The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-04-17
Trial Of Acting Master Charles Danenhcwer.
sf.LAe DRitsd MatesSteamcr Vanderbilt,
at Philadelphia, for tho Murder
Of Mmes Gray, Hate Of
TIE British Bark Saxon.
HISTORY OF THE CASE.
Tho Saxon Captured a. Prize by
to Vanderbilt and Mr.. Gray
Shot On Her Deck.
Earl Russell's Letters to Lord
Lyons.

mere il naval court martial ia session At the Pha.
Aslpha Navy Yard the trial OF Acting Master Charles
paAsnhswsr Of Tho United States Navy upon charge Of
rider the high seas, 10 shooting James Gray, mate
q the British bark Saxon October last of the coast Of
Africa. 'gn Rs
Tho charges preferred by Mr. Seward Secretary OF
STATE upon the information OF Lord Lyons the British
Minister. The submitted 10 court OF inquiry
After tho return Of the Vanderbilt which the accused
serving, and he fully exoueratsd from blame and
iustiHed for tho act aud the finding Is understood,
approved by the Secretary OF the Navy.
HIS Iordshp the British Minister not being satisfied
with the result Of the proceedings has induced the gov
ssnment to court martial for The trial OF Mr.
Eisenhower and the case Isl as have said in process
q ral.
History Of tho Case.
On the 30th Of October, 1863 the bark Saxon get
sing ready for on the African when large
steamer, which proved 10 be the United States Of
war Vanderbilt, coming into the haroor OF Cape
Town. She anchored on Penguin Island, a little way
from the saxon, and sent boat TO her
The boat in charge Lieutenant Beldon, United
sta 90 Navy boarding master, and manned by Of
1--we men, armed wi,hc asses pistols. Lieutenant
BeIdon dem,nded the ships papers, ich Captain Shep
hard showed to him. They were the vessels register,
clearance articles, and bills Of adng tor the cargo
Shsy were taken by NJ .don WAC returned on board
TIE Vanderbilt
Another boats crew, in charge Of Lieutenant Keith
and Acting Mas er's Mate Danenhower me AWHILE
alongside the Saxon. TIE OF which also armel.
The men scrambled up the vss's sides, and sp cal
themselves over every part OF mr., while the senior
scer relieved plain Saep lard from the charge Of the
ship.
when Lieutenant Bedon left to take the ships papers
70 CAPITAL Baldwin Captain sheppard said he must not be
detained there he ready sea- and he would 60
Ut once, whs,har the officers OF the Vanderbilt
board or not. Shortly after this whaehoat of
lrom the mainland with sons hermen, who begged, as
10 alleged. TO get provisions As these men had
been working ast ore assisting in shipping the cargo Cap
Tain Sheppard told his rst officer Mr. CIR TO give them
ome
An sercation then took place between the officers OF
the Vanderbilt and the men OF the Saxon who
handing what they said was provisions. but what the
United states officers said coatraband OF taken
om the prvateer Tuscaloosa into the nshermens boat
and Captain Sheppard, when appealed to. made re-
mark in their fvor he ordered under arrest, and
placed in his cabin with sentry him.
Ten minutes after this, Mr.. Gray. the mate who had
been In the fore part the stip, attending to the issae
Of the material In dispute, walked aft to 60 the poop
but had only got to the btom Of the poop ladder when
the officer, DaneDhower toldshim with oath, 1t said
10 70 back, at the sme time showing him. Mr.. Gray's
foot have caught in the ladder, and ne turned
round and looked mp, 80 II wondering wha, II for,
whom Danenhower said '.Tl shoot you," at the same
sine Ing revolver from his belt and shooting Mr..
Gray who fell down and expired imm datey The bail
entered the back Of the neck aud passed down the
body.
The second mate Of the saxon who WIS standing close
BY says that he hoard the ocerp Lieut.. Keith,
give the order to fire; bu. Lieut. Keith stcutly de-
aliI In hand
Re heard to observe, al am sorry for the mau,
but am bound 10 obey orders; do not know how
may be my turn next" He then added some
remarks about the 10 the boat and shore, and
sa.d "rhey all Alabama men, and this (pon'ing TO
Ne body OF Mr.. Gray) Alabama man. too
After this event the Of the Saxon (who were de-
ssncelees there being single weapon on board the
vssse sent forward and their eaptors the Of
he Vanderbilt. seemed to delight In their having taken
priss.
Next day post mortem examination OF the body OF
NJ Gray was held BY the surgeon and surgeons assist.
ant or the Vanderbilt and In the evening the remains
we're bured on shore by the vanderbits crew Captain
sphard alone being permitted 10 be present BY Capt
Baldwin and other officers OF the Vanderbilt Captain
BAsphard (by bis account) treated In the mos.
courteous nd'gen manly manner: and Capitals Baldwin
Expressed the utmost regret for the death OF Mr. Gray
ana placed hr Eisenhower. who fred the shot, undsr
arrest.
JANIS GRAY, MATE OF rHR SAXON,
was native or Aberdeen, Scotland and man OF very
lien, character The OF his death At tho hands
Of IN American vfcor produced very considerable
sation both IA nnvs and commercial circles In crca,
Britain and the 2sth OF January 1854, several OF his
relatives and friends In Aberdeen wrote to Coloue
Sykes Mp, asking that the matter should DO brough,
under the attention Of the English government
On the Both Of the same month Colonel Sykes wrote
enclosing .cial reply from the Foreign once. to
lows
3sipt your letter OF yesterday date enclosing lef:
from the relatives OF James Cray, lately chief ofs,
Aehe bark Saxon who shot on board bis chip Guy
Yequena. by Lieut. Eisenhower, onlcer = lhe uu,eu
sses steamer Vanderbilt am TO stat W 49,, ~ .iy
Sst the opinion " The law cssrs having been taken
t5stsuctfons have been sent 60 LORD 20 state "
ssou isrne. Iisussuons Danenhower ought 70 BE- in.
ST. sosiy tried "a .,iui murder.
/ rns OFFICIAL CORRESPONDENCE.
AT ef ahb che circumstances attending ths death Of
Mr. a ny frequently mentioned In the English Par.
I,smep,S Lord Pslmsrston and Earl Russell replying IN
roth bo wNs 70 the questions put the government CON
earning n W affair IN terms smar 70 those employed by
r., pusss WIN his motto Of reply 70 Colonel Sykes AT
49,, .,oo 40 English Cabinet submitted the following
sorrespondeD,, y 20 Parliament
NEI RussxA TO LORD LvoSs.
'HE ToRK0N 0rricR, Jan. ri 1854.
Ne ro.nrbs t~ct OF the capture Of the British vessel
.., ~ Srsrsp. Nvena, the coast OF Africa BY the
United sistss steam Yer ofwar Vanderbilt VIII have been
made known Y 10 ySs Sasss &c Prize crew enclose,
90 Your Information ves Of The papers relating 70 shs
.snssction which have been transmitted 70 this cce
from various quarters. <oSr. pocror. i. -, /. ~,
snou's 49,. s ussb Crown though situated Of great
distance II0 s - nave no, vel spfceut Information be
fore them u enable Thorn 70 fo sn opinion on
vhs subject snd you VIII see by d,rsc,,c ~ sn
Admiralty. 70 she Colonial once. and 70 ss's' s'l0