Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-11-07
THE rEcKER MUrISEERs.
Judge Hughes VIII Probably Preside
mt the Trial.

NORFOLK, VA. November 6.-(Spe-
cial.)-The mutineers who fired the
schooner Olive Pecker, Of Boston, on
| the high seas after the captain and
| mate had been murdered by John Ander-
son. the cook, will be transferred to-mor-
row from. the United States ship Lam
caster, Which brought them from
Bahia. Brazil. to Hampton Roads. to the
Norfolk city jail, where they will be
confined. pending trial before the United
States District Court here. Judge Ro-
bert w. Hughes will probably preside
at the trial. District Attorney William
II. White, who will represent the gov
ernment, is now at Old Point acquaint-
ing himself with the details OF the case.
1t Is not known when the case will be
called. but as the United States Courts
recent session consumed only one day,
1t is not unlikely that Judge Hughes
may order special session TO try the
case.
John Anderson, the accused mur-
derer of Captain Whitman and Mate
Saunders f. Pecker. is the most self
possessed of the six prisoners, and the
story he tells is apparently the most
honest recital Of the terrible crime fur
nished by any OF dhe six men. He does
not spare himself, but, on the contrary,
he freely admits the double killing,
claiming. in Justification, that ne was
forced into it by the Captains unneces-
sary brutality to him throughout the
voyage. in which he had been seconded
by the mate, who had on one occasion,
according to Anderson, attempted to
throw him overheard. Anderson Is an
intelligent fellow, of medium height and
weight, and has a frank, rather pre-
possessing. face He does not look like
the man to commit the crimes ascribed
to him. Anderson and Juan Barrias,
the Spaniard, when interviewed to-day,
talked freely, their stories being practi-
cally a repetition of those already pun
Iished They particularly emphasized
the captains brutality, and Anderson
very emphatically claims seiI-aelence'
saving he was in fear OF his lie.
IT was at first thought that the case
would be brought to trial at Boston, but
the language OF the statutes is so ex-
nlicit that the question Of jurisdiction
undoubtedly would be raised, and pro-
bably with success, II the crew were
taken for trial to any point outside the
Norfolk District. To avoid any chance,
therefore. of a failure to convict by
reason Of a defect in the proceedings,
the United States Marshal at Norfolk
has been instructed TO take custody OF
the prisoners, ana OHlteu Staeos Ae.'
ney White directed to proceed with the
trial. The statute which fixes the Juris-
diction OF cases of this kind Is as bol-
lows:
"The trial Of all offences committed
upon the high seas. or elsewhere out OF
the jurisdiction of any particular state
or district shall be in the district wnere
the offender is found, or into which he
is first brought"
Solicitor General Richard will spend
Sunday with his brother. who Is an
officer on the United states traihlng-
sbi,. Iancaster which brought Tho pris-
ones 10 that port. and during his stay
he will confer with United States At
torney White as to the conduct OF the
case.
II is not yet decided whether any OF
the officials connected with the Depart
ment of Justice here will assist In the
prosecution. but it is not likely that they
ufii