The daily gazette., 1883-05-05
~
THE RIVER TRAGEDY.
Hearing of the Seaman Who Drowned
the Mate of the "AdaIn M. simpson"
fPhIlhhelnhIn LedRer.

At IL O'Clock yesterday morning, Deputy
United States Marshal Gregory, with the
warrant or affidavit reciting the offence
sworn out before United States Commits
sioner Edmonds by Captain Jonathan May,
managing owner of the ship Adam NJ. Simp-
son, proceeded down the river on the police
tug William s. Stokley to Deep Water
Point, where the ship was lying at anchor
Passing on board he presented his authority
for the arrest of the seaman charged with
causing the death of the second mate. Cap.
tain Call turned the accused man over to
the United States authorities together with
the witnesses, and he was brought to this
city hand-cuffed, arriving up about 5
o'clock.
1t is stated that Marsh al McMullen at
Wilmington having heard of the affair, pro-
ceeded in tug yesterday morning to the
ship, and having secured the name of the
drowned mate, the accused seaman and the
witnesses, returned to Wilmington to pre-
pare the necessary papers. About 20
minutes before his return the Stokley, with
Marshal Gregory on board, reached the ship
and secured the prisoner. Marshal McMul-
len claims that the action of the Philadel-
phia officer was unwarranted and Illegal as
the crime was committed in Delaware
waters. He has made formal protest in
writing to Attorney General Gray.
The seaman, Henry Ferrington, was taken
before United States Commissioner Henry
R. Edmunds, and had hearing on the
charge of having caused the death of the
second mate, Thomas 8. Fisher.
John Wilson was sworn, and testified
am sailor on the vessel Adam NJ. Simpson
| which left the port of Philadelphia or
| Thursday when | came on top of the fore
castle heard the prisoner and second matC
arguing about some grease; L could not heal
what was said; saw defendant hit the second
mate on the side of the face; then the mate
tumbled overboard can't say that ht
| knocked the mate overheard; but one blow
was struck; we ran for a boat, and Henry
Ferrington was with US, but the mate could
not be picked up; did not see the mate
afterwards, but saw his hat; we were in
| the channel; we went ahead for an hour ol
| two and then anchored.
| William G. NAV testified that he found
| the ship at Deep Water Point, about three
miles above New Castle. The occurrence
took place, from the best information he
had, between Wilmington and New Castle
j. A. Gregory, of the Marshal's office, ties
| titled that he made the arrest, and that tht
prisoner in a conversation said he knocked
| the mate into the ropes and he fell overheard
1t was explained that the trouble took plac,
on the forecastle, and that the railing there
| is quite low Other witnesses were exam
ined, but they threw no lightion the occur
renee. In answer to question, FerringtoI
said he wrs born in Lowell, Mass.
District Attorney Valentine is of the opin
| ion that the prisoner cannot be tried in
United States Court, but will have to b
handed over to the authorities of either Del
aware or New Jersey, the crime having bee
committed on a navigable river over whicl
both States have jurisdiction. Ferringtol
was committed for further hearing.