The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-09-07
GOODMAN CAPTURED
He Numerically Beat a
ColoTed Sailor and Then
Tortured Him.
EvADED ARREST FOR MONTHS
Besides Being Prosecuted Crimi-
nalIy, Civil Suit Has Been
Brought Against the
Captain.
EVADED ARREST FOR MONTHS

United States Commissioner Linsley
Rowe, of Jersey City, this morning.
forwarded to Commissioner Alexander, of
New York, the evidence in a case of
alleged cruelty, which If true surpasses
anything of its kind since the days of
the buccaneers. The case has caused the
United States authorities considerable
bother. Commissioner Rowe has had
marshals searching for Captain Goodman,
of the four masted barkentine, James w.
Elwell, for several weeks, against whom
the cruelty is alleged. AT that time the
Elwell was loading at South Amboy. The
captain got wind of the fact that the
authorities We're after him and went into
hiding. The barkentine in the meantime
shipped her berth and went to New York.
Commissioner Alexander was notified that
Goodman was wanted and had marshals
watch the vessel day and night. Word
was received by Commissioner Rowe, this
morning, that Goodman has finally been
caught. AS the witnesses and complain
ants in the case are all in New YORK,
Commissioners Rowe has transferred the
case to Commissioner Alexander.
The principal complainant in the case is
w. Petersen, a negro sailor, who made
a voyage from New York to South
Africa and return in the Elwell. h
voyage was completed several weeks ago.
AS soon as he landed Petersen told his
story to the United States Shipping Com
missioner, who sent him in turn to Com
missioner Rowe, as Goodman was at that
time located in New Jersey. The story
of the cruelties practised by Captain
Goodman is best told in Petersen's own
way. The following is a copy of the
written statement he made to Commits
sioner Rowe. 1t is in the form of a diary:
On the high sea
February 16, 1897.
l was sowing sail n the Master called
to me for to go aloft with a strop and a
block and I jumpt at his call. | took the
1 went to jigger Crosstree and made it
fast as he told me and as | was going up
the higgins he sang out at me to go up
fast and / said all right sir then | told
the man that was coming up with the
gantling to hurry up that, I was weight
ing. When l came down on deck the
master call me to the Mast and ask me
who I was speaking to and my reply to
him l was talking to the man that was up
aloft with me then he struck me ana
send me to the mate forward to work.
when | went the mate put me to work
with the same man to make up a rope
under the gallant forecastle and while
my back was turn the capt struck me
with a Nickle buster and cut my head
n broke my Nose Bridge then he and
the mate beat me till l got in the cabin
then he send the mate for two capstsail
(Capstan) bar and he rig up a CALLS in
the cabin and he handcuff me and strung
me up for one hour then after he got
his supper which 1 did not got nothing
to eat till the next day then he strung
me UP in the middle of the cabin for
one and a half hour the him and the
mate and second a cook stand to help
him The second and the cook got a
piece of lard to put in my mouth then
the master went to his cabin and brought
out a revolver and cooked it in my face
and told me if was not for one thing ne
whould put me the same place as he
put the other one and he would not give
me water to drink I was sick with a
swollen foot at the time that went on.
then he swore on the 18th May
offer me and another man before
me of the Passengers that he Kill one OF
us if it take the hole ship to pay for it
and a man by name of James Davis he
and the mate beat me might No more to
say at preasant
Your Respectful Servant
w. PETERSON.
Ship bound for tampa Florida U. s.. A.
phase give an advise what to do there for
I don't think that I can hold 1t out to
some information from you in Tamper.
the other man will explain his self when
he arrived in the United State his name
is j. Davis.
Witnesses
w. KING,
j. SMITH.
w. GONSALVER.