New-York tribune., 1868-08-08
THE COURTS.
CRUELTY AT sEA-ALLEGED MURDER OF A
SEAMAN.


SEAMAN.
Henry Robinson and John Burnett, who are
respectively the captain and rstmate Of the packet
ship Columbia which sails between this port and Liver
pool, were arragned yesterday, before u s. Commits
IOner Osborn upon charge OF aiding and abetting
tain of cruelty during the last passage but one, OF
alleged 10 have caused the death OF Henry Gunther
young sailor II the afidavits Of four different wit
TO be believed the treatment Of young Gun
ther Of the most inhuman character Levi KOhn's
Uhe passengers cook the vesseD testimony which is
COrrObOrdted by OF several Others IL substantially
follows The Columbia left Liverpool the 27th OF
last November arriving IN NewIOr on the sth OF Feb
Tuary. was standing IN the galley the day before sail
Ing. and l saw Gunther come on board with
six other sailors On the day Of sailing, Gunther
while engaged in helping 10 haul the vessel out. was
Kicked m the back by OF the crew, Alexander Burns
while The first mate, John Burnett. stood by and said
Give il 10 the bloody rObber" One evening" about two
days after sailing saw Gunther watch, and spoke 10
hun He informed me, in German, that his name was
Guuher, and cautioned me against speaking 70 him,
ne would be punished II detected speaking TO any one
After that aud up to the time OF the death OF Gnnther
he was repeatedly and violently beaten, struck and
kicked by Burns and u sailor called johnny" in the
presence OF me captain and the officers OF the vessel
None Of the officers mterered protect Gunther
but often melted Burns and Johnny 10 Kick and
him; occasion during the voyage one Of
sailors Gunthers very close and then Burns
in the presence Of the first ordered one Of the a
Ors 70 strike Gunther on the head with large Delaying
pin wherever lie should louse Gunther was beaten
In this manner until the blood flowed from his nose and
head they were Violently Struck until they we're sTeaS s
swoen and bruised about the latter part Of December
the treatment he had received, and that while
that state, he attempted 10 cut his threat my attention
attracted day by sounds OF voices IN the fore
castle and was told that Gunther had cut
his throat; sailors brought Gunther out of the
fOrecase aud took him 20 the poop that Gunthers
throat was cut under one and that plaster had
been put on the next day the nrst mate said 70 Guntbe
80, you - OF - you tried 70 cut your thrOa-tred
10 kill yourself, eh Why didn't you Jump overheard II
you wanted TO kin yOursehf Why don't you answerf
You don't want 70 answeri Well. can Kill you fast
enough" Gunher made 10 this the first mate
tberenpon picked mp large piece OF wood which had
been broken from the bulwarks, and violently struck
Gunther on and about the head and broke his IN,
knocking him down the deck, where he lay covered
with blood and unable 10 walk; the st then 20
him, " Now, you OF -, 20 and wash" but when
the first mate realized the state Gunther In he
20 wash him; a short time afterward Gunther
died and believe he died from the effects Of the cruel
and lnhHman treatment which be received
Deputy L. g. Marshals DWlre and McCay arrested Capt
Robinson and brought him before the Commissioner lie
denied AL knowledge Of the alleged crime and said that
6unther subject 20 epeptc ITS. and, doubtless died
from the effects OF AS the captain s not nearly 80
iDcrininated as the first mate, and he was suffering
greatly from the effects OF ship fever he allowed 10
on his owp recognEance, I'LL Monday next at ~ m, by
which time the first mate whose whereabouts known,
will undoubtedly be arrested.