The Portland daily press., 1893-07-20
THE ANNIE & WILLARD CASE
Hon. B. Dudley Freeman Appears for
District Attorney Dyer.

The Case Likely to Continue Through To-
dayton. Nj. p. Frank Assists Mr.. Free
man and Hon Geo. e. Bird Appears for
the Defendants.
The hearing in the Annie and Willard
case, was resumed before Commissioner
Bradley yesterday morning, but there
was almost Immediately an adjournment
made until 2 clock, at which time the
hearing was resumed in good earnest.
Hon. E. Dudley Freeman, appeared in
place of District Attorney Dyer who
was unable to be present, Hon. NJ. P.
Frank for the sailors, and Hon. Geo. E.
Bird for the captain and mates.
Capt. John Steelman, after arriving
here yesterday morning, was placed un-
der arrest, and it was decided to try all
the officers at once, and SO Capt Steel
man, First Mate Frank HI. Reed, and
Second Mate John E. White, were on
trial together, the evidence including all
the officers of the schooner.
Aside from some nice points about
how things are done at sea, the presence
in the fight of one of the strongest labor
unions, made the hearing more interest
ing than it would otherwise have been.
1t is the union against the officers, for
all practical purposes. even if that does
not make part OF the record, or find a
place in the notes of Commissioner Brad
ley.
Hans Swendsran, was the first witness
called by Mr.. Freeman, and his examina-
ton proceeded at great length, and was
made to cover pretty much everything
that was said and done when the schoon-
er lay on the high seas opposite Iceboro.
He had covered the ground pretty well
in his evidence of the previous day
against Mate White. He is rather slow
witness, but then a slow witness is a
witness who precious seldom gets ratified.
He told how the captain went to the
forecastle, called to the men s'Whydon't
they were waiting for coffee, with the re-
mark ''I'll give you all the coffee you
WANT made his descent into the fore
castle. He described how the captain
tore the shirt off of Jack Levers, dragged
him on deck, and what followed. He
said that Jack did not try to strike the
captain. He described the entire series
of alleged knock downs, and was then
turned over to Mr.. Bird.
I'm all these proceedings there was no
attempt on the part of the crew to re-
sist?''
mo, sir.''
Cross-examined, he said that he asked
the mate to let. him go, and that the
mate refused saying when we get you
to sea we'll take this out of you.'' He said
that when the second mate struck him
the first time he fell between spar on
the deck and the rail. He was entirely
at the mercy of the mate, who struck
and kicked him several times. When he
got up the captain followed him and hit
him from behind. He was struck by
both mates as we'll as by the captain.
He was oross-examined regarding the
way Mr.. White gave the order when he
told the men they were to dock the
schooner. He said that all that was
said was that they were to go into the
dock that morning, and that in very
short time after that the captain came
down and took Jack Levers out of the
forecastle.
Mr., Bird intimated that he might con-
clude to recall the witness, Mr.. Frank
said 'all right" and the cross-examina-
ton was over for that section of the
hearing.
Then Mr.. Freeman called Jack Levers,
and the second member of the crew was
heard and told direct, straightforward
story. He said he had had no previous
trouble with the second mate except "a
few words at Gardiner He said that
after they woke up they waited in the
forecastle for coffee. Suddenly Captain
Steelman looked in and said What are
you waiting for?"
Some one replied, ''For coffee, sir.'
"I'll give you all the coffee you want"
said the captain, and the first thing the
witness knew the captain caught him
and tore his shirt entirely off. He then
took the witness from the forecastle to
the deck, where for the moment he was
allowed to- stand aside, while the atten-
ton of the officers was given to Hans,
who was then on deck, according to the
witness, and being badly handled by the
second mate.
II thought he was going to kill Hans,
said the witness, who added that he
then said to Mr.. White, Don't kill
Hans" At that Mr.. Reed seized him
by the neck, at the same time striking
him. Nh. Reed held him in that way
until Mr.. White let go of Hans and then
turned him around and pinned his arms
to his side, and while in that situation,
the second mate struck him from be-
hind AT the same time that he was hit
by the second mate, the first mate let