The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-06-09
THE LATE TRAGEDY on SHIPBOARD.
The Mutiny and Alleged Murder on tho
Ship ]. l. Bowen.
EXAMINATION OF The PRISONERS.

Yesterday the prisoners charged with mutiny and
the murder Of the captain OF the ship L. Bow en-
Amesbury were examined before Commissioner
Davenport The names Of the accused are-Manuel
Antonio, Michael Antonio, Thomas Roach and james
Thom.-
MT. A. Fl. Purdy appeared as counsel for the gov,
ernment, and Mr.. Robert N. Waite defended the
prisoners.
It will be seen from the evidence printed below
that nothing has yet been elected to show which OF
the men struck the fatal blow that deprived the
captain OF life. The particulars OF this lamentable
occurrence, as they have appeared In the HERALD
from the pom Of the special reporter are so far as
the testimony taken yesterday goes, fully corro-
borated BY the witnesses sworn at the examination.
TESTIMONY OF THE MATE.
J. W. Sleeper, the mate OF the ship J. L. Bowen,
was examined at considerable length He testified
us follows:-When we reached port caused the
prisoners to be arrested as quickly posslby tine
trovble nve days after we were out port;
at four p. NJ the men were at work the anchors:
for the purpose of moving the anchors had to put
tackle on II; Thomas put the tackle on In the
wrong way desired him to fix 1t; he did II wrong
again, ana gave some talk that made me mad;
hung stick at HIM; Manuel Antonio rushed at me
with BAR the captain threw him of; Thomas
struck me several times; after this saw the cap.
tain lying on The deck with his head split open;
did not see who struck the captain Johnson, Mike
and Thomas then took the captain aft; after this
the captain lived about Two hours ana half; l
have not talked with Thomas snce nor heard hum
say ansthna in regard to this trouble; | am
Cross-examined-When we left this port the
captain did not desire me to get any Shooting irons
ready for these men; before the trouble the men had
performed taer duty we'll: when found fault With
The men The second tine called Thomas out OF his
name: Thomas called fIe In tie same way; then
threw tue suck ~ NM the Captain then told me 70
take 40 iflpudence iron, the niggerS: the stick
threw at lhcmss was q Piece Of board. about eigh-
teen inches long: 1t weighed about three pounds;
Manuel Antonio then came toward me with bar IN
his hand ne did not Try 70 hit me; the second mate
threw hiin down on the deck; did not see him
strike tie second mate: Thomas followed me up
anu stTucs me; did not strike back but tried 10
and once the shoulder; we sailed on My Is,
cyil time, and June 2, nautical time: saw no blows
struck OF the captain; when l was knocked down 1
told the men 10 stop and they desisted; after this
the men oneyed all my orders and never attempted
any iurthor tTouble: the prisoners though they did
oppose THAT act: was Knocked from the iorccasue
TESTIMONY or GEORGE 3. CRANE.
This witness is second mate Of the J. l.. Bowen.
He derosed-This difficulty took place during my
70 e p Ma Oh pone he i xe It , wron es
times; The iraIe then addressed some harsh Ian
susge 70 the sailors; then looked out for die.
capstan bars; they moved towards Us in menaclng
manner. Manuel Antonio leading them; as lie came
IN seized him ana threw km on deck; Thomas
came at mo With bar which lie had raised TO strike
me: taking the bar from nim | hit him on the head
with is; the steward tnen came up with q c0rdwo0d
stick. he tried tn strike Thomas with 1t; was AT
that tine struck on the back OF The neck and
knocked senseiesI after recovered my senses the
fight was at an end and saw the captain lying dead
on the deck.
Cross-exanined-Thc throwing OF the piece OF
WOOD By the mate was the first violence offered; all
but Manuel Antonio rested their bars on deck:
Manuel had his bar raised over his head did not
sec Any one strike the captain ana ala not see min
mixed up Ill the fights saw mia come forward be-
fore threw Manne to The deck; did not see HIM
have any weapon III his baud; l did not hear the
captain tell the mate TO XII the - did not hear
him use haisn or bad language TO the men, UP TO
the period CT The fight the men were good seamen
ana readily obeyen orders; my SKIN was not broken
BY the blows got but my neck is swollen.
TESTIMONY or MATHEW Coss.
Matthew Coss, steward OF the J. L. Bowen, de-
posed oa,ae out OF Inc galley and saw the second
mate lying on the deck: Thought lie was dead;
saw man 80 that time strike the first mate; was
c0uused ana sstOnished that did
not see exactly VINO 1t Was; two men
then made Tor me; one OF them strack nc: was so
scared that cannot tell who hit me; tie captain,
WON saw taken up rom the deck. was ali COW
cred WIN blood he did not speak; he died about
hour anG hall subsequently.
Cross. eHamined-Dtd not see the commencement
OF he trouble: tie men saiG they would kin me:
got broadaxe. ana defended myseii "a best |
could; iI,t had piece oi wood IN my hand, but
thct took II FROM me: saw tn mate receive on the
back Of the head the blow which Knocked him
down; was gong 10 hit Tnornas with the axe, but
he said nc mad hot done aaI thing; shen away
IRON hl.a.
TESTIMONY OF n. P. CIFyFP.
II. i. Cffyer ueposed-l was passenger on this
ship: iii not come out Of my room u.ti the
and second mate; was AFRAID, and aid not talk
wan the meu about the lgat
Tue examination at this stage OF the proceedings
was adjourned Ill to-day.