Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1885-01-08
HOW .aEYHER was TORTURED.
The Guhuman Brutality OF tho Cap
lain of y DredKer.
yt,tIa a atra,ta ", -, an snaotat

=
PRINCESS ANNE, Md, Jan. 1.-The pre-
liminsry examination Of Captain John
williams, the oyster dredger, charged
with numbering one Of his crew, Otto
Meyher, was continued TO day. Frederick
Boye, the member OF the crew who was
captured by the Baltimore police, testified
to the most atrocious oruelties practioed
by Captain Williams. He testified that
the crew Of the Eva consisted Of Meyher,
Haas, two Americans known as Bill and
Rufus and himself. On one occasion, q
few days after they sailed from Baltimore,
Meyher complained to Captain Williams
OF being sick. Although 1t was bitterly
cold, the captain threw bucket Of water
over him and then beat him with mar
lin spike until he promised to work. A
few moments later Meyher dropped sense
less to the work, when the captain kicked
him and stamped on Lis face. At frequent
intervals during the next few days
Williams knocked the man down because
he did not work fast enough. Once Will
liams kicked him away from the crank,
handle of the dredge and beat him with Ia
club. Meyhsr screamed: sob, God, my
back, my back 70 Williams then jumped
on him and trod on his neck and face.
Rufus helped beat him. Then he and
Bill picked mp Meyher as II they intended
to throw him overheard. The captain
told them to put him down and tied
rope around his waist. They rigged the
rope to block and fall and threw him
overheard. Afterwards they pulled him
up to the top Of the mainmsst and tied
him there.
1t was bitter cold at tbs time and the
other members Of the crew were 30 stiff
with cold that they could scarcely work.
When Meyher was lowered he was almost
frozen to death. His clothing was stiff
with ice. He was thrown down in the
hold. Later the captain took piece Of
tarred rope and, going down in the hold,
commenced 10 beat Meyher, who was sit
ting with his back propped mp against
the centre board. Witness and the rest
Of the Grew heard the shrieks Of
the unfortunate man, but could not
interfere. The next day the captain
made the crew carry Meyher on deck.
The captain then palted Meyers boots of
and ewOre that he should 60 bareiooted
in the oJid until he worked. Meyher
was unable " sand up and then the
captain tore all his clothing of, and
while Meyher was lying nude on the
deck the captain beat him with oyster
shells, which cut his flesh. Meyher was
then thrown back into the hold, where
he stayed until next day. The captain
went to the witness during the night and
said:
"Dutohman, you kill that man or I'll
kill you"
The witness replied: "I won't touch
iim, and you may kill me II You want
90"
When they reached the landing at
lower Fsirmount the captain went down
10 the hold and tied Meyher's thumbs to-
gether with pieps Of tarred rope. Then
he passed pulley rope through the loop
and the crew to pull Meyher on dock
The latter WAS half inssnsible and, as his
body came through the hatchway on the
deck, his head, which was swsying back
wards, caught on the oombing. The cap.
way and kicked the body and head until
1t swung clear and Meyher was pulled on
deck. He lay there half unconscious
all day. At night the captain fastened
the two Germans in the hold and they
heard Meyher scream and groan as II
some one was beating him. Then they
heard the small boat humping against the
side Of the schooner and the dip Of oars
followed. Later, when they were allowed
20 90 on deok, they saw Meyher's body
lying on the shore, about 80 fset from the
water. That night the schooner sailed
and they did not get back to Paramount
for some time.
Justice John W.. Carroll committed the
captain to await the action OF the grand
jury. The feeling against the accused is
intense and there has been talk Of organ
Using lynching party.