The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-12-21
TRAGEDY OF THE OCEAN
How Anderson Slew the Captain
and Mate of the Pecker.
CREW CALLED TO HELP
The Bodies Were Pitched Overheard
The Defense Claims That Anderson
Had Been the Victim of Un-
heard-Of Cruelties.

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 to-day. Anderson is also
under indictment for the murder of
Captain Whitman and for burning the
schooner.
Attorney Mcintosh, for the accused,
outlining the defense, stated that he
would show that Anderson had been
subjected to unheard-of cruelties and
that the murders We're committed in
self-defense
member of the schooner's crew. was
called to the stand as the first eye wit
ness to the terrible tragedy, which will
go down as one of the most remark
able of modern times. Barstad testi-
fled that he was at the wheel during
the whole affair. He saw Anderson
throw water on the captains dog on
the morning of Aug. 6, the day of tie
crime; then he heard the captain curse
Anderson, after which followed a noise
as of one falling. He had supposed the
captain had struck Anderson, who came
up and asked the mate to protect him.
The mate said. Go to HI: you've got
Ito die anyway"
Shortly after this Anderson came out
of the captains cabin and called the
mate out of the rigging and shot him
four times. He summoned all hands
and made them throw the body over
board. Then he made them go into the
cabin and get the body of the captain
and throw that overheard. after which
he took the crew down into the cap
tain's cabin and gave them whiskey.
The story of the burning of the vessel
under Anderson's 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
Barstad, 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 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 ves-
sci. Witness helped to 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 whiskey Anderson
gave the crew, Lind said it was only
half a bottle and no one was drunk.
The captain 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 S watch
Upon eross-examination Lind said he
heard Anderson, prior to the killing,
ask the mate to protect him from the
captain. and he had heard the mate tell
Anderson to .go to hi; you will be
dead anyway"
Anderson that morning had thrown
tain cursed him in the worst language
he had ever heard, and then made
for him. after which Lind heard
noise as if some one falling. and pres
emily 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.
The witness was in his bunk at the
time and heard Anderson Call the mate
down from aloft. He heard the con-
yersation 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 the witnesses
testimony was not shaken.
Juan De Dios Barriat did not see the
shooting. but heard the shots. His
story varied essentially from those of
his mates. Referring to his converse
tion with Anderson after the tragedy,
Barriat said Anderson took him aside
and told him that he (Anderson) was
murderer. but he had killed the captain
and mate to save their lives and be-
fore they left the vessel they would all
be just as guilty as he lAnderson).
Barriat 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
ascInely ta-morrow