The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-21
THEY SAW SAUNDERS SHOT.
SAIJoRMEN OF THE OLIVE PEoKER
DESCRIBE THE MATES MURDER

unnnaEtnE Testimony Against John Andernon.
who IL on Trial for tho kiilinE-1ne Ter
FePirsa the Crew aud Eorced Thorn at tho
Fisioi's Point to obey All His orders.
NORFOLK, Va, Dec. 2o.-In the Federal Court
this morning Judges Con and Hughes presid-
me, an actual beginning was made In tho case
~ John Anderson, now on trial for the murder
q Mate william w. Saunders Of the schooner
Olive Peckor. District Attorney White out
lined the story of the tragedy to the jury, and
George Mcintosh, counsel for the accused, said
he expected to prove that Anderson had been
subjected to unheard.of and UNPARALLELED
cruelty and that he had acted purely in self.
asfenc, Tho defence was furnished with the
originai' papers in tho examination OF tho
Pocker crew before the United States Consul at
Bahia, and Capt. A. J. Hall. ono OF the owners
81 the schooner, was sworn as the frat witness,
end described tho interior construction Of tho
vessel by means Of diagrams furnished by tho
Government.
Martin Barstad. q Norwegian sailor, was
eworn. and told the story Of the murder of the
mate and the subsequent events, including the
Narrowing Of tho bodies OF tho mate and tho Cap
q shore, and arrest at bahia. Barstad said the
1nate was. at the. crosstrees OF the fnremast
,n.Ssd A NM ass 3, h sso ssssI hlils Called shI s,S Ga SoNn.
And shet him four times, making the crew throw
Che bodies overheard at the point OF the pistol
ard compelling them 70 set the ship afro.
John Limo, another sailor, told the same
0tory as Barttad, except that he did not see An.
Sprson shoot the mate. Anderson came up TO
him and told him that no had killed the Captain
and the mate had to go too. Witness helped TO
throw the bodies overheard and Anderson
uursed the dead body Of tho mate.
Andrew Morch, another sailor, was In his
hunk In the forecastlo whom Anderson called
the mate down from the rigging. Aroused by
this command he went to tho forecastle door
end heard Saunders ask Anderson what he had
u his hand. He detailed the circumstances Of
NE. killing substantially as Barstad. had done.
Anderson. assumed authority BY, virtue Of his
ftsplay of force. He .obeyod Anderson's orders
con had all the arms.
Juan De Dias Barrial, another sailor, testified
that after the bodies had been disposed Of the
nailorB proposed to take tho vessel into port.
Anderson said: "Do you want to hang mel The
only thing to do Is to destroy the vessel" An.
dereon said that II they burned the vessel and
went ashore they would not be suspected and
gould take themselves out of harm's. way.
Upon orpss-examination Barrial. said Anderson
Bad held out bis hands and told them TO put
him In irons II they wanted to and take him to
port. and give him up, but they did not take him
~ his word because he hold tho rovolvers In his
hands when he made the offer.
William HorsburRh, O Sootchman, engineer
of tho schooner. told practically the same story
- the others of the crew. He said Anderson
had ordered him to break open o barrel Of oil
end pour 1t on tho deck, and he did 1t, Andor'
con Standing over him with. q pistol.
Adjourned until 10 o'clock tomorrow.