New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-10-10
MAY BE TRIED AS PIRATES.
DEATH PENALTY THREATENS The hoD'
prRS OF THE GEORGEANNA.

~ ta,.,,, assaulted and robbed passen-
eers on board the steamboat Georseah"a I"''
saturday in New-York Bay are hNeN - INV
that their offence was pretty serious o"' -
the Custom House. indeed. they call II pi"Cy
cep,tal crime. The section Of the keNlsoN ''"
utes Of the United States covering these cases =
No. 1910 reading as follows
Every person who. upon the hlgn seas go, g, -,
any open rosdstead. or in any maven
bov ar in any river where the sea eOos a''u
aus commits the crime u robbery, IN OF uioi
any vessel or upon any ships company 81 a.'S
vessel or the ladng thereof Is pirate H"D
shall suffer death.
Section 44G3 Of the Revised Statutes pro.
vjdes that no steamer carrying passengers S""''
depart from any port Of the United states u''
,oes she shall have. among other things. "a full
complement Of licensed officers. ana Se'uo"
4 400 nrescribes that in case Of violation Of the
section Just referred to the owner OF the ohen'-
ing vessel shall he liable TO the United states
in a penalty Of $500 for each offence one-haf
for the use Of the informer. for which sum the
vessel 50 navigated shall he liable and may be
seized and proceeded against by way Of libel IN
anv District Court Of the United States having
jurisdiction Of the offence"
SEIZURE OF THE GEORGEANNA.
In accordance with these provisions Of law
Croft to seize the Georgcanna. and one Of the
Surveyors staff yesterday afternoon took pos
session Of the steamboat. The Collector also
through Deputy Collector Phelps. of the Law
Division. Yesterday afternoon dispatched a let
ter to United States District Attorney Burnett
requesting him to take immediate steps 10 collect
the $500 PENALTY from the owner Of the George
anna and also calling his attention 10 Section
$50 Revised Statutes. which defines the ROB
berries alleged to have been committed on ma
/ vessel acts Of piracy. Accompanying me l',-
ter to General Burnett was a copy OF sN"II.
, statement 10y Or. Henry II. Wells. ~ No. -
/ Grand st. Jersey City. who was passenger o"
board the Georgeanna. and who says that ny
tain SturCke and Pilot Post had sworn before lhe
CITY Magistrate that they had no licenses, AZ re
quired by law. and who also charges mat seN
eral passengers were assaulted and robbed ThiIe
the boat was in New-Nork Bay. customs IN
spector Penheld who was on hoard the ''eoIte-
anna on Saturday. made verbal report yesier,
day 10 the Collector, To- the erect thal he .du
not been aware that any rioting had occurred
CAPTAIN sTURCKE ARRAIGNED.
Policeman Fitzpatrick, q the Harbor Squad
arraigned Alexander Sturcke. captain OF the
! Georgeanna in the Centre-st. Court yesterday
! on charge Of running a steamboat without
! license. Magistrate Flammer discharged him.
] and told the policeman to take his prisoner De
/ fore the Federal authorities When sturcke was
! Shields new charges were made against him.
! Richard 7, Troffurth Of 80. Alb Amsterdam
! ave alleged that some time ago Sturcke char
tered 10 him for 5000 a steamboat which he did
not control Trenurth also said that about the
: same time Sturcke chartered another boat to
! man for $500 under the same circumstances. Inc
steamboats, We're the dorchester and Bay Queen
: Treffurth alleged that after getting the money
! Sturcks disappeared and be did not hear or
/ him again until his arrest on saturday. Tie mas
made charge Of larceny against captain
) Siurcke which will be taken up as soon as the
, Federal authorities get through win 'he pms
on'r. - . 49,
The sections Of the Revised Statutes OF the
: T.itol states which Sturckc IS charged win
! violating are Nos 4424 and Abs. The f st re
quires all passenger boats 10 have a Govern
! mont license and the other makes II misde-
| neanor for any master mate, engineer or P.lDl
not licensed TO run any vessel in the navfanle
waters ~ the United States. The penalty lof
. either or both is 5000 fine
When the complaints were read e. Siurcke MS
lawyer asked for an examination. and hearing
was sst for Thursday at - o'clock Ban was
| NNod In $50 by Commissioner Shields The wit
! n4sses n the violations are Captain Norton, DE-
Henry W Wells. Of Philadelphia: Thomas G.
Turner 81 no 3O7 West Forty sixth-st. and
/ Frank W Beardsley
Reardsley Is another new complainant against
Sturcke lie alleges that the prisoner violated
Section No 443S If the Revised Statutes by
! running the COLCHESTER on August 20 and -
and September 3 and & Each one is considered
a separate violation Sturcke stated that he had
been running excursion boats In New-Nork
waters from time TO time without license or in-
reference by the Board Of Inspectors II Steam
Vessels
Concerning the complaint made 10y Treffurth
Sturcke said that he did not charter the Toll
chester but negotiated SO as 10 secure him ar
interest in the boat As Treffurth failed 10 pu
M anv more money. the agreement fell through
and the deposit forfeited