Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-07-22

Captain, His VIE, and the First Ohicer
Brained--Attacked While Asleep In Their
Staterooms-Man at the Wheel Sees the
Assault on the Captain But Says Nothing
Until He Is Arrested-Supposed Purpose
of the Deviltry.
HALIFAX, y. s, July 22.-The barken-
tine Herbert Fuller, Captain Nash, from
Boston July for Rosario, put into Hall
fax yesterday flying the stars and stripes
at half mast with black flag Immediate
ly beneath. This is the signal for ''mutiny
on board" When the Fuller was boarded
il was learned that murder had been COM
mitted, and that Captain Nash, his wife,
Laura, and second Officer Banberry
had been killed in their hunks while
asleep. The murders had been commit.
ted with an axe. The rooms in which the
victims lay were covered with blood show
ing that a severe struggle had taken place,
and the bodies We're horribly mutilated.
The cook, Jonathan Sheere. of Rosaris,
suspected the mate Thomas Bran, and
succeeded in placing Bran in irons, and
he afterwards ironed the man who was
at the wheel at the time the murder was
committed.
Monks Discovers the Bloody Crime.
Upon arrival of the vessel all on board
including Lester Monks, of Boston, who
was a passenger. We're placed under ar
rest. The United States consul here has
telegraphed to Washington for instruc-
| tions, pending the receipt of which he has
enjoined all connected with the affair to
| maintain the strictest silence. But in
spite Of the secrecy maintained it has been
| ascertained that Monks first became
aware of the horrible crime when he went
| 10 the captains room to inquire if the cap
! tain was ill, Monks having been aroused
| from his sleep by groan or a scream.
| Failing to receive an answer he entered
! the room and found the captain lying on
| ihc floor covered with blood.
The Victims Literally Butchered.
He rushed on deck and confronted the
first mate, who was in charge. with the
| statement that the captain had been mur-
dcrel. Bran, the mate, seemed much
| aGitated. and appeared not to know what
| to do. Monks then rushed below and
aroused the crew. The men hurried to
the cabin. where the full extent of the
| crime was soon made known. As the
bodies lay in their respective rooms they
presented horrible sight. Mrs. Nash's
skull had been split almost in twain. The
Fingers of her right hand had been almost
cut oil, while another blow of the AK had
cut off n section of the scalp with the hair
attached. Her husbands head was also
| split open. while the first officer had evi
IDENTIFY been killed with the pole Of the AK
| Seaman Who Saw the Crime.
Bran ut first denied all knowledge Of
the murder. but later from remarks lei
fall and peculiar actions suspicion pointed
towards him rs the murderer and he was
placed in irons. The man at the whee
was Seaman Brown. He was also sus
pcctcd of completely and was ironed by
the crew. At the police station the first
; mate was stripped and blood was found OF
his clothing The passenger, Monks
states that he saw the first mate come
from the captains cabin after the murder
-, Seaman Brown has made a statement tt
the effect that he saw the first mate xii
The captain. He heard q noise in the cap
tains cabin and on going thither saw tn,
first mate murder the captain. There WA:
no mutiny.
Steward Was Expecting Trouble.
Lester Monks. the passenger. is unde
arrest. but is kept in the office of the chic
. of police with an officer present. Charlie
, Spencer. the colored steward, says tha
something was in the wind from the da.
0 the vessel left Boston, as the mate hat
Q three jugs of whisky with him. Charlie
. Brown. who was at the wheel on the nigh
of the murder, says that Bram's action
We're very suspicious, as he wanted to tax
the Fuller to South America instead O
Halifax.
Cuban Phase of the Matter.
Brown said that when looking down til
companionway while at the wheel he saw
I the mate killing the captain with an aS
The AK was found covered with blood, an
: was thrown overheard for fear it might
used n second time. 1t is believed the caI
tain was murdered first. then the secon
n mate and lastly the captains wife. On
: story is that it was the intention to tax
o the vessel to Cuba and sell her to the il
surgents.
,nAU rDCcTt