The morning call., 1893-08-23
HOW 1T WAS DONE
Vivid Account Given of
the Tragedy.
Prisoner HanSen's Statement to Cap
tain SOdergren Is Finally Ad-
mitted as Evidence.

The admission in evidence of Prisoner
Hanseu's statement TO Captain Sodergren
was the chief incident of yesterdays pro-
ceedings in the trial of Herman Sparf and
Hans Hansen before Judge McKenna In
the United States Circuit Court.
This statement was made to the captain
while on the way to Tahiti. and is prac-
tcally the same as that made by Hansen
to United States Consul L. B. Douty at
Tahiti, and also the one made by Hansen
TO Thomas Green aboard the Tropic Bird
while on the way to this city. The state
ment made TO the Consul cannot be ad-
mitted. but that made to Green is along
with that made to the captain.
Captain Sodergren was on the stand the
greater part of the day and he gave the
details of Hansen's statement. which was
the most vivid account OF the killing of
Second Mate Fitzgerald ON the Hesper on
that tragic night Of January 13 which has
yet been given. for this is entirely new
evidence and was not offered in the ST.
Clair trial.
On last Friday when Attorneys Smith
and Kierce, for the defense, objected to
the admission of this evidence, they asked
the court TO order United States District
Attorney Garter to allow them TO inspect
certain statements made by Witness Green
tn Consul DOuty at Tahiti. Judge Nc
kenna then refused, but yesterday morn
ing MIR. Garter voluntarily gave defendants
counsel the privilege desired. and during
the day Witness Green was subjected to a
crOss-oXaminaton On the evidence.
In substance the statements made by
Hansen TO Captain SOdergren and Green
were:
That St. Clair was the originator of the
crime, and the intention was to divide the
$4,000 in money, supposed TO be aboard,
between himself. Hansen and Sparf. They
would Kill every one it was necessary to
so dispose OF, and particular reference was
made to the captain and the first and
second mates.
ST. Ciair had brought aboard at New
castle hatchet and two revOlverS, and
these they had concealed in the ship. On
the night of the tragedy he stationed Her.
man Sparf and Hans Hansen in convenient
positions on deck, giving Hansen a club
and Sparf hAtehet, which he had hoT-
rowed from the cOOk. He instructed Han
sen to let go of the fore royal sheet so that
the ffapDing of the looSened sail would be
heard by the second mate. then on watch.
81. Clair was TO then 90 aft and inform
Second Mate Fitzgerald that something
had been carried away forward, the scheme
being to kill the second mate when he
went to see what was the matter. 1t was
St. CLAIR s intention to have Fitzgerald at
tackled by SDarf and Hansen.
When St. Clair went aft to carry ont his
plan Hansen, according to instructions,
let 90 the lore royal sheet, but when the
second mate appeared, accompanied by
st. Clair, Sparf and Hansen fale to fall
upon the officer As it had been purpose ed
st. Clair then buried his hatchet in Fitz-
gerald's head. His victim fell against
Hansen. VINO pushed him away. St. Clair
followed up literally hacking Fltzgerald's
! head until there was almost nothing of it
lett. Both Hansen and Sparf weakened
at this point Sickenng at the sight, and
although st. Clair told them to go aft for
the purpose of carrying out the srheme of
killing the first mate and captain. they
both refused 10 go any farther, saying that
they had done enough.
! NJ. z. Luck, the steward of the Hesper,
! also went on the stand and related some
statements made by Hansen to him. 1t
was Just before the ship entered the port
| at Tahiti and Hansen was talking to him
| about the affair. The prisoner then said
that while he was not guilty of actually
killing the second mate, he gave mighty
good hand at it. Both Hansen and Sparf
/ would be- lucky. they thought, il they got
OFF with five or ten years imprisonment.