The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-09-26
LOOKS DARK FOR
THE DECKHAND
Unraveling the Yacht
Chispa Mystery.
EVIDENCE AGAINST NELSON
HIS STORY OF THE BROOKS MUIR
DER DISCREDITED.
Witnesses Declare That the Shots
Aboard the Craft Were Heard
Before He Plunged Into
the Bay.
HIS STORY OF THE BROOKS MUIR
DER DISCREDITED.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

SAN RAFAEL Sept. 25.-The meshes
of circumstantial evidence tending to
the belief that Captain J. Morse
Brooks was murdered on the yacht
Chispa at Sausalito by Peter Nelson,
the deckhand, are Tightening about
that young m in a manner that is
evidently causing him considerable
mental discomfort.
An important discovery was made to-
day by Sheriff Harrison. AS result
that official Is now thoroughly con-
WINGED that pete" is guilty of the as
Sassination.
II nave little doubt that we have the
right man." said the Sheriff to-day.
"a morning paper asserts that G. Mil
Ter, who was formerly employed as
deckhand on the Chispa and had BIT
ter quarrel with Captain Brooks in
August last, is now under suspicion.
This is hardly true. We merely wish
to learn where Miller and former en-
ploye were at the time the deed was
committed. Nelson is the man that
committed the crime, in my opinion,
and l think time will prove the cor
rectness of my theory"
AS was stated in to-day's Call, there
are several things leading the authori-
ties to this belief. The latest link to
the chain of evidence is furnished by
William Harrison, the poolroom broker.
In his published statements the i'm
prisoned deckhand declared that the
bow of the Chispa pointed south, and
that when he left the boat and jumped
into the water he headed for the shore,
the leap being made on the starboard
or shore side. Next, he asserted that
the. shots were fired directly at him as
he was swimming away from the
yacht Pe
Harrison was standing on shore near
the waters edge at this time. To The
Call correspondent and to Sheriff Har-
rison he said to-day that each of the
three shots was fired toward the stern
of the boat, at right angles to the
course in the water taken by Nelson.
Moreover, Harrison Is sure that the
bullets went in horizontal direction
or nearly so, as was shown by the
flashes, and not in a downward direc-
ton as If the object shot at were near
the yacht.
One of the strongest points made is
a statement by Harrison that the
splash made by Nelson's body striking
the water did not occur until after all
three shots were fired, showinr that he
could not hav been shot at while
swimming. If Nelson fired the shots
himself he would necessarily have had
to do so before jumping from the boat.
No charge has yet been preferred
against the prisoner, and none will be
until the conclusion Of the Coroner's in
quest tomorrow.
Coroner Eden scouts the idea that a.
man could hav grown cold In the time
that elapsed between the firing of the
shots, or en- for ten minutes prior
thereto, and the time when Cramer,
Harrison and Johnson boarded the
yacht
The evidence given by William Har-
rison to-day, the fact that Captain
Brooks was cold when discovered dead.
the peculiar wound and the manner in
which Nelson received 1t, his declara-
ton to Commodore Cutie that he would
know the tall man among a thou
sand" when he got only a fleeing
glimpse in a poor light, and his hest
tating demeanor when this fact wan
brought to his attention, are considered
damaging evidence by the authorities.
Constable Cramer still believes Nelson
innocent, but admits that it looks bad
for him.
The inquest will be held tomorrow
at a. m. Sheriff Harrison was in
formed to-day that Miller had sur
rendered himself to Detective Egen
and in companv with Constable Gan,
non went to San Francisco to see him
They are expected to return to-morrow
morning.
George Miller, the sailor whose mama
was mentioned in connection with the
murder Of Captain Brooks of the Yacht
Chispa, visited police headquarters Yes.
terday and asked if he was wanted. Sheriff
Harrison of Marin County was at once
sent for, arriving here a short time after
ward. After hearing Miller's statement
he allowed him to CO. after thoroughlv
satisfying himself of his innocence. Mi.
Ter was employed on the yacht about a
he quit, being unable to get along with
Brooks. He says the latter was ugly
and mean, and was continually under the
influence Of liquor. He never heard that
he had any yaluables on the yacht.