The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-21
TRIAL OF A SEA COOK
THE TRAGEDY ON THE OLIVE PECK
Err REHEARsED IN COURT.
witnesses Tell How John Andersen
Killed the Captain and Mate of IL
Schooner Last August.

NORFOLK, Va, Dec 2O.--The trial Of
John Andersen, 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. Andersen is also under in
dictment for the murder of Captain Whit
man and burning the schooner, but the
prosecution elected to bring the first trial
for the murder of the mate Rapid progress
was made to-day and it is probable that
the case may be concluded tomorrow.
Attorney Mcintosh, for the accused, in
outlining the defense, stated that he would
show that Andersen had been subjected to
unheard of cruelties and that the murders
were committed in self-defense. A number
of minor witnesses were heard on the iden-
tification of the vessel and her cargo, and
Martin Barstadt, a Norwegian a member
of the schooner's crew, were called to the
stand the first eyewitness to the terrible
tragedy which will go down as one of the
most dramatic and remarkable of modern
times. Il aoia
Barstadt testified that he was at the
wheel during the whole affair He saw An
dersen throw water on the captains dog on
the morning of Aug. 6. the day of the
crime, then heard the captain curse Ander-
sen, after which followed noise as of some
one falling. He supposed the captain had
struck Andersen, who came up and asked
the mate to protect him. The mate said:
go to HI, you've got, TO die any way"
Shortly after this Andersen came out of the
captains cabin, 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 overheard, aft
er which he took the crew down into the
captains cabin and gave them some
whisky. His story of the burning of the YES
sci under .Andersens direction and the
voyage to land in the small boats varied
little from the published account. After
Bardst adt's testimony the court took a. re-
cess for one hour.
When court reconVened John Lind was
called to the stand. He testified that he had
shipped a common sailor on board the
schooner Olive Pecker. Lind told essential
ly the same story as BarStadt, except that
he did not see Andersen shoot the mate.
The captain and mate were dead when
thrown overheard Andersen 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
dersen shot the dog, which came ashore
in the boat, and on the way to Belmont
sold the captains watch.
Andrew March, another of the crew, tes-
titled that he did not see the killing of the
mate, but heard Andersen say he had killed
him. Juan de Dios Barrial did not see the
shooting, but heard the shots. His story
varied essentially from those of his mates.
Referring to his conversation with Ander-
sen after the tragedy, Barrial said Ander-
sen took him aside and told him he (An-
derSen) was murderer, but 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 (Andersen.) Barrial
said he urged the cook not to burn the
schooner. William Horsborough, another
seaman, was the last witness examined. His
story did not differ materially from the
others and when he had concluded his tes-
timony court adjourned until 10 a. m. to-
morrow