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 mutny and
the murder Of the captain OF the ship J. l.. Bowen
Amesbury, were examined before Commissioner
Davenport. The names Of the accused are-Manuel
Antonio, Michael Antonio, Thomas Roach and james
Thoma-.
ernment and Mr.. Robert N. Waite defended the
prisoners.
It win DO seen from the evidence printed below
that nothing has yet been elected TO which of
The men struck the fatal blow that deprived the
captain Of life. The particulars OF this lamentable
occurrence ~ they have appeared In the HERALD
from the pom OF the special reporter are far as
the testimony taken yesterday goes fully corro-
borated by the witnesses sworn at the examination.
TESTIMONY or THE NATE.
W. Sleeper, the mate OF the ship j. L. Bowen,
was examined at considerable length. He testified
us follcws:-When we reached port I caused the
prisoners to be arrested quickly as possibly; tine
trovbe arose nve days after we were out from port;
OF four p. NJ. the men were at work the anchors;
for the purpose OF moving the anchors had to put
a tackle on II; Thomas put the tackle on In the
wrong way; desired him to fix It; 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 OFF, Thomas
struck me several times; after this saw the cap
tain lying on The deck with his head spit openI
and Thomas then took the captain aft; after this
the captain lived about two hours ana half; 1
have not talked WIKI Thomas since, heard HIM
saT ANYTHING in regard to this trouble; | am
nephen Of the CAPTAIN.
Cross-examned-When we left this port the
captain did not desire me to get any shooting irons
ready for these men: heore the trouble the men had
performed taeir duty we'll; when found fault with
The men The second tme called Thomas out Of his
threw tie stick at him; the captain then told me to
take 40 impudence from the niggers; the stick
teen inches long; It weighed about three pounds;
Manuel Antonio then came toward me with bar IN
s u ne y no. On s % a a e set see h
Strike the second mate; Thomas followed me up
ana struck me; die not strike back, but tried 10
get away from hin; was struck twice on the head
and once on the shoulder; we sailed on My IS,
civn time. and june . nautical time; saw no blows
struck OF the captain; when was Knocked down
told the men TO stop and they desis-ed after this
the men oneyed all my orders ana never attempted
net assist III hosting the signal OF distress, did not
oppose THAT act was Knocked from the forecastle
TESTIMONY or GEORGE D. CRANE.
Iais wlesI 1, IS seSend maze OF Inc L. Bowsn:
afternoon watch on deck; the rs mate told Thomas
10 Il the anchor properly; he fixed 1t wrong three
times; The irale tnen addressed some harsh Ian
tuihance; the men had then armed themselves with
capsan bars; they moved towards US IN menaclng
manner, Manuel Antonio leading them; as lie came
up seized him ana threw him on deck Thomas
came at mo win bar which lie had raised to strike
with is; the steward then came up with cOrdwo0d
stick. he tried 10 strike Thomas with 1t; was at
that tine struck on the back OF me neck and
Knocked seDseleS5: after recovered my senses the
fight was at an end and saw the captain lying dead
on the deck.
examined--The throwing or 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, and did not see him
mixed up in the fight: saw MIA come forward be-
fore threw Manuel to the deck; did not see him
have any weapon III his hand; did not hear the
captain tell the MAZE TO XIII the =; did not bear
him use han sn bad language to the men, UP to
aud readily opeyea orders; my SKIN was not broken
/, by the blows got, but my neck is swoan.
TESTIMONY or MATTHEW CoSS.
Matthew G ss, steward OF the }. L. Bowen, de.
mate lying ON the deck: Thought he was dead;
ga " man at that time strike the first mate; was
so cduise1 ana astonisned fhat did
not see exactly VINO 1t was; two men
scared that cannot tell who hit me- tie captain,
won saw taken up rom the deck, was ali cnv
cred with blood he did not speak; he died about an
hUuf and hall subsequently.
CrosS.eXamned-pid not see the commencement
OF The uoub.e: TIE mon saiG they would kill me;
got hIoaeaXe. ana defended mysei as best |
could; nlst had piece 0f wood IN my hand, but
thcy took II from me; saw th3 mate receive On the
back 0! the head the blow which Knocked him
down was gong To nil 1nonas with the axe, but
he said he mad hot done aa thing; then Tent away
Nom hi.a.
TESTIMONY OF r. P. CIFyFP.
X. Il. Cuytr deposed-I was a passenger on this
snip: dii lot come out OF my room u.ltii the
trouble was over: dressed the wounds OF the first
and second mate: 4 was afraid, and aid not talk
WIN the men about the agai
the examination OF this Stage OF the proceedings
was adjourned III today