The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-22
COOK ANDERsEN,s STORY.
A Goddess Murderer's Account of the
olive Pecker Tragedy.

olive Pecker Tragedy.
NORFOLK, Va, Dec. 2l.-Rapid progress
was made in the Federal Court to-day in
the Andersen case and it will probably be
concluded tomorrow, so far as the charge
that John Anderson murdered Mate Saun-
ders, of the schooner Olive Becker, is con-
cerned. With the exception of some brief
and not important testimony in the morning
the day was almost entirely occupied 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 examination
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 difficulty kept within the limits of the
examination, which was confined to the day
of the tragedy His story in it's essentials
differed from that of his mates, in that
he alleged that the mate was coming to-
wards him with the marlinspike raised to
strike him when he shot him. killing him
TO save his own life. He said he did not
burn the vessel but that Marlborough and
March did, and that he exercised no force
after killing the mate, but that all worked
together and no one was compelled to do
anything. While District Attorney White
was arguing against the admissibility of
certain evidence and quoting from state
ments of the accused. Andersen became ex-
cited and at one point arose to his feet and
attempted to correct the lawyer who sharp
~ bade him sit down and the prisoner, with
an appealing look at his counsel, obeyed
The cross-examination of Andersen was
begun at o clock The accused, in response
TO questions, said that when the first shot
was fired at the mate he (Andersen) was
up on the forecastle house and the mate
was below him on the forecastle head. He
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 galley Witness admitted that
he had lied to the consul at Bahia to
how he acquired possession of the cap-
tain's pistol and denied that he had stated
of the captains bunk. Asked If he called
the mate down out of the rigging, Andersen
said he did not remember He denied that
the mate said For God s sake don't shoot,
dramatically adding He did not say II,
for he did not have any God. If he had a
Gcd he would not have put me where
THAT IS arguing that you have not got
any God because you put the captain where
you did" retorted the district attorney, as
Andersen choked back the sobs. When he
had mastered himself, still answering the
district attorneys questions, he said John
Ling called the men up after the mate was
killed: he could not remember whether he
had the pistols in his hands or pockets when
the crew came up. lie threw two of the
he told the men to throw the mates body
overheard; they did it of their own accord
Further examination brought out the state
iYnent 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 any orders about lowering the
boat. The cross-examination lasted about
an hour and a half.
The defense introduced Captain Walter ];
Small, who testified that he had employed
Andersen for six months in 1895. and found
him peaceable, well-behaVed and attentive
to his duties.
John Asburg testified that he had known
the prisoner in Sweden, and as far as he
could remember his reputation was good.
They were schoomates.
John Ahuahart was introduced to prove
the reputation of Captain Whitman, but
was not allowed to testify.
The defense here rested and the govern
ment introduced in rebuttal William Hars-
borough who denied all the allegations
made against him by the accused, and said
March set the schooner on fire while Ander-
sen stood over him and made him do it.
Lind Barrial, March and Barstadt, men,
hers of the crew. were all examined in re-
buttal and contradicted Andersen at every
point where he had referred to them in his
evidence on cross-examination Several
other witnesses of minor Importance were
examined in rebuttal, and the court adj
journed until 10 o'clock tomorrow for argu-
ment.