Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1870-06-02
The Supposed Murder.

THE CASE OF THE sLooP PAcHIII.Es-FURTHER HEAR
ING OF NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. CIRCUMSTANCES.
On Friday afternoon, John Peterson (not Peter
Peterson, AZ he was at first called) had hear
ing before U. S. Commissioner Harman, on a
charge of piracy and murder. We have already
related the circumstances of his arrival here, in
sole charge of the sloop Achilles, and his failure
to make any report of the alleged lost overheard
of her owner and Captain, who left New York.
From information since his arrest and hearing
before the Mayor, it appears that the circumstan-
ces are as follows:
Capt wardemann, native of oldenburg Ger
many was for some time, Mate of the schooner
Robert Cdld,reu and when in New York lodged
at sailors boarding house, kept by Christian
Lieber, at 81 West street. About the end of
April last, while staying there, he stated his in
tention of buying small sloop for coasting voy-
ages, and shortly after, he purchased the sloop
achilles, for $3.50 Peterson, at that time, Mate
of the bark Pdltas, was at the boarding house at
the time, and scraped an acquaintance with War
demann, assuring him that he thoroughly UNDER
stood the coasting trade, and offering to ship
with him. His offer was accepted and on the
I'd of May. the two men set sail from pier No. 7,
North River.
Nothing more was heard of either vessel or men
in New York, says the Sun, until the 18th of May,
Peterson walked into the boarding house alone.
Mr.. Lieber naturally inquired after Wurdemann,
whereupon Peterson said that he had sold the
sloop for $40 to some fishermen, and that he
had sailed from Philadelphia in a bark bounk for
was in hurry to get away, saying that he was
of to the Lakes. He added that he had been
home to his wife in Wilmington, Delaware, and
that he had left her to come on to Philadelphia
with Wurdemann On some one remarking that
S110 was a very small sum to sell the boat for he
replied that she had damaged her bottom.
Iieber thought the whole story very strange,
as Wurdemann had always written to him when
to West street, but he did not have any oppor-
tunity of getting this explained, as Peterson
stayed only few minutes.
ARRIVAL IN WILMINGTON
On Saturday. May 14tl the achilles navigated
by John Peterson, alone arrived in this city,
but being quite a. small sloop nothing
was thought Of it, Shortly after his arrival his
wife, WHO resided here commenced spending
money rather more freely than seemed consistent
with the usual poverty of the family, and the fRct
was reported to the police. Finding that Peter
son had come alone on the soop lie was inter-
rogated as to how she came into his possession
He replied that Capt. Herman Wardemann and
himself had bought her in New York, run along
the, coast and bought up junk, etc., and
had sailed from New York together;
overheard by the boom, off Big Egg Harbor and
drowned. The explanation not appearing satis-
factory. when taken in connection with the fact,
that lie had not reported the accident immediate-
ly on his arrival, the Mayor committed him with
out bail.f further hearing, the Custom House
authorities at the same time seizing the vessel,
and inquiries were made, developing the circum-
stances stated above.
ANOTHER HEARING.
1t becoming evident that the offence if COM
mitted, came properly under the jurisdiction OF
the National authorities, the custody of the pris-
oner was transferred to the U. S. Marshal, and
yesterday Peterson had a hearing before U. s.
Commissioner Harman.
Frank Nolen, Deputy Collector of Customs,
testified to the prisoner having made three differ
ent and conflicting statements as to the time and
place when the Captain was lost overheard.
Mayor Valentine testified to the substance of
the prisoners statement at his hearing before
him.
Charles Shot, an oysterman, testified that the
prisoner had told him that he had bought the
sloop of Wardemann and intended to go oyster
ing in her, thus showing that he had no inten-
ton to hunt up the heirs of the real owner.
The officers who arrested him testified to his
having made still other conflicting statements.
He has alleged that the Captain was lost over
board at both Big Egg Harbor, and Little Egg
Harbor, but yesterday at the hearing he, without
being questioned, stated that it was off Bombay
Hook.
THE CAPTAINS pocKET-BooK FOUND.
Yesterday the police found at Petersons house
the pocket-book of the missing captain, and also
his coat and it was proved, on the testimony of
the prisoners brother-in-law, that he had said he
bought that coat in New York.
THE PRISONER
Is rough. strongly-built, but rather short man,
and il by birth a Russian Finn. His previous
character has not been of the best. The cir
cumstances of the case are. of course, srlspi-
cious but whether they imply murder or the
mere intention to take advantage of an accident
and keep possession of the vessel and other
property of Wardemann, it is hard to say.
The Commissioner held him without bail for a
further hearing on Monday.