Evening journal., 1897-12-21
TRIAL OF ANDERSON.
Cook of the Olive PeckeI
Faces Murder Charge.
IMPORTANT TESTIMONY BY SEAMEN.
Several Eyewltnesses OF the Terrible
Tragedy at Sea Narrate In Detail
the Story Of the Prisoners
High Handed Acts


NORFOLK, Dec. 21.-The trial of
John Anderson, cook Of the schooner
Olive PeclSer. for the murder OF Mate
William Wallace Saunders on the high
seas in August last was begun in the
federal court yesterday. Anderson Is
also under indictment for the murder
of Captain Whitman and burning the
schooner. but the prosecution elected to
bring the first trial for the murder Of
the mate. Rapid progress was made,
and il Is probable that the case will be
concluded very shortly.
Attorney Mcintosh for the accused.
In outlining the defense, stated that he
would show that Anderson had been
subjected to unheard of cruelties and
that the murders were committed In
self defense.
A number of minor witnesses were
heard upon the identification OF the
vessel and her cargo, and Martin Bar
stad n Norwegian. a member Of the
schoOner's crew, was called TO the
stand as the first eyewitness TO the ter
rible tragedy, which will go down as
one Of the most dramatic and remark
able Of modern times.
Barstad testified that he was at the
wheel during the whole affair He saw
Anderson throw water on the captains
dog on the morning of Aug. G, the day
of the crime. He then heard the cap
tain curse Anderson, after which fol-
lowed noise as though Of some one
falling. He supposed the captain had
struck Anderson, who came up and
asked the mate to protect him. The
mate refused saying. you've got to
die anyway"
Shortly after this Anderson 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 made them go
down into the cabin and get the body
OF the captain and throw that over
board, after which he took the crew
down into the captains cabin and gave
them some whisky His story of the
burning of the vessel under Anderson's
direction and the voyage to land in
the small boats varied little from the
published accounts.
After Barstad's testimony, the court
took a recess for one hour. When II re-
convened, John Lind was called TO the
stand. He testified that he had shipped
as a common sailor on board the
schooner Olive Pecker. He told the same
story as Barstad. except that he did
not see Anderson shoot the mate. An
derson came up TO him and told him
that he had killed the captain and that
the mate had to go too. The witness
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 throw the bodies
overheard, and Anderson, he said,
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 Il was only half a
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 it witness
could not say. Lind told how the crew
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
he had heard Anderson prior to the kill.
ing ask the mate to protect him from
the captain and heard the mate tel
Anderson. "You viii be killed any.
way"
Juan de Dies Barrlal did not see the
shooting. but heard the shots. His sto'
ry varied essentially from those Of his
mates. Referring TO his conversation
with Anderson after the tragedy, Bar
rial said Anderson took him aside and
told him he (Anderson) was murder
er. but had killed the captain and mate
to save their lives and before they lef
the vessel they would all be just as
guilty as he (Anderson) Barrial saiC
he urged the cook not to burn thu
schooner