The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-12-22
ANDERSON ON TRIAL.
The Alleged Murderer of Mate Sanders
of the olive Pecker, Gives IA bra.
matte Account of the Crime.

matte Account of the Crime.
Norfolk. Va, Dec. 21.-Rapid progress
was made in the federal court to-day
IN the Anderson case, and it will prob
ably be concluded tomorrow, so far as
the charge that John Anderson murder
ed Mate Sanders of the schooner Olive
Pecker is concerned. With the exeep-
;lon of some brief and not important
testimony in the morning, the day was
almost entirely consumed with the
nearIng or the evidence of the accused
placed on the stand by his counsel to
testify in his own behalf.
in the course of the direct examina-
slon. Anderson held in his hand the
large marlin spike which had been in
Iroouced as evidence. He was excited.
dramatic and very mucn in earnest. He
SPOKE rapidly and was with difficulty
Kept within the limits of the examina-
ilon winch was confined to the events
or the day of the tragedy. His story
IN its essentials. differed from that Of
mis- mates in that he alleged that the
mate was coming toward him with the
marlin spike raised to strike him when
ne 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 exerted no force after kill
ing the mate. but that all worked TO-
gether, and no one was compelled to do
anything. While District Attorney
White was arguing against the admis-
sibility of certain evidence and quoting
from statements OF the accused. Ander-
son became excited and at one point
arose to his feet and attempted to cor
rect the lawyer, who sharply babe him
sit down, and the prisoner. with an APP
pealing look at his counsel, obeyed.
The cross-eXamnation of Anderson
was begun at o'clock. The accused,
in response to questions, said that when
the first shot was fired at the mate he
tAnderson) was UP on the forecastle
and the mate was below him on the
forecastle head. Witness admitted
that he had lied to the consul at Bahia
as to how he acquired possession Of
the captains pistol and denied that he
had stated for publication that he had
taken 1t out of the captains bunk.
Asked If he climbed down the rigging,
Anderson said he did not remember
He denied that the mate said. For
Gods sake, don't shoot" dramatically
adding He did not say ii, for he did
not have any God. If he had a God
he would not have put me where / am
to-day"
THAT is arguing that you have no
God, because you put the captain where
you did" retorted the district attorney
as Anderson choked back the sobs.
When he had mastered himself. still
answering the district attorneys ques-
tons, he said:
John Lind called the men up after
the mate was killed. He could not re-
member whether he had the pistol in
his hands or pocket when the crew
came up. lie threw two of the pistols
overheard later on. He denied that he
told the men to throw the mates BODY
overheard; they did it of their own
accord.
Further examination brought out the
statement that Anderson had asked the
II 81 II l.. ~
not tell marlborough that he was iii
charge and nobody gave any orders
about lowering the boat. The cross
examination lasted about an hour ana
a half
The defense introduced Capt j.
Small. who testified that he employed
Anderson for six months in 1895 and
found him peaceful. well behaved and
attentive to his duties.
Jonas Burg testified that he had
known the prisoner in Sweden and as
far as he could remember his reputa-
ton was good. They were schoolmates.
John Ahuhart was introduced to prove
the reputation OF Captain whitman,
but was not allowed to testify. The de-
Tense here rested and the government
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 Anderson stood over him and
made him do it. Lind. Barrlal. March
and Barstad. members of the crew,
svera all examined IN rehuttal and co.,
tradieted Anderson at every point
where he had referred to them in ms
evidence on cross-eAamination. Several
other witnesses Of minor Importance
were examined in rebuttal and the
court adjourned until 10 o'clock to-mor-
row for argument.