The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-12-18

Boston, Dec. 1s.-The fact that Charles
w. Brown OF the crew OF the barkentine,
Herbert Fuller, FIR the murder of whose
captain. Mate Bran 10 now being tried
was TO testify caused the crowd OF spec
tators to be greatly increased this morn
ing. Brown was the mau at tho wheel
at the time the murder was commit
ted. lie was placed In irons py those
who .ook charge of vessel and brought
iato Halifsx mar Dor and was ordered held
together W Tin Bran, by the United States
commissioners here. II was disclosed by
evidence presented to the grsnc jury that
Brown saw the murder committed and
no bill was returned in his case at the
time when the Indictment against Bran
was found. The first incident of import
ance related by Brown was to the effect
that two days before the murder he over
heard come words which passed between
Bran and BAN berg. the second mate, who
was killed at the same time as Captain
Nash. Bran said 81 want you to do as
/ tell you."
Bamberg replied 81 don't want to take
any Oroers from you.
On the night OF the murder, witness
continued, 81 was at the wheel, 1 saw
the first mate walking about the deck for
aoout an hour. Then lost sight of him
for five or six minutes. Then he was
walking up and down on the stsrboard
side amidships. Then lost sight of him
agsin, for about 10 minutes. Then i
missed him for some time. My attention
was attracted toward the cabin by
noise and looked through the window
and saw the mate in the cabin. The bed
was upset and 4 saw man lying on the
floor. could only ses about half OF his
body. Glancing at the compass to see IL
my course was right, | looked again
through the cabin window and saw Mate
BraH,-with- something his hand
which looked like the handle of an axe.
He had on straw hat, which ne wore
every day. AS / looked | saw him raise
the axe snj strike blow in the direction
of where the head of the body would be.
lie held the weapon in one hand, then
Bran walked out of tho cabin. In a
moment heard a scream and Bran came
on deck shortly afterward. He came aft
on the portside. 1 watched him closely
for thought ne was going to kill me.
between tho wheel and the pinnacle. !
smelt liquor about him as he went BY.
At four bells left the wheel and reported
my course to t he mate who said "All
right
in tic morning 1 was called by the
steward, who hal revolver in his hand.
He tuld me to call all hands. The steward
then told the crew to go into the cabin.
l went in and the body which 1 had seen
through the window was that OF Captain
Nash. 1t was lying on the back. One
OF the fingers was off. Ii was on the floor
nearby. then went toward Mrs. Nash's
room, but 1 only looked in. / saw blood
and matted hair on the bed. All this
time Bram was on deck crying and talk
ing and acting strangely. Soon after
ward we were ordered TO remove the
bodies and put them into the jolly boat.
/ saw no one wanted TO make a move
toward the cabin, so / went in myself
bocies in.
Browns direct testimony was ended
before the noon adjournment of the court
and Attorney Cotter at once began his
cross-exa rination. In answer to oues-
tions Brown ..staied that he told the
sailors that be once killed a man in Hol-
land, bat that he did not remem ber tell
ing them he got out of ii on lea Of
insanity. He said the story he told
about the killing was a fabrication only
n story he said