The record-union., 1897-12-21
Trial of John Anderson for the Muir
der Of Mate Saunders.
Begun in the United States Court at Nor
folk, Virginia.
Members of the Crew Relate the
Story of the Killing of the Cap
tain and Mate, the Throwing
of Their Bodies Overheard and
the Burning Of the Vessel.

4N0IlI ol<iA ' ~A-J, iNN. --D- AAA~ $1,000
of John Anderson. cook of the schoon-
er Olive Pecker, for the murder or
mate William Wallace Saunders on the
high seas in August last, was begun IN
the Federal Court to-day. Anderson is
also under Indictment for the murder OF
Captain Whitman and the burning OF
the schooner.
Attorney Mcintosh, for the accused,
in outlining the defense, stated that he
would show that Anderson had been
subjected to unheard of cruelties, ana
that the murders were committed IN
self-defenSe.
Martin Barstad, a Norwegian, a mem
Der of the schooner's crew, was called
to the stand as the first eyewitness to
the terrible tragedy that VIII go down
as one of the most dramatic and re-
markabe of modern times.
Barstad testified that he was at the
wheel during the whole affair." He saw
Anderson throw water on the Captains s
dog on the morning of August 6th, the
day of the crime; then he heard the
Captain curse Anderson, after which
followed a noise as of some one fall
ing He had supposed the Captain mad
struck Anderson, who came up and
asked the fldte To HIOtcNI A4AAAi'
mate said: go to, you've got 10
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
hat
board. 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
little from the published accounts.
John Lind was called to the stand and
told essentially the same story as Bar
stad. except that he did not see Ander-
sen shoot the mate. Anderson cane
up to him and told him that he hau
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. Wit
ness helped to throw the bodies over
board. and Anderson, he said, cursed
the utdu DOQS VI biC h'~ANN- 49,
not state what language he used.
Speaking of the whisky Anderson
gave the crew, Lind said it was only
half a bottle. and no one was drunk.
The Captain and mate We're dead when
thrown overheard. Anderson fired
three shots when the small boat left
the burning schooner, though why he
did so witness could not say.
.z1I bpr ias4 drew lois 70
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
Bslmont sold the Captains watch.
JTpon cross-examfnation Lind said he
heard Anderson, prior TO the killing,
ask the mate to protect him from the
CAPTAIN. and he heard the mate tell
Anderson to fgo to; YOU Will be dead,
ANYWAY" Anderson that morning had
thrown water on the Captains dog; the
CAPTAIN cursed him in the worst Ian
guage he had ever heard and then
.n1ade for him" after which Lind
hoard a noise as of some one falling,
and presently Anderson came out of the
galley and asked the mate to protect
him.
Andrew March. another OF the
schooner's crew. testified that he did
not see the killing Of the mate, but
heard Anderson 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
n boat and put me ashore. The Cap
tain and mate are dead, and l am in
charge Of the ship
on cross-examfnation, March's testi-
mony was not shaken.
Imam De Dios BarTial did not see the
shooting. hut heard the shots. His
story varied essentially from those OF
his mates. Referring TO his conversa-
ton with Anderson after the tragedy,
Barrial said Anderson took him aside
and told him that he (Anderson) was a
murderer, but that he had killed the
Captain and Mate to save their lives.
and before they left the vessel they
would all be just as guilty as he Can
dersonl Barrial said he urged the
cook not TO burn the schooner.
William Horstborough. another sea-
man. was the last witness examined.
His story did not differ materially from
the others. and when ne had concluded
his testimony court adjourned until ~
O'Clock Tomorrow