The morning call., 1893-06-17
ST. CLAIR'S CRIME.
Murder and Piracy Were
Planned.
A PATHETIC COURT SCENE.
Captain Sodergren Overcome by Emo
ton Breaks Down and Leaves
the Stand in Tears.
PATHETIC COURT SCENE.

The trial of Thomas st. Clair was re-
sumed in the United States Circuit Court
yesterday morning. with Captain Soder-
Gren, master of the Hesper, on the wit
neSs-stand under cross-examinatien.
Attorney Smith, for the prisoner. per-
sstentlv followed up the testimony given
by the witness on the previous day, and
while he was unable 10 break the force of
the captains evidence. he caused him to
become nervous and unstrung. When Ar.
Smith asked, "Do yOu want the prisoner
convicted OF murder?" Captain Sodergren
said, mo; the last man in the world. J"
and at once burst into tears.
1t was an unexpected occurrence, and
for a few minutes the utmost silence
reigned in the courtroom, every one gazing
with pity upon the witness, who had sue
cumbed TO the long strain of mental tor
ture. Judge McKenna quietly announced
that q recess of five minutes would be
taken tn give the witness an opportunity
TO recover.
When the recess was ended JOHN Lucas,
the first mate of the HespeI. was called
and narrated the following particulars OF
the murder Of Second Mate Fitzgerald:
'On the night of January IS the second
mates watch was from to y o'clock. l
-
Sparf to go on watch. 1t was customary
for the second mate to call me, so l said !:
What's upp he closed the door without
replying. l was suspicious and hastened
on deck and asked Larsen, who was at the
wheel, where the mate was. No one
answered me eXcept to say that they
wanted to tnrn in. | told them they must
help me find him. l called the captain and
secured a lantern"
The witness here gave a detailed ac-
count of the search that he and the captain
made and of finding the blood spots upon
the deck and gangway. He fully corrob-
Grated the testimony of the captain.
Continuing the witness said: 'St. Clair
stated THAI for two hours he had been
asleep on the deck and did not know where
Fitzgerald had gone. He suggested that
the mate might have fallen over the chain
lashingS and hurt himself and afterward
fallen overheard. Hansen said Fitzgerald
might have committed suicide"
The witness gave n graphic description
of she pools of blood found upon the deck,
and traced ulon the diagram exhibited
the bloodthirsty trail leading from the
where the dead mate had been cast over
board. He also testified that q portion OF
the deck near the blood spots had been
washed and was still wet when he went on
deck.
Edward Larsen. who had charge of the
fed: Il heard St. Clair, Hansen and Sparf
planning 10 kill the captain and take
charge of the ship.
Il asked Sparf how he would kill the
captain. st. Clair spoke up and said they
would attend to that This conversation
occurred about O'clock in the evening
l thought it only joke and did not tell the
captain."
The witness repeated the story of finding
the blood spots, but under the eross-ex-
animation of Attorney Smith he became
confused and contradicted himself
An Hung, the Chinese cook, testified
that he heard cries of distress, and going
on deck saw Hansen and ST. Clair, who
told him there was nothing wrong. St.
Clair took hatchet out Of the cooks room
early in the evening, and the prosecution
expects to prove that it was used in killing
Fitzgerald All Hung also testified that
ne had used the hatchet In cutting meat.
Thomas Gresn, VINO was charged at first
with being one of the murderers of Fi!Z-
gerald, testified as follows: 81 had a con-
versatinn with Hansen early in the even
ing and he told me they were going to
throw the captain and mates overheard,
seize the ship aud go 10 China. l did not
tell the captain about it.
Between II and u o'clock Sparf called
me-. l turned out and saw Hansen with a
broom on deck. Sparf and st. Clair were
there, and the latter said they wanted me
to lend hand to throw the captain over
board. ! asked @here the second mate
was and st. Clair said he was overheard,
and pointed to the blood spots.
They told me to call up the captain but
l would not do it. L saw st. Clair throw
bundle of clothes overheard aud blood
was on his hands"
Jens Olsen testified that Sparf had
called him about IL o'clock to help throw
the captain overheard. He told him they
we're going to take the ship to China st.
Clair was present at the time. The wit
ness declined to assist them.
John Langiais, the carpenter, testified
to hearing the cries of distress and finding
the accused men on deck.
Al the conclusion of Langlals' testimony
the court adjourned until 10 o'clock this
morning.