The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-21
SEAMEN PUT ON THE STAND.
TWO OF THE CREW TELL OF THE
OLIVE PECKER TRAGEDY.

Iy Treated by the Captain and
Mate-Fhey Testify That the Mate
Told Anderson He Would Have to
Die When He Appealed to Him to
Protect Him From the Captain.
Trial May End To-day.
Norfolk, Va, Dec. 20.-The trial of John
Anderson, cook of the schooner Olive
Pecller, for the murder of Mate William
Wallace Saunders on the high seas in Au-
gust last was begun in the federal court
to-day.
Anderson is also indicted for the murder
of Capt. Burnham, and the burning of the
schooner but the prosecution elected to
bring the first trial for the murder of the
mate
Rapid progress was made to-day and 1t
Is probable that the case may be conclud-
ed tomorrow.
Attorney Mcintosh, for the accused, in
outlining the defense. stated that he would
show that Anderson had been subjected to
rhheard of cruelties and that the murders
were committed in self defense.
A number of minor witnesses were heard
upon for the identification. of the vessel
and her cargo, and Martin Barstad, Nor
wegian, 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 dramatic and
remarkable of modern times
Barstad testified that he was at the
wheel during the whole affair He saw
Anderson throw water on the captains
of AM & ,f
the crime, then heard the captain curse
Anderson, after which followed a noise
as of some one falling. He supposed the
captain had struck Anderson, who came
up and asked the mate to protect him 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 and shot him
four times. He summoned all hands and
made them throw the body overheard.
Then he made them go down into the
cabin and get the body of the captain and
throw that overheard, after which he took
the crew down into the captains cabin
and gave them some whisky
His story of the burning of the vessel
under Anderson's direction and the voy-
age to land in the small boats varied little
from the published accounts.
After Barstad's testimony the court took
a recess for an hour
When court reconvened John Lind was
called to the stand. He testified that he
had shipped as a common sailor on board
the schooner Olive Pecker. Lind told sub
stantially the same story as Barstad, ex-
cept that he did not see Anderson shoot
the mate
Anderson came up to him and told him
that he had killed the captain, and that
the mate had to go too. Then he went
and called the watch, and while he was
doing this he heard three or four shots
on the other side of the vessel.
Witness helped to throw the bodies over
board, and Anderson, he said, cursed the
dead body of the mate. He could not
state what language he used. Speaking
of the whisky Anderson had given them.
Lind said it was only half a bottle, and
no one was drunk. The captain and mate
were dead when thrown overheard. An
derson fired three shots when the small
boat left the burning schooner though
why he did it witness could not say. Lind
told how the crew drew lots to see who
should go together. and his lot fell with
that of Anderson. He said Anderson shot
the dog, which came ashore in the boat,
and on the way to the Belmont sold the
captains watch.
Upon cross-examination, Lind said he
had heard Anderson prior to the killing
ask the mate to protect him from the cap
son to $50 to he'll; you will be killed any
way"
Anderson that morning had throwS wa
ter on the captains dog and the captain
cursed him "in the worst language" he
ever heard, and then made for him. af-
ter which Lind heard a noise as of some
one falling, and presently Anderson came
out of the galley and asked the mate to
project him.
Andrew March, another of the schoon-
er's crew, testified that he did not witness
the killing of the mate but heard Ander-
son say he had killed him. Witness was in
his bunk at the time and heard Anderson
call the mate down from aloft. He heard
the conversation between Anderson and
the mate, and heard four shots after which
Anderson said: Come out here boys and
lower a boat and put me ashore. The cap
tain and mate are dead and l am in charge
of the ship"
On cross-examination March's testimony
was not shaken.
Juan de Dios Barrial did not see the
shooting, but heard the shots. His story
varied essentially from those of his mates
Referring TO his conversation with Ander-
son took him aside and told him he Can
dersOn) was a murderer, but had killed the
captain and mate to save their lives, and
before they left the vessel they would ali
be just as guilty as he (Anderson). Bar
rial said he urged the cook not to burn
the schooner.
William Horrborough another seaman
was the last witness examined His story
did not differ materially from the others,
and when he had concluded his testimony.
court adjourned until 10 o'clock tomorrow.
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