The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-07-24
THE WEB WEAVING.
Evidence ali Points to the First
Mats
AS THE MURDERER ON THE BARK
FULLER.

Hearing in Progress Before Consul
Ingraham.
Halifax, N. S., July,23. There are no
new theories in regard to the triple
tragedy on the high seas. The police are
apparently satisfied that Mate Thomas
Bran is the murderer, and that there
will be little difficulty in fastening the
crime upon him. Bran has been reoog-
nized by several persons who knew him
in New York and elsewhere, 1t is said
.yhat some person, while conversing with
Bran, remarked that Brown had sal d
that he saw Bran kill the captain, 10
this Bran is said to have replied: "He
| could not sac me kill him. The magis-
trate's inquiry into the tragedy has not
yet been given.
| United States Consul General Inaraham
held a private inquiry of his own in the
city stipendiary's office this morning,
while great crowd waited in and about
the police court and station below, ex-
peoting the public investigation to be-
gin. The consul general was locked in
the office with Passenger Nook and it is
understood he was taxing sworn state
ment from the latter on which to base an
application for extradition. 1t is stated
Mate Bran with all the murders, and
that the rest of the crew will be. held in
ustody as witnesses.
| Consul Ingraham's Inquiry.
Halifax. July 23.-Consul General
Ingraham's inquiry into the Herbert
Fuller tragedy was continued in private
this afternoon. Thres presons were ex-
| anlined, Mr.. Monk, Mate Barn and Sea.
| man Brown. The stories told by them
were exactly in line with their previous
staten ents. After Brown had desori bed
the killing OF the captain which he said
he saw. He was asked why he did not
give the alarm Immediately and he said
he was too frightened to give an alarm,
as he did not know who might be con-
cerned in the affair. At thu station this
morning Brown stated if the Dlate had
come out OF the cabin with weapon in
his hand he (Brown) would have jumped
oyeboard. The only point of special
regard to the door of Monks room Oh
board the Herbert Fuller. Many persons
| have asked how IL was the passenger
slept up to tho time Mrs. Nash WAS be-
| ing killed.
| 1t is now supposed that after killing
this captain, or perhaps before ths fiend
| tried the door to the passengers cabin, in
door locked, went to Mrs. Nash's room
and butohered her as she slept 1t may
| have been that the murderer intended to
Kill the passenger as he left the room
when he awoke and dressed. The opera
tion of his plan was prevented by the
passenger rushing out after hearing a
| noise in the state room. Monek thought
| the crew had mutinied when he went on
deck, but did not know how many men
| he had to face. 1t was then thought the
mate hurled piece of wood at him. The
natural supposition of man in Monks
position would be that 1t was the crew
and not the second in command who
thought was defending himself from
some of the mutineers, SO he hessitated
to flKe his pistol and the matter was, he
| thought, satisfactorily explained after he
aud the mate had spoken together and
agreed some one had committed crime.
1t took two hours for Monok to make q
sworn statement at the CONSUL generals
formal inquiry. Bran was examined
after Monok finished. He was taken from
his cell under special guard. He is
| powerful looking man and has d bad
| looking ia 20.
In answer to question he said he had
never been asked on ship board if he had
committed the murders. There was no
conspiracy between him and Brown. He
| said in answer to another qeustion: II
assure you I did NOS commit the
| MURDERS" He said he left Brown at the
| wheel to go forward. and while return
| ing saw MoncE with a revolver. The
| reason he threw piece of wood at
Monok was because he thought Monck
Brown put in irons because he was sus-
pected of the murders. Under the cir
oumstances, said Bran, Brown was the
only one who could have committed the
murders. He stated he did not want any
counsel.
Browns statement was as follows:
| saw Mate Bran go into the chart room
and strike the captain with an axe and
knock him off his couch. He then struck
him while he was down."
In answer to questions Brown said he
| heard a Woman's scream and Immediate
| ly afterwards the mate came on deck and
asked how the ship was steering, and
then went forward. He stated that he
| did not talk further with the mate be-
cause he was afraid of his life. When the
mate came fro.l the cabin, Brown says
| that he had no axe In his hands, but one
was subsequently thrown overheard.
| Detective Power and others who heard
Browns statement remarked that the
| United States CONSUL general and others
were very much impressed with it's
| straight orwardness. Brown answered
| the questions freely.
In statement to reporter Bran said:
Eyes, have stated it was not I who
committed the deed. I feel the matter
| will be cleared In a short time, and it
will be shown that am innocent" He
seemed to be In good spirits Late last
night the American consul received word
to the effect that the entire crew and
passenger Mock would be taken to Bos-
ton. 1t is likely that several police
officers from Halifax will accompany the
Grew, and Medical Examiner Finn will
be requested to he present at the trial.
DR.. Finn made careful examination of
the bark and officially noted anything
that could be used In the trial.
| 1t was learned tonight that evidence
given to United States Consul Ingraham
was very damaging to Mate Bran.
Frank Loohes the forward watch stated
that Bran was drunk just before the
discovery of the murder and went down
to the ca bin several times and the last
time he came running up, almost imme-
diately Monok appeared with a drawn re-
| voiver. Bran WAS deathly pale and
trem bling like a leaf Spencer. the
colored steward, swore that after the
crew gathered on deck they were ad-
! lro.ead I,, Ruo n, Tollauc.