The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-12-17
TRAGEDY AT SEA.

A story Of misery aud Murder-Vhe steward
Of an Anne srican Bark Charged with Wan
tonly shootiuE an Austrian sailor.
Six months ago an Austrian seaman, name
unknown shipped on board the American
bark the Ellen o. Feeney, bound for various
ports in South America Che vessel returned TO
of six months, according to the statements of
several of the crew, the Austrian seaman was
brutally murdered at sea by the steward of the
vessel, David Leech.
MANS TNHUMANITY TO MAN.
The story, as narrated by the crew, is in sub
stance as follows:-The murdered man, being
an Austrian and not speaking English well, in
some way earned the displeasure of the captain
of the Feeney and the two mates. They vented
their brutality on him in every way, beating
him with Delaying pins aud capstan- bars on the
slightest provocation, and frequently without
any cause whatever. The vessel arrived at the
port of Montevideo about the 7th of August last,
and was becalmed some miles outside the har-
Dor, where she rode at anchor. Another Ameri-
can vessel, the Edward, was anchored near her.
THE MURDER.
The unfortunate Austrian was in his bunk,
SICK ON the morning of the 9Th of August, when
In the fOrecastle, and set him at work ''holy-
etoning" the deck and cleaning the brasswOrk
on the ship. On the morning of the 10th,
Jack" was cleaning some brasses on the
quarterback, when the mates seized him and
flung him down the short ladder to the main
deck, where they beat aud kicked him in a
fearful manner. The poor sailor staggered to
his feet and falling against the long boat of the
vessel caught hold of the davit-ropes for sup
port. At that moment 1t is alleged that David
Leech rushed out of the cooks galley with
a cooked revolver in his hand, and, without a
word of warning, fred at Jack" who fell to
the Geek. shot through the head, and died two
hours after. Immediately after Shooting the
! seaman, Leech and the captain of the Feeney
rowed to the Edward, where Leech remained.
| The body of the murdered man then sewed
| up in a hammock and taken ashore for secret
| burial, none of the crew being allowed to go
| on shore lest they should inform the authorities
| Of Montevideo When the body of the murdered
| man was inferred Leech returned to the Feeney,
and the vessel sailed for this port aud, arriving
! arriving on Wednesday, anchor, off Martins
stores, near Fulton Ferry, Brooklyn.
ARREST OF TIE OFFICERS.
The crew on being discharged lost no time in
informing the authorities of the murder, and
United States Commissioner Shields issned war.
rants for the arrest of Leech, the mates aud
captain of the Feeney, and also for the captain
| or the Edward, which vessel had also arrived a,
this port. The warrants we're placed in the
hands of Deputy Marshals Crowley and Pur
vess, who arrested Thomas Ward, the SECOND
mate of the Feeney, at the sailors lodging
house No. 81 Cherry street, anS
David Leech, the steward, on board of the
vessel. The prisoners were arraigned before
Commissioner Shields yesterday and held 70
examination. They say that the shooting wa
done in selfdefence and in the performance o
their duty officers of the vessel. The captain
of the Feeney and Edward, with the first mat
or the Feepey, will no doubt be arrested to-day
as the officers on their track. Five of tn
crew are detained as witnesses in the case II
Ludlow Street Jaii.-N Y. World, to-day.