The New York herald., 1879-09-12
KILLED WITH A HANDSPIKE.

QUARREL AT SEA BETWEEN DRUNEEN SAIL
oRs ENDS IN MuRDER-THE CAPTAIN Re-
TURNS TO PORT WITH THE CORPSE.
The ship Henry s. Sanford Captain Sleeper sailed
from this port Wednesday laden with rail-
road iron and boilers, bound for Calcasieu
Pass la. Yesterday she returned to Staple
ton, staten Island. in consequence of q murder
having been committed on board. and at present
the captain aud hvo OF the crew are in Richmond
County Jail. A sailor named Daniel Cavanagh is
charged with killing William Hogan, a mcssmate,
during an alteration while of Dix Island on the
ships way out. The shipped on
Wednesday an hour two before she started, and
all more or less intoxicated. Hogan es-
pccialy quarrelsome and seemed anxious to pick u
tight with cavanagh. man OF about forty-hve years
of age. and tar succeeded In provoking him that
he knocked Hogan down aud threatened to kill him
ii not left alone.
This was shortly after on Wednesday. as the
vessel was passing through the Narrows. few
minutes later Cavaiagh ordereddorward by the
mate to house the anchor. then swinging from the
cathead and hitch having been taken to the hukes,
he took up haiidspike To draw IL inboard. At this
instant Hogan came forward to renew the quarrel.
Cavanagh warned him away. Hogan seized an axe,
but before he could raise II lie was struck the
face with the hand spike and fcled to the dec K.
Three or four of the oti or men then joined in the
fracns the mate hurried ait TO inform the captain
OF the affair. aud the two, coming forward. put
end to the ighting.
FATAL RESULT FfoHT.
Hogan, who inseasiblc, was removed 10 his
berth and the men warned to behave themselves or
look out Tor trouble and the ship was
kept her way down the bay. shortly
alter nine o'clock on "Wednesday night man
to the cabin and reported Hogan dead.
aud that The sailors. indignant at going TO with
corpse on board. had determined to throw
Cavanagh overheard. their superstition leading
them to believe that was the on y measure that
would enable her to complete the voyage in safety
The CAPITA and HIS mates had the greatest difficulty IN
rcscuDg Cavanagh from them. aud only by show OF
arms did he succeed. lie placed Cavaiagh in irons
and confined him till yesterday morning, when the
noon before Captain sleeper was able to get
ashore, and. stroIling UP tho main street.
costed Deputy Sheriff Thomas brown in 'front.'
OF his saloon with. 'Whcre is the police
station hereY" Brown. who H. an ambitious officer
aud candidate for SLcriii. replied. ''What IL your
business. siry am one OF the officials here" and
displayed his badge. The Captain told his DRY, aud
Brown, eager TO take the affair out OF the hands
the police sent for Coroner Oaiiney Undertaken Otis
and DIR. feeney, al of whom promptly responded.
the Coroner coming Nv from Clifton and bringing n
jury with him. The crew, fifteen IN number were
all very rctcen but after ~ few searching inquiries
Coroner Gafnoy ordered the arrest and removal OF
Cavanagh the capita n aud four OF the mon.
CORONER TAKns pcssEssroS BODY.
on shore the body was taken charge by the
undcrtakcr whilo the remainder OF the party from
the ship escorted TO Browns saloon. where the
preliminary stages ot the inquest held, large
crowd of staten lsandcis attracted ,by the rurnors
OF "a murder. being present lawyer having offered
his services to Cavanagh was accepted eagerly. and
by his advice tho latter refused o word IN ret
renee TO the case ami ~ nothing definite could be
heard from the other parties the coroner requested
Br. Fcency to exafnme the corpse TO ascertain what
was the of has death. The latter, from press
but from what he did do. declared IL
to be his opinion that tho man was
choked to death and the blow was not the cause OF
death because the skuI WAS not fractured The hor-
rbo suggestion raised by this opinion and pic,t
by all present that aIer the heat OF passion had
suJsiGtd aud Hosan lay snn'ring from the terrible