The San Francisco call., 1897-12-22
KILLED THEM IN
. !: SELF-DEFENSE
{:
NQok Anderson's Poor
.:..:,; Excuse for Crimes on
the High Seas.
Says the Mate Rushed at Him
With a Raised Marhnspfke
When He Shot Him.
t7is Version Of the Murder OF the
Schooner's Orncers Denied by
%. Members Of the Crew.
Special Dispatch to The can.

o. NORFOLK, Va. Dec. 2.-Rapid
progress was made in the Federal
Court to-day in the Anderson case, and
Il will probably be concluded to-mor-
row, so far as the charge that John
Anderson murdered Mate Sanders of
the schooner Olive Pecker is concerned.
With the exception of some brief and
not important testimony in the morn
ing, the day was almost entirely con-
stunned with the hearing Of the evidence
Of the accused, placed on the stand by
his counsel to testify in his own behalf.
In the course Of the direct examina-
Ton, Anderson held in his hand the
N-ge marlinspike which had been in
troduced as evidence. He was excit-
ed, dramatic and very much in earnest.
He spoke rapidly and was with diff
Guilty kept within the limits of the ex-
animation, which was confined to the
events OF the day of the tragedy His
story IN its essentials differed from
that Of his mates IN that he alleged that
the mate was coming toward him with
: the marlinspike raised to strike him
when he shot him. killing him TO save
his own life. He said he did not burn
the vessel. but that Harsbrough and
March did, and that he exerted no force
after killing the mate, but that all
worked together and no one was com
PEELED TO do anything. While District
Attorney White was arguing against
the admissibility Of certain evidence
and quoting from statements OF the &C
cused, Anderson became excited and at
one point arose TO his feet and attempt
ed 10 correct the lawyer, who sharply
bade him sit down, and the prisoner.
= a. = f-
obeyed.
The cross-examination Of Anderson
was begun at , o'clock The accused,
IN response TO questions, said that when
the first shot was fired at the mate he
(AndersOn) was UP on the forecastle
and the mate was below him on the
Iorecastle head He denied that the
captain felt the back Of the dog to see
whether hot or cold water had been
thrown upon him before he had struck
MN IN the galley. Witness admitted
that he had lied TO the Consul al. Bahia
as TO how he acquired possession of the
captain s pistol, and denied that he had
stated for publication that he had
taken II out Of the captains bunk
Asked If he climbed down the rigging
Anderson said he did not remember He
denied that the mate said: For Gods
sake, don't shoot" dramatically add
l1g; He did not say it, for he did not
AVE any God. If he had a God he
I ould not have put me where am to-
lay"
That IS arguing that you have no
GOD, because you put the captain
where you did" retOrted the District
Attorney, as Anderson chOked back
the sObs- When he had mastered him
self, still answering the District At
tOrney's questions, he said that John
Lind called the men up after the mate
was killed He could not remember
whether he had the pistol in his hands
or pocket when the crew came up. He
threw two Of the pistols overheard
later on He denied that he told the
men 10 throw the mates BODY over
board; they did il Of their own accord.
Further examination brought out the
statement that Anderson had asked
the crew 10 take the vessel TO port He
did not tell HarbrOugh that he was
IN charge, and nobody gave any orders
about lowering the boat The cross
examination lasted about an hour and
e half
The defense introduced Captain J.
Small, who testified that he employed
Anderson for six months in 1895, and
found him peaceabIe and well be-
haved in his duties.
John Asburg testified that he had
known the prisoner in Sweden, and. as
far as he could remember, his reputa-
ton was good. They were school
mates
John A. Ahuhart was introduced 10
prove the reputation Of Captain White
man, but vas not allowed to testify.
The defense here rested, and the Gov
ernmeut introduced in rebuttal Will
liam HarbrOugh, who denied all the
aIlega ttOns made against him by the
accused, and said March set the
: schooner on fire while Anderson stood
Hover him and made him do It. Lind
BarriII, March and Barstad. members
Of the crew, we're all examined in re-
buttaI, and cOntradicted Anderson at
every point where he had referred to
them in his evidence in -examtna-
ton. Several other witnesses of minor
importance were examined in rebuttal
and the court adjourned until 10 Oo'clock