Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-21
TRIAL OF ANDERSEN.
TESTIMONY AS TO THE MURDERS
ON THE PICKER.
TERRIBLE TALB OF THE SEA.
The Captain of the Schooner First
kIIIcd-The Mate Then Called
Down Out of the Rigging and shot
10 Death.

NORFOLK. VA, December 20.-Au pre-
lminaries having been cleared away
rapid progress was made to-day in the
case Of John Andersen. now on trial in
The Federal Court upon the specific
charge Of numbering Mate William Wal
lace Saunders. Of the schooner Olive
Peckor. on August 9Th last, while that
vessel was on the high seas. h case
may be finished tomorrow, though An
dersen has yet to be tried under indict-
m5uts for numbering Captain Whitman
and burning the schooner.
A number Of minor witnesses were
heard upon the identification of the YES
sci and her cargo. and Martin Barstad,
the Norwegian, was called to the stand
as the first eyewitness to the terrible
tragedy. which will so down as one Of the
most dramatic and remarkable Of modern
times.
Barstad testified hat he was at the
wheel during the whole affair. He saw
Andersen throw water on the captains
dog in the morning about s o'clock on
A-Eust 9th, then heard the captain curse
him. after which there followed a noise
as of some one falling, and he supposed,
the captain had struck Andersen, who
came up and asked the mate TO protect
him-sad-tho mate said: q 20 @'
You've got 10 die. n way
shortly after this Andersen came out
Of the captains cabin, n called the
mate down out of the rigging. and shot
him four times. He ummoned all hands
on board. and made them throw the body
~oyerboard. Then he made them go down
into the CABIN and get the body Of the
..ptain. and throw that overheard. after
which ne took the crew down into the
CAPTAINS cabin and gave them some
Wniskey.
When they had thrown the bodies over
board. the cook said they were all guilty.
because they a helped dispose Of the
bodies. He compelled the crew at the
point Of the pistol to get up their effects
and put them into a boat; then he MADE
them pour oil over The vessel, and set II
on fire. after which all hands left the
schooner in the boat.
After Barstad's testimony the court
took a recess for n hour. Court re-
convened al . o'clock. and John Linz was
called TO the stand. He testified that ne
VS. "a SWede. and a shipped as a COM
mon sailor on board the schooner olive
Picker Lind told essentially the same
st0r, as Barstad. except hat he did not
SEQ Andersen shoot the mate. Andersen
came up 10 him and told him that he had
killed the captain. and that the mate had
10 90 TOO. The witness then went and
called the watch 10 come UP, and While
he was doing this he heard three or Iour
shots on the other side Of the vessel.
Witness helped 70 throw the bodies over
hoard and Andersen cursed the dead
tl4v Of the mate. He could rot state
what language he used. Speaking OF the
vhigkey Andersen gave the crew, Limo
said n was only half a bottle. n no one
was drunk. The captain and mate were
deaa when thrown overheard. Andersen
fred three shots when the small boat lett
the burning schooner. though why he did
II witness could not say. Linz told how
the crew drew lots TO see who should go
together. and his lot fell with that Of An
dersen. He said Andersen shot the dog
which came ashore in the boat, and on
the way 10 Belmont sold the captains
watch.
Upon denomination, Lind said ne
had heard Andersen prior TO the killing
ask the mate 10 protect him from the
captain. and had heard the mate ten An
dersen TO go 10 -. You will be Killed
any way"
Andersen. that morning, had thrown
water on the captains dog; the captain
cursed him in the worst language ne
ever heard. and then "made for MN