The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-12-21
Grew Of The lII-Faisd Schooner Tell Of XIII.
Ing Of Mate Saunders.
MARTIN BARSTAD WAS AN EYE WITNESS
The others Relate the Story orEycts.s
SubSeuucnt to tho Murder-n Mot,
Icy Crew-Terror!Eca by Andersen
aud His Guns- Government Al
most Through.

Gods. grind slowly sometimes csDncinllv
where one Is charged With 4 capital
crime, which IS the case with the trial
now in progress in the United states
District Court in this city; ana. like the
mills of the Gods. the mills Of justice in
this case are grinding exceeding small:
Tor there IS not a particle of evidence
permitted TO pass from between the up
per ANA tile neither millstones until II
~ ground as fine rs impalpable dust.
II John Andersen is convicted of the
murder Of William Saunders, mate of
the schooner Olive Pecllor, Il Will be
because the evidence leaves In the minds
OF the Jurors no reasonable doubt of
his guilt. District Attorney White Is
conducting the prosecution with skill
o;editmble to his distinguished ability,
ana ar. Mcintosh, for the defense, is
contcsting every joint with great per-
tincity. Not questionable piece of
evidence is allowed to go to the Jury, for
he Is ever ready with an objection.
sometimes his objections are overruled
but he merely allows his features 10
relax Into broad smile, and gracefully
submits to the ruling OF the court
Judge Goff pre.aIdcs with eminent Jude
ial impar;iality, while Judge Hughes
by his side maintains digniiicd silence.
occasionally comforting with his asso-
ciatc upon some abstrusa point OF Elw
1t was Il motley crew--that of the
olive Pecker--in n strictly literal sense
OF the term. or the five able scam.n
no Two were from the game country
ana not one was an American citizen
There was Sarstad, 4 Norwegian; Lind,
Swede; Barrlal. a Span.ard: Hors-
purGh, Scoechman. and March, who
claims Newfoundland as his home
though he was born at sea of Spanish
rp n Aftnt 4,
they were unacquainted with each
other until they were signed for the
'fip that ended .cl the tragedy now en-
gazing the attention of the court.
inc witnesses who testified ycstcr-
day proved beyond question that Saun
derS, the mate of the il!-futcd schooner.
was Killed and that Andersen was his
Slayer. The evidence also, apparently,
showed that Saunders was not in the
act OF making an assault upon Amder-
sen At the time he was killed, or even
oHerlnS resistance; but was descend
ING from the rigging at the command
shoot
The line of defense. as indicated by
. . questions asked on cross examima-
ZION, rs We'll as by the argument upon
contested points, Is that Andersen, after
Killing the captar--ln self-defcnse, as
VIII be alleged-moved by fear, induced
by the threatening and abusive Ian
suage OF the mate, felt impelled to kill
MN to protect his own life
promptly at the opening of court Dis
I'lct attorney White addressed the jury,
outlining the case against Andersen. MS
the government expected to prove by tho
evidence. Though the defendant was
on trial only for the murder of Saunders
me mate. the district attorney regarded
/ II as necessary to n proper understand
| INF or the case to all the facts re-
sardinE the murder of Whitman. Tho
captain and the burning of the schooner
rs well. According to his statement the
| murder OF the captain followed a quarrel
pstWecn the captain and cook, taking
! Piace IN the cabin. When Andersen
| emerged from the cibin he had n pistol
IN each hand and one in his pocket lie
| Immediately inquired for the mate. de-
| clarinE that he. too, must dc. Being
| toiu mat the MAZE was in the Rigging
| ANDERSEN went forward and commanded
| MN 10 come down. The mate came
dSwn at once. implorinE Andersen not
| 10 shoot him. As Saunders descended
from the rigging 10 the forecastle. An
derSen fired four shots in quick succc s.
SION, each apparently taking effect. An
ueTSen then took charge Of the schooner,
ana, after inviting all hands 10 the
| Ie1u
| bodies thrown overheard. and shortly
thereafter decided to Sc; the vessel
| on fire and desert her. NIr. White briefly
| rchicd the facts leading up TO the ar
| rest ana return of the prisoner 20 this
country, and closed by reading the law
under which Andersen was indicted
AlE Mcintosh, FOR the defense. nd
dressed the jury, saying that the CYL
aehcc would disclose the fact that the
District Attorney had inadvertently mis-
stated the circumstances OF the crime
charged, declaring that facts would be
shown that would strongly appeal 10
the sympathy Of the jury ana lead il .he
conclusion thar the act charged nigh.
be anything else than murder
AT the suggestion OF cuunsc! for tnl
defense, the scamen Of the Olive Peclier
| who were Witnesses for the government
were excluded from the courtroom 10
be admitted one at time, as ;hey should
be called 10 testify.
Thomas ]. Newton, clerk in tho stat
Department, n. Washington. produce,
the original statements made before III.
United States consul al Bahia. Brazil
The papers were placed in the custody a
the court, TO be used FOR all purpose.
that might be deemed necessary iu.In:
the progress of the trial.
Captain A. ]. Hall. Of Rocklanl. Me.
one Of the owners Of the schooner DIV
Pecker. was the first witness. The YES
sci was n three masted schoOnot bull
under his orders in 1889. An oil pain;
ing of schooner under full sail wa!
shown TO the jury and identified as
representation of the Olive Pccker thl
| he had had painted. y diagram or tn
! deck of the schooner was then in;-o
! duced. and described by the witness.
| Other diagrams were produced show
| ing the cabin and the forward ana af;e
| decks. The witness testified that a ma.
! AT the wheel house aft could have NJ
unobstructed view of the forecla;lc deck