The New York herald., 1877-09-02
THE SWEENEY MUTINY.

FOUR INVALUABLE WITNESSES A CONFLICT OF
AUTHORITY BETWEEN FRANCE AND THIS
COUNTRY.
United States Deputy Marshals John Robinson and
Lewis Ncwcombe, in the performance OF thoir duty
Yesterday saddled United States with four voun-
tary prisoners who doubtless will DO camuring
for their liberty. In spite OF being nearly drowned
Friday night, while searching In small boat in tho
bay for the four witnesses on the c, g. Sweeney, the
said officers took to the water yesterday morning be-
fore daylight pursuit Of their amateur prisoners.
Alter couple oil hours search the vessel in question
was found at anchor or Red Hook The officers scram
bled up her sido just as day was break
irg and made their way to Captain Eaon's
cabin They stated I'VE United States officers.
We have como retain four witnesses your vessel
when the mutlny occurred at Havre and the first mate,
Mr.. Henry Harris, was shot dosd." Captain Eaton
then summoned the four mon 10 his side and told
them the circumstances OF the case whereupon they
oil sented to 80 ashore with tie officers This
done and no handouts used the men giving their
word that they would not attempt to escape
THE FouR WITNESSES.
The following the taken in charge An hon
Herring, second mate of No. SO Charles street, Thomas
Williams. steward OF No. Is Catherine street; John
Webber sa lor OF the Sailors Home all of this city,
and Nils OLSEN. of Bergen. Norway Herring is a tall
good naturcd looking fellow Williams The steward
about live feet two inches only Weboer is handsomely
built fellow while O!sscn, the Norwegian, is young
bog sh When brought before United otetcs
Comm issoncr Duel by the Deputy Marsha tho pr
crs stated that was tGclr belief that the French
did not intend TO surrender TO this
Try tor punshmeut the four NUT tnecrs OF the C. G.
sweeney, now III prison III Havre, as they hid been
kept in possession tor the past ton weeks, which
unwarrsntabe time, should Their cxtradItion have
been contemplated. HERALD reporter subscq uenty
ked tue Com tor mis- the subject
Wa referred Assistant District ATTORNEY
General II. b. Foster.
The four nuuneers OF the c. G. Sweeney" said
Mr. Foster, were he'd III caln ny the French author
iies at Havrc who decline to surrender them 10 this
county, IN spite OF the demands Of tho United laes
Consul at havre, backed by the American Minister.
rhe French auInorltis have also dcci ned hetain
the four witnesses, who have just been incarceratod
horc IN LudlOw Street jan Our representatives, IN
France have, a. was heir duty, submitted the affair
to authorities al Washington, and District Attor-
ncy GeaeraI Stewart l.. Wocdord hourly expecting
u cominunica, on On The subject A question of inter-
national law Is involved, you see. The prisoners
although arrested Havrc, are according to ncwsp,-
nor reports being tried Rouen. The ast con sular
report we have been furnished from France Is dated
the 2sth Of June and which Is prior TO the
ineDt OF the trial. That is all can tell you the
subject
WHAT ONE or THE MEN HAD TO SAY.
In conversation with Steward Williams, who is a
very ntclIipen man. he SAID :rhe United States uti-
thorities at Washington-oy this ! mean secretary
Evarts--ough we tnuk, as simple act OF justice, TO
telegraph on Monday TO the American Minister at
Paris TO learn # tho utinecrS are 10 be sent here Or
trial or not II not, then our detention In LUDLOW
street jail is farce, aud we are entitled 10 our liberty.
Tho Fronch government has declined 10 use us us VIII
ncsses and prisoners are not TO be tried here our
remaining IN jail voluntary witnesses II an alb
surdity Wo have been kept as prisoners IN France
considerable time. | do not sec myself but
am no lawyer, what difference IL makes u
smith the mutineer s guillotined 10 Havre Tor Kill
ing Harris or whether be be hung ~ the United states
author ties m tins CITY, saw smith shoot Harris,
the first mate, dcn3. AS near as ! can Judge the
tragedy took place about mile or nile ana ha!
FROM The port OF havrc. The mate had a miserable
lttlc pistol with winch ne replied TO smiths hrc he
snot smith n The head, hand and neck, but tnc shots
Ike lttlo peas. Harris was SHOT through inc
heart and icil into tho captains arms Two other
shots lrcd bv smith be seen III the cabin dooi
ana another rs located III the water tank forward.
smith also tried 10 shoot Olsson, VINO rs with US mere
Captain C0le-who was our captain-thc SECOND
mate and myself we're IN the cabin armine
and loading our pistols when the tragedy took place
The captain sick and opposed to killing anybody.
Great credit ~ due TO John Wcbbcr. now here also, or
making tho qua Of distress and getting us towcd
back to Havrc Had smith seen HIM do II he would
undoubtedly have shot him. The murdered irst mat0
All Engshman by biftn. bot has sailed Ut oil
Harrington, Mass Tor several years. He leaves a
daughtcr. Edward Smith, tho murderer, rs an Eng
lisnnlan born ~ Liverpool of lrlsh parents He ~as
on the sh ps and Gcttysbars, oil Rcnmopd,
before Joined the e. G. Sweeney. All the crew cx-
cept Usscn, ono OF The were formerly on the
Gct,yspurg. That vessel Is now at ST. John, N. b."