The morning call., 1893-02-25
THE MATES DEATH
Some Light as to How
William Skeet Died.
PROBABLY FELL OVERHEARD
He Was Under the Influence of Liquor
and Mistook His Friends
for Thieves.

The six men WHO were arrested on Thurs
day morning at Sausalito for being inipli-
Gated in the death of William Skeet. the
mate OF the steamer George w. Elder. were
to have had a preliminary hearing yester-
day. but the District Attorney of Marin
County was too busy to attend to it and it
will take place to-day.
t. Ii. Devaney. steward OF the Elder !;
". Boyne, boatswain of the City of Puebla ;
James Nimmo. 553 Natoma street; NJ.
Grantield. 1c40 Howard street; Il. W..
Gable, 10 Madison avenue, and Frank
Dooling, SIT Greenwich street. are the
names Of the prisoners locked up in the
jail at San Rafael. and they are wondering
what is to become Of them.
They are confined in separate cells and
have no method of communicating with
each other.
n. BOyne told CALL reporter yesterday
that he, with party whose names are just
given, were having a jolly time ashore on
Washlngton's birthday. William Skeet was
sent on shore, and he joined the party and
treated all hands. He had come ashore IN
a boat from the Elder. while the rest OF the
party had boat from the Puebla. Skeet
was very much under the influence of liquor
ana II was decided 10 take him to his vessel
in the Puebla's boat. When the Elder was
reached two OF the boys. named NImmo and
Granfeld, went up The ladder with the mate
to see that he got up all right and to put i'm
In his stateroOm. Gable, DOoling and
BOyne waited in the boat at the foot of the
ladder Tor them to return before pulling
over to the Puebla. which was about
300 yards away. In about two minuIes shot
was fired from the deck of the steamer. 1t
seemed to CONS from the opposite side Of the
vessel from that which the boat was on The
shot was followed by cries Of murder and
Nimm0 came running along the side OF the
ship to tie gangway. AS he ran a shot
was flred at the boat at the foot OF the ladder
and the bullet Splashed in the water along
side. I'VE could not understand IT," said
Boyne. land for safety we pulled away. In
a few minutes we came back and were hailed
by Deyaney. the steward OF the boat, who
told US that Skeet was in the water on the
opposite side OF the steamer and we were told
10 row around and pick him up. When we
got there he had sunk out OF sight"
Ii. w. Gable and Frank DooIlng. amateur
musicians. were over in Seusalito that even
ing, and missed the last steamer for San
Francisco. Dooling was acquainted with
one of the officers of the Puebla. and they
were invited to spend the night on the ship.
They handled the oars of the boat which
rowed Mate Skeet to the Elder and their
stories agree exactly with that Of Boyne.
They could give n o reason fer the sh0ating,
and did not quite realize what they were
imprisoned for.
Nj. Granfield. who with James Nimmo
went up the ladder with the mate, says that
he and Nimmo took Skeet TO thasmain
cabin door, and opening 1t. helped him in
side. Skeet said he was all right ana they
left him. To get back TO their boat they
had To 90 around the cabin from one side o (
the vessel TO the other to reach the gang
way. and az they came round the pilot
house they met Skeet with revolver in his
hand.
You thieves yelled Skeet, with an
oath. and fired point blank at GTanfield,
The bullet passed through Granfield's hat,
and both boys turned and ran.
Graufeld says he hid behind an iron door
on the forward deck While Nimmo ran
down the gangway ladder and yelled MUIR
der Three shots were fired, when he heard
the voice of Mr.. Devauey asking what was
the matter. II yelled TO him that Skeet had
gone crazy and to look out All was quiet
for few minutes and we cautiously looked
out Minnie, when he saw us. called out
that Skeet was in the water and swimming
he was too far away, and before We could
get a lifeboat lowered he was out Of sight
beneath the waves"
7. II. Devaney substantiated the story of
Grantield.
james Nimmo would not say word. He
was very nervous ia his cell. and watched
all movements of his visitors with susp-
cion.
Nimmo was near the gangway where
Skeet fell over. and is probably the only
man living who saw the third shot fired and
who eau probably throw some light as 10
how tile mate fell over hoard