Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-07-19
MURDERED IN THEIR CABIN.
Two DefenccIess sailors stabbed to
Death.
Now York 1imes.1

Now Ork 1lmes.j
When the steamship Erin OF the National
Line from London reached Quarantine yes
ierday Captain Tyson reported that during
the voyage two OF the crew had been murder
ed i'm their berths i'm cold blood by one Of
their shipmatcs. The murderer was then
heavily chained in room in the after-deck
house, where he had neen kent with two men
10 watch him night and day since the tragedy,
which occurred on the morning OF Monday,
July 9th, when the vessel was in midocean.
The murderer is Patrick Kelly, seaman
who Joined the Erin just before her de-
partu7o from London on June 29ih. NO one
on board that vessel seems TO know anything
about his previous life.
From the moment that he boarded the
vessel he seemed TO entertain dislike for his
Shipmates. He had what is known on board
ship Dc " grOwls" with the other men on the
slightest prOvoratiOn, and rarely spoke TO
them eXcept to find fault. As a rule he kept
himself alOOf from the others. They re-
garded blm as a cross-grained fellow, but as
nothing worse.
On one occasion Kelly had few words
with a sailor, John Parry, but this had APP
parertly been forgotten. On sunday, July
Sth, Kelly seemed to be more sulky and mo-
rose than usual. During tho dOg-watch,
while several OF The sailors were Standing
under the tOp-gaaut foIecastle, an officer
gave an order which John Chapman, sailor,
did not like. few moments aiterward the
latter made use OF rather vulgar eI-
preston. Kelly instantly demanded
whether Chapman had meant the express
son 10 apply 30 hm. Chapman replied
that be did not. Kelly then looked at him
angrily, and SAID in very earnest manner:
4. a 70 mind p.H youf a
about. Don't YOU worry me-" Nothing
further was said. and the matter was soon
FORGOTTEN nv every one. At O'Clock next
morning The watch-to which Kelly, Chap.
mon, and Parry elouged-turned in. The
other members Of the watch were John Whit
t,kcr and John Harris. Chapman and Parry
had adjoining berths on the starbOard side,
near that OF Kelly. Whitaker aud Harris
were on the port side. The men dropped
oil TO sleep soon after getting into their
beribs.
shortly before seven bells, or at about
700 O'Clock. Whitaker was awakened by q
grnan which seemed to come from some per-
SON in distress. lie looked up. Two dim
lights added somewhat to the dim rays OF
sunlight which had penetrated the gloomy
fOrecastle. Whitaker listened aud heard
another groan. IL was long-drawn, awful
groan, which came from the opposite side oil
tne forecastle. Whitaker looked in that
direction and saw sight which for the in
stant parayzed his limbs and struck terror
TO his heart. Kelly was standing over Chap
man, whose face was ba'hed in blood. Kelly
right hand grasped the handle OF knife
which had been plunged into the left breast OF
Chapman. The latter gave one fesble struggle
and faint groan, and then all was still.
The groaps bad aroused Parry, in the next
berth The latter raised his bead and looked
at the bloody work which Kelly had per-
formed, aud finally cried out 10 horror. Kelly
wrenched the bloody knife from the breast
OF the murdered Chapman, aud sprlDgipg
toward Parry sieZed him by the throat. The
latter stroye 10 cry ont and struggled 10 free
himself, hut with a swift stroke Kelly drove
the blood stained knife into his heart. Parry
gave a feeble groaB, and his head dropped
back upon his pillow, and be was dead.
Kelly drew the blade from the breast OF
Parry, and picking up u woollcn shirt which
Law rolled up at the foot OF Chapman's berth
used il 10 wipe the blood from his knife.
As he wiped the knife he glanced around the
dimly-lightcd forecastle with guilty look,
His eye caught that OF Whitaker. he
cropped the shirt aud grasped the hilt Of his
knife. Harris then woke up, and Kelly ap'
paTently lacked the courage 10 attack Two
men who were awake, and he crept toward
the companionway, and SUNK up The stairs.
When the other sailors reached The deck
they found that Kelly had given himself up
TO the chief officer. lie bad h'nded the
latter the knife and had said 1.-TWO men
have been killed in the forecastle, and that
is tue knife that they were killed with,
Kelly was placed under arrest, heavily
manaced, and at noon the bodies OF his
victims were lowered into the ocean.
When the Erin reached her dock yester-
day Captain Tyson reported the murder 10
the British Consul. Ia the mean time the
SUPERINTENDENT OF the dock Informed the pc.
lice, and two officers took Kelly TO the Ninth
precinct station-hou He will probably be
arraigued THIS morning a. Jefferson Market.
As the murder was committed at sea under
the British flag IL is probable that he VIII De
extradiied and taken to Liverpool for trial.
He gave his ace as thirty-six, and said that
he was born In Ireland.