The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-11-23
MURDER WAS
NOT PROVEN
But M%unroe's Trial Revealed a Story
of Most Inhuman Cruelty,
THE MAIN WITNESS WAS ABSENT
The Mates Both Seem TO Have Been
Spirited Away-Munroc Was Re-
leased on a Small Bail and the
Case Continued Till Next Week

NORFOLK, VA, Nov. Especial Tho
preliminary hearing OF the case of Cap
tain n. V. Munroe. charged with being
accessory after the fact to the murder Of
a sailor by Mate X. ~. Crosby. Of the
British sailing ship Canada, when lying
at Lambert's Point on June 9Th last was
had in the Police Court to-day. Steward
Robert Holder and his wife Sarah. stow
ardess. both West India negroes, testi-
fed regarding the fight reported az the
time as having taken place aboard the
ship and the testimony Of Sarah especial
~ was highly sensational. Mack Coen
White, American sailor, also testified.
DIR. Field. who subsequently treated
Louis Carney and Manuel Melo at St.
Vlncent's Hospital testified 10 the recov-
cry Of the men from their injuries. The
case was continued until next Saturday.
the prosecution claiming to be able prob
ably to produce further evidence.
NOT PROVEN.
It appeared to-day that the prosecution
failed 10 connect Captain Munroe Win
the crime OF the mate and as a matter
OF fact the crime itself failed Apparent
~ &C. be proven to the satisfaction Of the
court. That three of the crew SWAN
ashore 10 escape the jury Of the Mate ap-
peared; hat two more were missing af-
ter the fight, appeared also but L was not
proven that these We're dead. The Cap
tain it seems IL merely charged with
having secreted the Mate I'm the hold and
sailed away with him when the officers
Of the law pursued him and IT did not
clearly appear that the captain was
guilty. The judge therefore released him
upon $500 bail. That cruelty was prac-
ticed aboard by the drunken mate was
MADE clear but that any one died as a
result was not proven.
SYMPATHY FOR SAILORS.
il is the recital OF such facts as these
perhaps which makes most men I'm Nor
folk s%trenuously desire. President Nc
Kinley to commute the sentence OF John
Andersen TO imprisonment instead Of
death and in reply to masters who say
that discipline must be enforced these
say that the helpless sailors whose very
names are frequently as In the present
instance. unknown. must be allowed some
ciemency when I'm their despair they
kill their sometimes brutal and cruel dis
ciplinarian I'm self defence. unable 10 bear
the cruel i%ndignitics put upon them.
MATES SPIRITED AWAY.
II seemed strange I'm the case 81 Can
tain MuurCe that no conviction could
apparently be secured. but the spiriting
away Of the mate seems 90 have baked
justice II was ~heartrending 10 hear the
testimony of the stewar0css who said
that she saw one sailor dashed 20 n plank
and afterward retired 10 her cabin where
covering she heard I'm the night the
mates she thought lowering something
overheard. She said one mate said 10
the o~ther-both # being remembered have
vanished-"They are not over. lower
them a little more" She feared 20 look
but believed that these were the bodies
Of the two sailors who have not since
been seen save that one may be he whose
body IS reported 10 have washed ashore
afterward and 10 have been buried I'm an
unmarked grave near Lambert's Point.
FEARED THE CAPTAIN.
COen. many thought. stopped short Of
telling all he knew because the Captain
looked nercCly az him as he testified.
Coen shipped for the voyage. has it IS
stated 10 return upon the ship. He
would hardly feel easy after testifying,
marine men say. against his captain.
That no conviction VIII follow the trial
Is generally believed. II is ms generally
believed that the affair should be probed
10 the bottom and that there has been
appalling cruelty practiced aboard the
Canada.