Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-08-27


ALLEGED MURDER ON THE HIGH SEAS
Some of the sailors of the ship James A. Wright,
Capt. Morrison, which has recently arrived at
Boston, tell story about the murder of one of
the crew, which, il true, demands immediate
investigation by the United States authorities
of that city. On the 10Th of September, 1871,
as related by John Smith, one of the crew, he
and Jacob jacobson and brother were shipped
at Cardiff, England, as deck hands. When
twelve days out one of the Jacobsons and Smith
fell from the foretopsail yard, the former
drowning without any effort being made by the
officers of the ship, while the latter was saved,
his fall being broken. On the 10th of April
following, one Thomas White, who had been
shipped at Calcutta, complained of feeling I'M
well, and went to his bunk. few minutes
after, it is alleged that the mate gave orders TO
have him dragged out Of his bunk, and this com
mand was executed by the second and third
mates, when White was sent to the main deck
capstan with his shpmate Smith and the third
mate Mr. Ernest G. Bryant. During the first
half hour he was at the capstan White fell from
exhaustion, and when Smith asked Mr.. Bryant
to let White turn in, he was unfit for duty, it
is claimed that the former seized a capstan bar
and struck White over the head. He staggered
and fell to the deck near the main hatch. He
was at once taken up and ordered to be removed
to his bunk, but died before reaching it, In less
than thirty minutes the body was sunk in the
ocean by order of the captain and no word of
his death was ever sent to his folks, who live in
London. The story of Smith is corroborated by
others of the ships crew, who complain of bru
tai treatment in other respects by officers of the
vessel. After the cargo had been discharged in
Boston the men were sent TO Commissioner
BabSon to be paid off, but refused to take the
amount offered them, as they say it is much less
than is actually due. Thus matters remain at
present, but the truth or falsity of the above
statements will doubtless soon be developed be-
fore a competent tribunal.
The additional statements that the hands
have not received the proper wages due them by
the captain were made the subject of inyestiga-
ton yesterday morning in the office Of U. S.
Commissioner BabsOn. This gentleman pro-
duced all the papers in the case, and readily
explained how matters stood. Upon arrival of
the ship in this port the crew and Capt. MOrr-
son could not agree upon the amount of money
being due the sailors, and accordingly came to
Mr.. Babson and signed document, leaving the
question in dispute to be settled by that gentle
man. Under section 25 Of the new shipping
act, the commissioner has the power to act as
arbitrator or referee i'll these common cases
which are of almost daily occurTence-and so
prevent lawsuits. The auditing of the captains
accounts and IN examination of the clog"
showed conclusiyey that exorbitant charges
for clothes aud other necessarieS had
been made, thus reducing the balance
of wages poor Jack expected to receive
on arrival here All of the men have ex-
pressed themselves satisfied with Mr.. Babson's
award, and have signed release against
the ship, with the exception of Jacob
Jacobson. The Captains account debited this
man with S35 0S, but the commissioner de-
cided that the ship was indebted to jacobson to
the extent of S2.55. This amount would have
been cheerlully received by the latter, and re-
lease signed, but the boarding house keeper,
who has a bill of $40 against Jacobson, would
not allow him to settle, and threatens to ship
him in the Mary. Commissioner Babson has
notified Captain Morrison to deliver up the
effects of Jacobson's brother, who was washed
overheard, but as the captain is absent in Maine,
visiting his family no further steps can be taken
in this direction until he returns. If Morrison
fails to turn over the effects the commissioner
will then adopt the legal remedy. Under the
award OF Mr.. Babson, the men received some
500 and $50 over and above what the captain al
lowed them.