The evening world., 1894-04-17
A MURDER AT SEA.
Sailor Petersen Slabs His Ship
mate Shields to Death.
Fatal Termination Of a Fight on the
Bark Duieep Singh.
The Murderer, a Norwegian, Brought
to This Port in Irons.

The British bark Duleop Singh ar
rived in port this morning with G.
Petersen. one of her crew, IN irons. He
had stabbed to death John Shields,
Il fcllow-sailor who Was buried at sea.
The Duleep Singh sailed from Pi-
sagua Nov. 30, with n cargo of nitrate.
bound for this port. Her crew con-
sisted chiefly of British turs. excepting
Pedersen. who t. "A Norwegian. thirty
three years old. He shipped at Pisagua
just previous TO leaving port.
Petersen Is Il stout and robust-louking
Viking, and apparently a saving and
thrifty fellow. for Just as the vessel
sailed he gave Capt. Prideaux so to
take care Of for him until reaching
port.
The crew apparently did not like the
new addition to their mess. and showed
1t in many ways. However, all went
smoothly until Feb. L.. shortly before
midnight. when the watch was about
to be changed. the vessel being then
OFT the port OF Maceio, OH the Brazilian
coast.
The wind was very light: in fact,
Gains had been experienced for many
days. Seaman Petersen was the lool[-
out on the forccastle deck. and at H. Is
=. NJ. he vent to the main deck for a
drink of water.
John Shields. a seaman. thirty years
seemed to have taken n dislike to the
Norwegian sailor ever since he Joined
the ship, and got into an alteration
with him. Angry words were followed
Petersen, who Is a muscular fellow,
was getting the best of 1t. when shields
picked up an iron par and chased him
all over the forward decks.
Tee rest of the crew on watch Joined
in the chase. and Petersen being cor
nered took, out his sailors knife and
Shields was picked up and cared for as
well as could be. but he died at 3.30
A.: NJ, and was buried at sea at S A. Nj.
Peterson is a mild and inorensive-
looking fellow, and speaks English very
says he was forced to stab Shields in
self-defense.
The Duleep Singh's cargo is consigned
to Hemingway X Brown, and the vessel
to H.. Maitland Kersey. of the White
Star line.
According to. the story told by Capt.
prideauX, Petersen narrowly escaped
being killed by the other sailors.
As soon Gs the crime was committed
three sailors, named Hicks. StIn.tun and
Weber, who were on watch. were joined
by two others not on watch, ana with
yelis Of XIII him, kill him. they
chased after Petersen.
nv l''.'A ~ ''I Fl'l'NN0 Va dllN NillIlr
they could lay thHir hands on anl threw
them at Petersen. one OF the missiles
crashed through a pane of glass in the
came within Inch OF hitting that officer,
who was asleep.
Capt. Pridaaux was asleep when the
fight occurred. He had been awakened
by the second mate, who told him muir
der was being done.
Iederssn ran into Capt. P%rideaux's
cabin, and his pursuers stopped at the
in irons, and then went out on the deck.
He found Shields dying from two gaping
wounds
Capt. Prideaux think Petersen un-
doubtedly killed Shields in self-defense.
He says Shields was impudcnt and care
less. and was continually picking on
Petersen.
Petersen told the captain that the
trouble arose by Shields calling him a
pig. Petersen struck at Shields with
his fist, but, didn't hit him. Then
for him. Petersen says he made three
lunyes at Shields with his knife,
Shields got what he deserved" said
the captain at the conclusion of his
story.
The statement Of the ships cook. W.
bunk, is, to the effect that about III
he heard shields shout; See this man
hand" The cook heard Petersen reply:
Put d1wni your club and I'll put down
my knlfs.'
Petersen is still in irons on board the
DulceD Singh. He was To AVE taken his
discharge at this port. lie will be taken
back to England for trial. The vessel
was locked at Baird's Stores, Erie Ba-
sin. this afternoon.
MIR, Fraser, the British Consul, To
whom Capt, Prileaux nude his report
this morning, said, in connection With
we can do nothing in this matter
until the vcSse, j. dlCk"l. Tomorrow
morning We vii, 70 b''1r" Commissions
Shields, who wi. issu" Il warrant. ln1
tho prisoner Petersen will be taken
befor" him, ana mott probably ne vii
he committed - LUDLOW street JAIN I.
await cytral!tlGn. The witnesses vii
be also committed to the House of Dc,
tention until the necessary papers ar
rive"
Mr.. Fraser said that while not caring to
give IN opinion in tn" case, he though
the facts rs stated tended to show tha0
the accused man had acted in saf-de
Tense.