The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-22
SoBS AS HE TELLS HIS STORY.
SEAMAN ANDERSEN TEsTIFIEs IN
HIS OWN BEHALF.


Claims the Mate Was Advancing to-
KNOCK Him Down with IA Marlin
Spike When the Fatal shot Was
Fired-DenIes That He Forced the
Crew TO Throw the Bodies OVER
board and Fire the ship-Claims
His shipmntes Did This VOIuntar-
lily.
Norfolk. va, Dec 2i.-Rapid progress
was made in the federal court to-day in
the Andersen case, and 1t will probably
be concluded Tomorrow so far as tho
charge that John Andersen murdered Mate
Saunders of the schooner Olive Pecker is
concerned. With the exception of some
brief and not important testimony in the
morning, the day was almost entirely con-
sumed with the hearing Of the evidence OF
the accused, placed on the stand by his
counsel to testify in his own behalf.
In the course of the direct examinations
Andersen held in his hand the large MARLIN
spike which had been introduced as evil
dence. He was excited, dramatic and
very much in earnest. He spoke rapidly
and was with dt1lculty kept within the
limits vf the examination, which was con-
fined to the events of the day of the trag-
edy His story In its essentials differed
from that of his mates, in that he alleged
that the mate was coming toward him
with the marlin pin raised to strike him
when he shot him, killing him TO save his
own life. lie said he did not burn the
vessel, but that Harsborough and March
did. and that he exercised no force after
killing the mate. but that all worked to-
UQtbQr and pOmnQllQ1 Arn
anything.
While District Attorney White was ar
guing against the admissibilty of the evil
dence and quoting from statements of the
accused. Andersen became excited and at
one point arose to his feet and attempted
TO correct the lawyer. who sharply bade
him sit doWu, and the prisoner, with am
appealing look al his counsel, obeyed.
The cross-examination of Andersen was
begun at o'clock. The accused in re-
sponse to questions, said that when ths
first shot was fired at the mate he (An-
dersen) was up on the forecastle-house
and the mate was below him on the fore
castle head. lie denied that the captain
felt the back of the dog TO see whether
hot or cold water had been thrown upon
him before he had struck him in the gall
ley.
Witness admitted that he had lied to the
consul at Bahia as to how he acquired the
possession Of the captains pistol, and de-
MED he had stated for publication that he
had taken it out Of the captains bunk.
Asked II he called the mate down out OF
the rigging, Andersen said he did not re-
member. He denied that the mate said:
For Gods sake, don't shoot" dramatically
adding: "He did not say 1t, for he did not
have any God. If he had God he would
not have put me where 1 am to-day
THAT Is arguing you have not any God
because you put the captain where you
did" retorted the district attorney as An
dersen choked back sobs.
When he had mastered himself, he de-
MED that he had told the men to shove
the mates body overheard; they did 1t of
their own accord
Further examination brought out the
statement that Andersen had asked the
crew to take the vessel to port; he did NOT
tell marlborough that he was in charge
and nobody gave orders about lowering the
boat
The cross-examination lasted about an
hour and half.
The defense introduced Capt. Walter J..
Small, who testified that he had employed
Andersen for six months in 1895, and found
him peaceable, well behaved and atten-
tive to his duties.
John Asberg testified that he had known
the prisoner in Sweden, and as far as he
could remember, his reputation was good.
They We're school mates
John Ahuhart was introduced to prove
the reputation Of Capt. Whitman, but was
not allowed to testify
The defense here rested, and the governs
ment introduced i'm rebuttal William Hars-
borough, who denied all the allegations
made against him by the accused and
said March set the schooner on fire while
Andersen stood over him and made him
do It,
Lind, Barrial. March and Barstad, mems
bers of the crew, were all examined In re-
buttal and contradicted Andersen an
every point where he had referred to them
In his evidence on cross-examination.
Several other witnesses of minor irnpor-
tance were examined in rebuttal and tha
court adjourned until 10 o'clock tomorrow
morning for argument