Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-12-21

Norfolk, Va, December 20-lne
trial of john Anderson, cook OF the
schooner Olive Pecker, for the muir
der of Mate William Wallace Saun-
ders, GA the high seas, in August last,
was tAgun in the Federal court TO-
DAY. Anderson is also under lnulct-
ment for the murder Of Capt. WHIT
man and for burning the schooner,
but the prosecution elected TO Drlns
the first trial for the murder or the
mate. Rapid progress was MADE To-
day, and it is probable that the case
| may be concluded tomorrow.
Attorney Mcintosh, for the accused,
in outlining the defense, stated that
| ne would show that Anderson had
| been subjected to unheard OF cruelIies
| and that the murders were committed
| in self-defnse.
Martin Badstart, Norwegian,
| member of the Schooner's crew, was
| called to the stand as the first eye
| witness to the terrible tragedy which
will go down as one Of the most ORA
matte and remarkable of modern times.
! Barstadt testefied that he was at the
! wheel during the whole affair. lie saw
! Anderson throw water On the captain
| dog on the morning OF August ., the
! day of the crime, then heard tie cap
| tain curse Anderson, after which
| there followed noise as Oh some one
falling. He supposed the captain had
| struck Anderson, who came up and
i asked the mate to protect lin. The
mate said: GO to hell; you've got to
die anyway"
Shortly after this Anderson came
| out of the captains cabin and called
the mate down out of the rigging anC
shot him four times. He then sum-
moned all hands and made then.
throw the body overheard. Then he
made them go down into the cabin
and get the body of the captain ant
throw that overheard, after which n
took the crew down into the captains
cabin and gave them some WHISKY.
Barstadt's story Of the burning o.
the vessel under Anderson direc'
ton and the voyage to land in tht
small boats varied little from the pub
lished accounts.
John Lind told essentially the same
f'rTt nTTSoraS, Barstadt, except that he di'
AHuerSon came Up IN b;--l.4 M :
MIN that he had k11Ivt i1Ain and fol.
and that the mate had to go toe Tn
witness then went to call the watch
ana while he was doing this he heard
three or four shots on the other side
OF the vessel
Witness helped throw the bodies
overheard and Anderson cursed The
dead body of the mate. He. could moi
state what language he used. Speak.
ing of the whisky Anderson gave tho
crew, Lind said it was only haii hot.
Tie and no one was drunk. The cap.
tain and mate were dead when thrown
overheard. Anderson fired three shots
when the small boat left the hlrnipe
schooner, though why he did it the
witness could not say.
Lind told how the crew drew lots
90 see who should go together. and
his lot fell with that of Anderson liz
! SAID Anderson shot the dog. which
me ashore in the boat, and on the
! way to Belmont sold the captain's
1 watch.
Upon INSTRUMENTATION. Lind said
ne had heard Anderson prior to the
! killing ask the mate to protect him
! from the captain, and had heard the
mate tell Anderson to Go to hell.
you VIII be killed anyway"
| Other testimony did not differ ma
terlally from the foregoing, and when
/ testimony was concluded the cour- ad-
Journed until 10 O'Clock tomorrow
! morning.