The herald., 1897-12-21

COOKS TRIAL
For the Murder of Captain
and Mate
THE CHASTITY TALE RET0LD
OF THE MUT1NY ABOARD THE
OLIVE PICKER
THE CHASTITY TALE RET0LD
Counsel for Defense Claims Unheard
of Cruelty Drove the Sailor to
Commit the Crime
Associated Press Special Wire

Associated Press Speclap Nire
NORFOLK, Va, Dec. 20.-The trial Of
John Anderson, cook of the schooner
Olive Pecker, for the murder of Mate
William Wallace Saunders on the high
seas in August last was begun in the
federal court today. Anderson is also
under indictment for the murder of Cap
tain Whitman and burning the schooner.
Attorney Mcintosh for the accused, in
outlining the defense, stated that he
would show that Anderson had been sub
tected to unheard of cruelties and that
the murders were committed in self
defense.
Martin Barslad, Norwegian, men,
Der of the schooner's crew, was called
10 the stand as the first eyewitness to
the terrible tragedy that will go down
as one of the most dramatic and remark
able of modern times. Barslad testified
that he was at the wheel during the
whole affair." He saw Anderson throw
water on the captains dog on the morn
ing Of August 9Th. the day Of the crime;
then he heard the captain curse Ander-
son, after which followed noise as of
6Olllt OIlo lttAlliSs lag iie'N 9olfS SAAS
captain had struck Anderson, who came
up and asked the mate to protect him.
The mate said: go to hell; you've got
to die anyway Shortly after this An
derson came out Of the captains cabin
and called the mate down out of the
rigging and shot him four times. He
summoned all hands and made them
throw the body overheard. Then he
4, i,,f % l,i,, a ~ eat
the body of the captain and throw that
overheard, after which he took the crew
down into the captains cabin and gave
them whisky.
The story of the burning of the vessel
under Andersons orders and the voy-
age to land in the small boats varied lit
tie from the published accounts.
John Lind was called to the stand and
told essentially the same story as Bars
lad, except that he did not see Anderson
shoot the mate.
Anderson came up to him and told
him that he had killed the captain and
that the mate had to go too. The wit
ness then went and called the watch,
and while he was doing this he heard
three or four shots on the other side of
the vessel. Witness helped to throw the
DOulSS Wv anu <hllbcl SOil llc selit,
cursed the dead body of the mate. He
could not state what language he used
Speaking of the whisky Anderson gave
the crew, Lind said it was only half
bottle and no one was drunk. The cap
tain and mate were dead when thrown
overheard. Anderson fired three shots
when the small boat left the burning
schooner. though why he did 1t witness
~ i,,I tA1A L. ,,
drew lots to see who should go together.
and his lot fell with that of Anderson,
He said Anderson shot the dog. which
came ashore in the boat, and on the way
to Belmont sold the captains watch.
Upon cross-eXamination Lind said ha
heard Anderson. prior to the killing, ask
the mate to protect him from the cap
tain, and he heard the mate tell Ander-
son to "go to HI; you will be dead, any
way"
Anderson that morning had thrown
water on the captains dog; the captain
cursed him in the worst language 1 had
ever heard" and then made for him."
after which Lind heard a noise as of
some one falling, and presently Ander-
son came out Of the galley and asked
the mate to protect him.
AuuTeW MuTCn, HnOtneF or the Sch0On-
er's crew, testified that he did not see
the killing of the mate, but heard An
derson say he had killed him.
Witness was in his bunk at the time
and heard Anderson call the mate down
from aloft. He heard the conversation
between Anderson and the mate, and
heard four shots. after which Anderson
said: Come out here, boys, and lower
a boat and put me ashore. The captain
and mate are dead, and am in charge of
the ship"
On cross-examination March's testi-
mony was not shaken.
Juan de Dios Barrial did not see the
Shooting, but heard the shots His
story varied essentially from those of
his mates. Referring to his conversa-
tion with Anderson after the tragedy,
Barrial said Anderson took him aside
and told him that he (Anderson) was
murderer. but that he had killed the
captain and mate to save the lives of the
crew. and before they left the vessel they
would all be just as guilty as he CAN
derson) was. Barrial said he urged the
cook not to burn the schooner.
William Horsborough, another sea-
man. was the last witness examined. His
story did not differ materially from the
others and when he had concluded his
testimony court adjourned until 10
Oclocg tomorrow.