The morning call., 1893-06-16
ST. CLAER'S TRIAL.
The Captains Story of the
Hesper Tragedy.
TELLTALE BLOOD SPOTS.
The Story Told by the Accused to
Account for the Disappearance
of Mate Fitzgerald.
TELLTALE BLOOD SPOTS

A jury mas been secured and the trial oil
Thomas st. Clair for the murder of Second
Mate Fitzgerald of the bark Hesper is now
in progress in the United States Circuit
Court.
In order that the jury may fully under
stand the story of the brutal and cowardly
assault that occurred on the Hesper in
mid ocean large diagram of the vessels
deck has been prepared. which, in addi-
ton to the usual fixtures found on bark,
shows where the blood stains were found
and the place On the railing where the
body of Fitzgerald is supposed to have
been thrown overheard. There is also a
watercoIor sketch showing the Hesper
under full sail.
The first witness introduced in behalf OF
the prosecution was Captain F. o. Soder-
gren, the master Of the Hesper. He testi-
fed as follows:
The Hesper left Newcastle, New South
Wales, on December 90 bound for Homo
lulu with a cargo OF coal. She carried a
crew OF eight seamen, carpenter. steward.
cook, first and second mates, my wife and
myself.
'On the night of the murder. January
13, the starboard watch, consisting OF Sec
ond Mate Fitzgerald, Thomas st. Clair.
Herman Sparf aud Hans Hansen, were on
duty from 10 O'Clock 10 u O'Clock. That
night went up on deck about 9:45 O'Clock,
and saw FITZGERALD on watch"
At this point the witness. with the aid of
the diagram and portrait of the bark, gave
the jury comprehensive description OF
the vessel and the location Of the crew
upon that night.
Continuing his testimony. he said: 81
did not speak to Fitzgerald, and after not
ing that everything was all right | went
below. l laid down on couch. but had
not gone to sleep, when / heard q voice
sounding like a screech NY wife was
preparing to retire. and called my attention
to 1t. 1n little while it was repeated, and
II sounded like cry of distress, but be-
lieving that it was caused by the men
changing the sails did not 20 up. | also
heard the dog bark few times.
About u o'clock l was awakened by
First Mate Lucas, who informed me that
the second mate had disappeared. l
dressed and when / reached the deck
found Lucas with a lantern searching the
deck, assisted by the carpenter.
Il Questioned the men on watch. Sparf
said that he had seen the second mate go up
the forerigging about II O'Clock and he did
not come down again. Some Of the others
substantiated the story. We continued
the search and finally discerned spots of
fresh blood upon the deck.
All the seamen were present and call
ing their attention to the spots | asked
them what it meant. No explanations
were offered. There was trail of blood
leading to the side of the deck, and the
blood on the railing indicated that the
body had been forced between the posts in
the railing.
"The first mate, carpenter and myself
secured arms and then | summoned the
men into my cabin and had each one make
statement of just what he had done dur
ing the night, which | entered in the log.
book. st. Clair and Hansen said they had
been asleep on the deck. while the other
men said they had not left their posts OF
duty. ST. Clair suggested that the mate
had fallen to the deck and in attempting
to get up he had fallen overheard.
II had noticed spot of blood on Sparf's
cheek. and at O'Clock the next morning
called him into the cabin. and, after ex-
planning that for protection | must secure
him, | placed handouts upon him. did
the same with st, Clair and Hansen, anC
then pla ced two in the forward deck and
one in the second mates room.
"a crub-bronm was found near the
spots of blood on the deck. the straw o
which was covered with blood. The mex
morning narrow strip of scalp with han
upon 1T was found on the ganCway. 1 be.
lleve 1t was from FitZgerald's head. We
found a hatchet underneath st. Clair!
bunk that had been used by the cook anC
was supposed to be in the kitchen. | alsC
that gave evidence OF having been used
All OF these things 1 brought to this cit,
and gave to the United States Marshal"
At the time of adjournment the wtnes.
was being cross-eXamined by ATTORNEY
Smith for the defense.