Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-01-20
TRIAL OF CAPT. MURPHY.


ward Murphy, charged with iilibuu-
terirg, sustaining the demurrer 10
the first, third, fourth, sixth. sevanth
and eighth counts OF tho indictment
anu orerruling the demurrer to the
second and fifth counts. He ordered
that the defendant plead forthwith.
II. Il. Ward who with Senator George
Gray and Andrew g. Gray, represents
Capt. Murphy, asked leave to note an
exception 10 the oveIrulinG Of the de-
murrer to the second and fifth counts,
and to tha Indictment gensrully, and
enterod plea of not guilty TO tho
second and 9Th counta.
Aftsr District Attorney Iewis G.
Vandegrift had conferred with Bnme of
Ills witnesses, tho Jury was called. Ine
United States challenged W. q. Il.
Colquhoun Of this pity, and William
a. Vickery Of New Castle, and the dc
fence challenged William IL. DicEerson
of Mispillion. The jury az finally qusli-
fled WAS us foloEa: John barclay aud
Leroy B. Tindall. Nanticoke; Willinm
Newlove. New Castle; Samuel Moore
and David S. Wilds, Kenton: Jamea 4.
Moore, Jason b. Simmons and Jamea
K.Sapn, MispilIiun; William u. Mock.
North Murderkill: James A. Mulligan,
Red Lion; James Il. Dickinson, Appo-
quinimink; Charles IL. Jones, North
west Fork.
Diatrict Attorney Vandegrift read
the second and fifth counts under
which the triul pruceels. The sncond
count charges that Capt Murphy, about
August 9th, 1886, provided means for
carrying on military expedition in
furnishing the steamship Laurada and
her crow, The fifth count alleged that
by pteconcerted arrangement tho
Laurada met the Richard Is. Fox and
Dolphin OIL the New Jersey coast and
took on men, arms and ammunition
intended for use against the King of
Spain in tine Island Of Cuba.
In opening to the jury, The district
attorney said that he expected to show
that tho Laurada cleared from this port,
nstensibly for Jamaica, on August
9th, 1896; that OFT Ready Island she
took on board certain boats; that size
went out the Delaware, but insteail of
turning aouthward towards Der port,
tnrled northwards along New Jersey !;
that Oft BarDegat she INST vessols and
took on men, arms and ammunition,
and proceeded TO point near tho
island of Nayaasa and transshipped
those things to the steamer Dauntless.
MIR. Vandegrift offered in evidence
the proclamations issued by President
Cleveland in 1896 concerning disturb.
ances in Cuba and certificate of Sec
retary of State Sherman 10 similar
effect. These were admitted. Objection
was raised to the adlr. issiou OF the reg
iater of the LaurHda, showing her to he
an American vessel, and it was not adj
mitted. Senator Gray said he would
admit that Murphy WAS captain OF the
LauradH.
DIR. W. II. Cooper, collector of the
Wilmington port, was the FIRST witness.
When he was asked as To the clearance
Of the Laurada, Senator Gray objected,
but the question was allowed. DIR.
Cooper testified that the vessel cleared
from this port August 9th, 1896. for
Port Antonio, Jamaica. Her papers
show that aha had on board her crew
Of 20 men, Edward Murphy, master, her
shin stores. including 10 barrels of
bottled beer, and water ballast.
George Cuwey, coored. testified that
he weA an able bodied seaman ON board
the Laurada, that the vessel broke
anchor August 9Th. 1896. and wont
down the river. coming after time, to
anchor, A tugboat came alor gside and
four large surfboatH were taken from
her and slowed in the hold. Again
they raised anchor and went to sea.
Altar sailing slowly they met u steam
launch, the Richard X. Fox, and later
the Dolphin and lighter. From them,
tho Laurada took on hoard about q
men, dark featured men, who spoke
foreign language, guns, cannon,
machetea and 30 on.
CoWley said he knew one of the men,
pilot be had known on previous
trip 10 Cuba. A general, either Rololf
or Nunez, was also on board. They
Bailad soulhward and when of Navassa
wsre met by the Dauntlsss, which in
| two trips carried off tho men and nrmH
and ammunition. The Dauntless had
| her name on the bow and storm covered
| by canvas, hut Cowlev said he saw the
name on a bucket, ak handls and small
boat on board. Two of the men who
hnd como ON hoard from the Richard
X. Fox had said they did not want TO
go to Cuha and hid themselves in tho
ahain locker, but one OF the generals
anG another man ssaruhed Tho vessels
and found them. They we're then taken
aboard tbs Dauntle6a.
| Son8tor Gray objected to all tho tns-
timony as to what was said when Capt.
Murphy was not present. The court
overruIed the objections, and an eS-
ceptlon was noted to each ruling.
Cowley sWore that he helped unload
coal from the Laurnda to the Daunt-
less, receiving SO for each man who
did the work, and paying them when
Port Antonio was reached.
Cowlcy said he had signed articles
for voyage from Philadelphia to Port
Antonio and refusing to return was
paid off before the United States COM
missioner at Port Antonio.
Under ross.examination by Senator
Gray, Cowley said ha had been in com.
municatlon with Pinkerton detective
and had been paid S15 weel; for four
months and then cut down TO $40 until
last May or juna. lie was arrested
twice for assaulting policemen in Rich
mond, Va. He was acquitted once and
was sentenced to 80 days in the city Jail
for tho second offence. He had often
been in jail for disorderly conduct and
keeping gamblipghouses. Five months
ago he was in Philadelphia Jail.
at the afternoon session OF court,
for the government. Capt. George T.
Coke testified that on the night of
Auguat 9th, 1896, he was captain of
the tug Madeira and took soma yawl
boats to the Laurada US she lay or
Reedy Island.
Capt. James McA lister testified that
he owned the barge Greenpoint and
the tug Dolphin on August 9th, 1896.
He was engaged to take Hhipatores to
aea aud he accompanied the tow and on
this following Sunday met vessel he
believed to be the Laurada and put the