The daily gazette., 1881-10-22
CoRso,s CASE.
Trial Of Antonio Corso for Assam,
and Battery ON the High seas.

and Battery ON the High seas.
In the United States Circuit Cont |
this morning, the trial of Anton;o
Corso, for assault and battery on tho
high seas, was commenced, Previous
to entering upon the case, District Al.
torney Patterson obtained permission
to send to New York for material
witness for the government, and was
allowed two weeks in which to get
him here.
Corso was seaman on the bark
A6bfe Baker, and while on a trip from
Gibralter to Malaga, got into a fight
with the first mate, Flynn, aud Ont
him with knife. He was put in irons
and given in charge of the Spanish
Consul, who turned him over to the
captain Of the bark Florida, bound
for Now York. The latter, on arriy.
ing at the Breakwater, handed the
prisoner over to U. s. Commissioner
John A. Nixon, of Lewes, who com.
mitted him to Georgetown jail. While
on the way to Jail Corso escaped, and
ran four miles before he was recaptur-
ed. U. 5. Marshal McMullen after
wards brought him to New Castle Jail
and held him for trial.
After the jury was drawn, Jacob
PrettymaD, keeper of the lock-up at
Lewes, was called. He said Corso, IN
conversation with him, admitted cut
ting the mate, but said the mate struck
him five times with Delaying pin be,
fore he retaliated.
JOSEPH Truxton, who took Corso
from Lewes to Georgetown jail, said
the prisoner made about the same
statement to him.
U. 3. Commissioner Nixon told hoy
. Corso was delivered into his charge
Corso said to him that If he had mo-
/ been fool he would not have been il
trouble, and that he did not know
why he cut the mate second time.
The District Attorney here offered II
evidence sheath knife, with which,
J was claimed, Corso cut the mate.
! Chas. Dane, who was sailor OF
. board the A6bie Baker at the time Of th
. cutting, was the next witness called b,
' the government. la his testimony th
that graces His Honor's desk in tn
Court Room was used, in order that h
might intelligently explain to the jur
the positions which the parties occupies
on the boat and the nautical terms used
lie said he was on the port watch, o
, the evening Of March 2Sth last, an
heard the first mate give an order ,
=, Oscar Nostrum sailor who was In tn
!, rigging. Nostrum replied that he woul
attend to IL as soon as he got throug
!, with the work on which he was engaged
y " iIo next heard Nostrum (who mean
% while had come down TO the poop deck
n say to the mate, "Why don't you b
a me how?" An alteration ensued, heal
u ing which thu witness, ,Corso and severs
other seamen went aft. Corso aske
the mate why he had struck Nostrum
!, just then the Captain rushed up, ,grabbe
:. Corso around the arms aud ordered hin
4 to go forward. Corso said he would,
- the Captain would let go Of him. Th
Captain then ordered the rest of I'll
y men TO go below or lie would brea
II their heads, and they all obeyed. Cors
, went forward and the mate said to hin
:, "d-n you, you'll interfere, will you?
!, and al the same time struck him sever
y times with Delaying pin. They scu
:, fled and fell aud the mate said he WI
II cut. The Captain came up, and tn
- mate rose TO his feet and walked forwal
- with him. Corso went below, and wa
~ Afterwards called up and put in irons /
= the second mate.
- A portion Of these favorable detail
were brought out by Mr.. Vandegrif
\, counsel for the defense. The witne
II also said that Corso's character for quie
20 20 ness and obedience was good.
At the conclusion OF this witness test
y mony Court took recess.