner Of c.
dAr and Greenwich streets he paid me fifty cents.
Crossexamined by Mr.. Graves-It was heavy bag
clothes; II hurt my shoulder; man came after me
Sunday and aked me IL could pick out the man; the
man for whom carried the bag had kind of woo!len
black pants; don't recoect the color OF his shirt
Seth B. Squire. matchmaker, doing business in the
for Mr. Burr twelve months ago. "No 81 $40 J. Johnson
Liverpool, maker".- Witness looks at the watch pro
from the watch "No 81 $40, J. Johnson, Liverpool
Gross examined-I did not know Captain Burr; my
cord states "Mr Burr do not recognise the watch my
self; cleaned by my matchmaker Samuel J. Como
YER all can that this watch corresponds with my
record the record was not made by me- was made by
Counsel for the defence asked the Commissioner to
strike this testimony from the case but the Commissioner
refused.
Henry Seaman recalled deposed, that one of the Watts
boys had brown hair and the other had light hair have
visited the soop since yesterday, and found shipping
article there (which he produced).
Mr. Dsight then read from the usual printed shipping
fora the following names ages, &C. written in columns
March l3 Geo. II Burr, Master, Islp, Long Island,
aged 80 years, height feet 81 inches.
March l3-wiliam johnson, his (X) mark. fret hand,
New York, forty two years OF age height feet inch;
$40 month wages; So advanced wages.
March l3-Oiver Watts, seaman Islp, Long Island,
twenty three years old; feet inches in height wages
March l3-smth Watts cook and hand Islip Long
SO per month.
Albert S. James depoeed that he keeps an exchange
once IN this city, saw the defendant (Johnson) q week
ago last "Wednesday at my Office, between aud eleven
O'Clock in the morning. he brought in silver and gold
specie gave him bills the Farmers and Citizens
Bank OF Williamsburg In exchange for the specie; think
was about sa5 $780, he brought the silver in bag;
he wanted 10 know what the discount was; expected
como silver from man in the market, asked him
ne was from the market; he said, mo, but not
Croes examned-My recollection Is that gave him sl35
10 bills, fyes and tens he looked then he does now
rougher coat; think like this (the monkey cost;
when asked him he was from the market he said he
rad so 5,a No, Sxnss. an u do,h AII no WY ne
Capt Weed, recaled-peposed that the color Of the
hair be found on the rope attached 10 the bucket and
the coffee POI was dark the color OF the hair the deck
was light.
Mr. Dwghtsad that although he had other testimony
for the prosecution he did no, deem necessary pro-
ducc az he considered sufficient had been adduced
10 hold the prisoner for trial on beth chagesmurder and
robbery on the high seas.
Mr. Graves thea said he would offer any evidence
for the defence ct this stage OF the case.
The Commissioner then issued his commitment holding
The prisoner for trial the two charges murder and
robbery the high As the prisoner being re-
moved the crowd rushed towards him, and one or two
hisses distinctly heard from the spectators
Deputy Marshal 0'Keef brought 70 the District Attor-
beys Office three caps and money beg which have been
picked up at Staten lscnd. They used on the
foregoing examination but II properly Identified, will be
produced en- the trial before the court and Jury
The Slcop Spray Mysfery.
kxCl1IkyST AT GUILFCRD- INTERVIEW WITH THE
fRisohER-sUPPosED DISCOVERY OF THE RE-
MAINS OF ONE OF TILE PERSONS MURDERED on
THE SPRAY.
Inc ennaman, Jaeksow, evidently begins 10 appreciate