The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-08-05
TRIPLE MURDER At SEA
A Horrible Tragedy on the American
Barkentine Herbert Fuller.
BLOODY CRIMES OF MUTINEERS1

Captain Nash, His Wife and tho seconof
Mate Hacked to Death With an Axe---i
The First Mate Suspected of tic Crims
ALI on Board in Custody at Halifa11
affair shrouded in Deep Mystery1
HALIFAX, Nova Scotia, July 22.-One on
the most thrilling tales Of murder on thel
high seas ever related in truth or story was J
brought into Halifax yesterday. 1t is storyI
rtyalled only once before In North Atlantic
annals, and that was in the case OF thel
ss.adin half q century ago. Three deatns}
resulted from each tragedy.
The barkentine Herbert Fuller, on which !
the tragedy took place, sailed from Bostonl
July for Rosario. Argentine Republic, and !
arrived here yesterday with the bodies OF
three murdered persons. They were those Oh
Captain Nash, his wife and the second mate,
August Bramberg. On the arrival OF the}
vessel the remainder Of the crew were locked j.
up.
The triple murder was committed on theS
night Of July IS, and the affair, 80 far, Isl
wrapped In complete mystery, notW1th-l :
standing the fact that there were seven orherj
men on board at the time, besides passen- /
ger named Monck, whose story OF what heI
Could learn after It was ali over Is the only
narrative that can be obtained.
The Herbert Fuller brought the victtnsv
into port, covered by canvas, 10 small
boat, which was drawn at her stern. TheV
corpses had been placed in the small boat they
morning after the murder.
The passenger. Monck. says he knew noth-S
ing whatever of the crime until he learned OF
It from the first mate. During the night,
he says, he heard some one scream. Hesup-l
posed the cry was uttered by Captain Nasns
wife, but he heard no further sound. In the
morning he went on deck. The first mattel
informed him that the captain, his wife and
the second officer had been murdered In
their berths. and asked Monck, who slept tny
little cabin between the one occupied byl
Captain and Mrs. Nash and that occupied byf
the second mate, II he had been alarmed byl
anything during the night.
The implement used In accomplishing thei|
murders was an axe. The victims WereI
hacked in q most shocking manner, blowll
after blow having evidently been inflicted oni|
the victims, to make sure that life was ex-|
tinct. Monck saysthst he assumed charge
OF the vessel, and with the assistance OF the
mate brought her into port. Il
According to his story Monck questioned
the various members OF the crew rs to what,
they knew about the tragedy. but each ono;
professed entire innocence and tgnoranee.]
Monck ordered the bodies to be taken out OF
the cabin and placed in boat and towedi
astern, which was done.
The Herbert Fuller then headed for Halia
fax. On arriving there the vessel came td
anchor in the streapn, and Monek reported
the affair to the police, who Immediately
took charge Of the vessel, placed four oheersI
on board, and took all on board Into CUSTODY
until the tragedy could be investigated.
The captain was murdered In the chart,
room. He had evidently been on deck and
had descended to the chart room to lie on q
couch which that room contained. The,i
couch was situated on the starboard side OF
the chart room, and at its head was desk.
The couch had evidently been torn from the;I
wall In the struggle. There is blood oil over
the room. Mrs. Nash's room ts IN much theI
same condition, and fragments OF hair are
mixed With the blood Of the victim. The'I
second mates room, adjoining, is also COW
cred with blood.
On an ordsr Of the United States Consul
General the police arrested all those on !
board the vessel. The first mate, Braun.
was In irons, and he, with Others, was
brought ashore and taken to the police sta
ton.
The captains log book was found In his
room, and In It was an entry made after thell
murder. It was dated Wednesday, July 10.
A reporter started to take 1t down. but be-
fore he finished Detective Power took the
book away and refused to allow further
perusal Of It.
The Herbert Fuller halls from Harrington,
Me. The murdered captain was forty-iour
years of age and his wife thirty-seTen.