The New York herald., 1877-10-27
A SEA CAPTAIN.

CAPTAIN COFFIN sLAPS sAILohs . FACE, o11S
"BurTED" AND HAS TIE SAILOR MULcrxD
ONE HUNDRED DoLLARs-A PEcULIAR CASE.
very interesting calc, originating In quarrel be-
tween Captain c. T. Conn, OF the ship Ringleader,
lying at Manila whom the event happened, and sea-
man named Th66as Buchanan, OF the same vessel.
was tried yesterday BY United States Commissioner G.
q. Duncan.
TIE cAPrAix's STORY
From tho vessels logbook and Captain Cofin's
sworn testimony yesterday, IL appears that the ship
Ringeader, OF which he IS MASTER was lying az Ma
Mia the 7th OF Juno last there being among The
crew the accused seaman. That morning the vessel
was preparing to clear on the homeward bound
voyage, ana the Captain with boats crew
composed, he nrss asserted OF four persons, but
subsequently, admitted 20 be made up OF nve, among
wnom was Thomas Buchanan, tho defendant, had been
ashore. Buchanan had been ashore several times bo-
FORE and while his boat lay the ver he had some
times avaied himself Of that opportunity to bathe,
alleging hts evidence did not dare TO do so
whore his ship was anchored for fear OF the sharks
there Captain CohL had forbidden him 10 bathe
while on duty one Of the boats crew, saying that
his doing caused dclay In getting through with
the work. On the day IN question, when the Cap
tam returned 10 tho boat having finished his busi-
moss at Manila no found Buchanan In the water, swim
ming about Tho Captain says he expostulatcd with
him. and that the man replied with Insulting language
or grosssst nature the exac. terms OF which are
plainly set forth tho log The Captain admits that
he thercupon slapped the sailor in the face, and claims
that tho seaman struck him . heavy blow on the nose
win his nat peoling tho skin on that organ, and at
the same time knocking out two OF MS teeth Cap
testimony is unsupported ~ the other men OF the
BOATS crew who placed on tho stand, that bu-
cn.nsn grabbed nm Oy The throat tma onossa ra nm Inn
boats gunne, bruised his arms and legs, and said he
would drown him n he did not peg ms pardon " and
the master believes that hc would have boon drowned
he had called his aid TWO o tho other mon in
the boat The Captain contends mat his cotnes were
all torn to pieces and that tho man refused 70 pun an
oar when ordered do All lhis lattor part OF the
Captains deposition lacks corroborasion BY tho other
wtnessoR
When the personal encourter lad passed over Blu.
chsnsn says no asked 20 DO taken before the United
States Consul the Consulate being noar by ON the n
shore. but that thu master refused 20 DO 50 Tne
sailor thereupon jumped overheard and swan ashore
toward the Consulate, Captain Comm following close
by. The commander mado 20 the Consul . statement
ported BY the dspositions OF two Of shs
boats crew who were present Neither Of the two
witnesses called yesterday indorssd shis .lcgaton
only did the Consul not hear what The men might
have TO say but mat no peremptory refused to hear
word from him in his own detence The Consul I'm
posed punishment OF ton days solitary confinement
Ia double IRONS on the and ordered him 10 be
secured until arriving In American waters whom he
could be turned 70 the proper tribunals
SETTING LOOSE TIM "BuLL poo"
Upon examination ny the dstsnasu.s @ ,! counsel the
..damncd rasoar' and then slapped him the face,
saying also .nat he would set the bull dog" on him
when he returned 10 tho SHIP The "bull dog" is =
nickname by which the second mate WAS known.
WHAT rnR SEAMAN HAs TO SAY.
aa o, ,eov 10 Inc Csni.ns abusivs lanaus,e nm.
III alter tho master struck him he did not strike the
Captain with his ns.s, but. in order 70 proec. himself
believed he had "butied" HIM with his head; he did
not bruise superior ocers legs and arms, and
is well known to everybody on the ship that ne did
not knock out two OF his teeh.
While on the stand Captain Conn triod to show
whsrs away back In the lower jaw, he had lost pair
CONFINED IN THE stAxARxrrE."
Although II IS not proved that lhe Consul heard
word OF what Buchanan might have had 10 say, 1t Is
admitted that be sent him back under guard 70 the
shp where he placed In double irons BY the mate
and sent q prisoner 10 the .Laxaretto" The irons,
Buchanan says, were 100 small for his ankles he being
q robust young man OF about twenty ono years The
mate reported the circumstances, and ho further as
serted that the Captain exclaimed, with an OATH that
they should be forced on, which was done. In this
condition he remained four fve days in the "Laza
reten beng about tour and hall ieet high, SO that
Il was possible him to upright while there
From this place The prisooer was removed tho
hatchhouse which was just ~ bAo prison az the
other. Alter being released Buchanan Was unable to
work for some tme--according TO his own showing
on account OF his legs, which had swollen from tue
effects the light irons, but resumed nis duties when
Micnsel Coksly, ono OF the boats crew, being
called for the defence, confirmed some OF Buchanans
statements; nc saw tho Captah lay holu oI tho ac-
cused; they both fell backward on the defendant,
who pushed them of. Michael was not asked TO sign
the log statement
William Hardy confirmed the testimony Of Cokely
In many points, both OF these witnesses agreeing In
the main with BuchanAn's deposition; Hardy also cen
tradcted tho Captains statement who had that
the aefen not Lard up sick alter his release.
Alter hearing counsel on both sides Commissioner
Duncan summed up and sentenced Buchanan to pay
to Captain CONN tho Of $lO0 out Of his wages
personal recompense for what he was believed TO have
suiiercd- the much punished seaman had only $3.50
10 hs credit yesterday after long voyage, and 500
hns Of this goos into Captains pocket, mot 10 the
benefit OF the state or people