Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-09
ENUMERATED THE CAPTAIN.
COrOner's Jury Did Not Think II
Treatment Killed Henkel.

CnarieS II. farker, commander OF the OyS-
ter sloop Lydia Jefferson, was arrested last
week at Cambridge. Md, On the charge of
having murdered John Henkel. seventeen
year-old boy, who was formerly employed
on Parker's sloop. Henkel. who formerly
Baltimore December and died in the Mary
land Hospital Thursday. An examination
seemed to indicate that his death was the re-
suit of maltreatment and disease brought
ON by insufficient nouriShment.
Capt. Parker was yesterday exonerated
by coroner's jury In Baltimore of the
charge of causing the death Of Henkle,
jr.
After hearing the testimony of DR.. N.
G. Kerle. who made the post-mortem ex-
animation, and of members Of the crew of
the sloop, the jury rendered verdict that
young Henkle came to his death from
natural causes"
DIR. J. r. Abercrombie, one Of the physi-
clans at the Maryland University Hos
pital. testified that young Henkle had been
taken to the hospital about 10 o'clock De-
cember l. THE boys condition then" said
DR.. Abercrombie. was very bad. His
body was covered with red spots, and
there was an abscess On his hip about one
inch in diameter and three-fourths of an
inch deep The abscess may have been
from a bruise or his low physical condi-
tion."
Lewis H. Gilmore one of the crew, man.
aged to escape from the sloop. He said :
THE others could not get away because
the sloop was always anchored some dis
lance from shore
Regardlng the CAPTAINS treatment of
u, and again on the following Thursday
he struck and kicked Henkel. On Novem-
Der Is he picked Henkel up and hurled him
down on the deck, striking the boys head
heavily against the rough boards. I am
certain as to the dates because l kept a
diary. Henkel was scarcely able to work
after this, but was forced to do So
John Mayhugh of Emrnitsburg, Md. says
Il saw nothing but violence on the Lydia
Jefferson After Capt. Parker hurled
Henkel down upon the deck the boy was
never well. He was constantly In pain and
splitting blood"
James Tucker said: 81 saw Capt Parker
kick and hit Henkel several times One
morning. when the boy was very sick.
saw Capt. Parker pull him out of the fore
peak and throw him heavily upon the
deck The boy worked after this. but he
was never well. He was apparently well
when he first came on the boat"
Frederick Speath of Monroe Mich, said
crew. l saw Capt Parker kick him and
hit him with a short rope. The boy often
complained of pains in his bowels. He
worked every day he was on the sloop eX-
cept the last day and half
John c. Pastor, colored. cook on the
sloop. said: Il saw the captain kick Hen
KEEL Saturday morning, December 2. Capt.
Parker told me to get Henkel out of the
1Ofepeak, as ne wanted 10 Settle with him.
He gave Tenkel 81 and told me to put him
ashore. Henkel was very sick and could
scarcely walk. / roMed him ashore and
showed him the steamboat wharf. / was
sorry for him and gave him % cents He
said he did not expect to live long and
babe me goodbye
DIR. n. G. keirle. in giving the result of
his investigation to the jucy. said 1.-The
boy died of liberation of the bowels. Death
was due to disease. and did not result
from any injuries he may have sustained
In answer to a question from one of the
jurymen, DR.. Kierle explained that scurvy
was largely due to bad diet.
Lewis H. Gilmore. James Tucker John
Mayhugh. Frederick Speath and John c.
Pastor were all held as witnesses against
Capt. Parker at the hearing Wednesday
before United States Commissioner Bond