The San Francisco call., 1897-06-18
FOR SThBBING
THE CAP TAIN
Nashville Grant, a Young
Colored Man, Held
fer Trial.
He Is Said to Have Run Amuck
en- Board the Top
gallant.
Conducts His Own Case, and Cross.
Questions the CommFn&er
Like an Expert.

Nashville Grant was yeste Tday held by
Com missioner Heacock for trial in the
United States courts for attempting, upon
the high seas, 10 murder the captain of
the TopgaIiant, II. c. Kiilman.
Nashville Grant is a negro, so years of
age, and decidedly interesting character
being a negro. He has either had ex-
ceptional educational advantages or he is
remarkably apt. 1t may be said that he
is remarkably apt in any case.
Charged with attempted murder, with
several witnesses presenting conclusive
case against him, lawyer 10 prosecute,
an environment, in a word, calculated to
alarm or abash most any man, alone ap-
parently in the midst OF his enemies,
Grant not only kept his head and con-
Quoted his own case, but did it very WELL
cross-ques stioning the captain whose life
he attemp pted TO take, with all the dash
and confidence OF a lawyer with a good
| case.
! Grant shipped on the Topcallant from
/ Port Townsend to Australia III Septem ber
| de was placed In irons when a few days
] out for hourshing a knife, and subse-
| quenIly being relea sed'si bbed the captain
seven times and the mate twice. Upon
! arrival al his destination in Australia the
! captain turned the refractory sailor over
| TO the authorities, and the proper ste ps
were taken 10 have him returned here for
! trial. Captain killmHn was asked if he
would carry the man back and he declared
| he would leave his ship first, so great was
| his respect for Grants trouble-m aking
abilities. A ''mob," as reported by the
| United States Consul, collected quite a
! large sum for Grants defense in Australia
and occasIOned considerable difficulty in
! securing the extradltion.
Grant has quite a record back of him.
! According to Captain kilIman he was
taken out o! ship at Calcutta for mutinv.
/ On another British ship he went TO Port
| land, Or, where he was charged with
| having attacked the master during the
/ voyage. Getting Til of this charge he
/ went to Port Townsend, where Captain
/ Killman, much to his subsequent regret,
/ took him aboard.
! The story of the crime with which he is
! now charged was told before Commis
/ sioner HeaCoSk by Captain Killman and
}. Silvan, the CARPENTER.
Captain kIllman being called and ques-
| toned by Assistant United STATES AItor-
| ney sch .essinger said that Grant had been
| refractory since he came aboard anu for a
! long time had refused to work. On the 81
| OF October he called Grant into the cabin
| ana asked him why he refused to perform
! his duties. Grant made no reply. The
| captain told him to go forward and think
| hours to make up his mind what ne iu-
tended TO do. and if he still refused 10
| work he would take measures 10 make
| MIN.
Grant went away, and later when the
captain approached him 10 learn his de-
cisIOn, Grant drew two knives, one long
sheathknife, and INN mediately began cut
ting. He stabbed the captain in the b cad
three times before the latter grdsped the
blade and turned it away. In response 10
his cries of murder the second mate came
upon the scene, and Grant, declaring with
an oath, II will Kill you, too" started
toward that officer, v no Immediately re-
treated up the stairs. He was REINFORCED
by the carpenter. W! ieiled Grant with a
oelaying-ij pin. he was promptly placed
| in irons aud kept there until the ship ar
rived al its destinatlon-Port Pir.e.
The carpe nter and other witne ,ses cor
roborated this statement. Second Mate
] Brown, although subpenaed, was not on
! hand.
| Grant was advised that he might ask
| The witness questions and he put Captain
! KiIlman through a course that indicated
clearly he had a story Of his own.
| The witnesses Tor the Government hav-
| ing concluded, Grant was advised that he
might testify in his own behalf If n de-
! sired, but was warned that if he made sly
J eliminating statements they would be
| used ainst him in the trial. In face OF
| this he went on the stand. He said he
! had been treated cruelty from the begin
ming of the voyage; he had been struck
! by the captain over the head with dip
per while at work on the pumps, on the
| 1st OF October. which laid his scalp open.
! On the Sd of October the captain called
! him into the cabin and dressed his wound.
| w lie doing so Grant said the capital n
! Iaunted him with being "a sea lawyer"
/ and demanded that he deliver up to him g
! petition or statement that he (GranO had
been circulating among the men for sign a
lures, looking to the prosecution of the cap
tain upon arriving at port. The captain
declared, he said, that he had right to
do anything lie pleased as commander on
| the high seas, and that the United States
| did not SEND out Consuls to foreign lands
to look after the interests of niggers.
! Grant, continuing his statement, said {:
| when 1 refused TO give up the papers he
caught me by the collar and swore he
would hang me up by the thumbs. lie
| took ruler that was on his desk and
struck me over the cad again, laying the
scalp open. He struck me again, cutting
my lip and breaking my teeth. Wild
with rage and smarting under my wrongs,
/ 1 cannot tell you what | felt at that
moment. ! drew my knife and struck at
him. That is what happened in the cabin
that Sd of October"
! Grant Gains 10 be a British subject.
aud the British Consul was present and
! an attentive listener 10 all the te>tImony.
! For lack Of $4,000 bail Grant was recon-
! mitted 10 jail for trial. He asked that
| the case he called as soon as DOssl Bile nd