New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-08-28
WAS NOT "SHANGHAIEDY
FRENCH BARK RELEASED
Boys Father Had Him Shipped
Because He Vas Worthless

The removal yesterday from the French oa-y
Marechal de GOntaut of the revenue officer vho
had been left in charge OF that vessel. N. :.
lease of the boat and the discharge Of FJuvh
Thompson practically ended the case vrbtss
had been troubling the officers OF the port s,,..
it was reported to them on Wednesday n 4,
still likely that some action will be +at.-
against the boarding house runners vho :.
ceived money In advance for procuring the h.
Thompson, who caused the seizure O, -.
bark by his frantic attempts TO escape fro-, !,
while it was anchored OF Tompkinsviue az
who at that time told story Of awful sbn..
and maltreatment. changed his statements g.
eral times after he was in the CUSTODY ~ -.
revenue officer. His final statement in an a--
davit says that he vent on board the boa, :,
his own accord. but did not know that n NJ,
bound for Japan. and that he never siv,as
papers. He says that he thought II was a eos,,
wise vessel. and that when he found our bo,
far he was going the prospect of so long an.
aratiOn from his mother made him dssir. :.
back out.
The clerks in the Office OF the French ro,,.,
say that he was informed Of the destInatso, :,
the ship when he appeared in that ONCE r,tb
the master. Captain Dennierre. and the co,.,1
says that 1t is the law in France. and holds v-,n
French vessels here. that It is not necsssa-v
for the sailors to sign the papers but that thu
captain of the vessel may read the articles -
them. and then write their names on the rou
himself No charge OF abuse. further than NJ.
venting him from DESERVING the bark Is bronvbt
by the boy
He was discharged last night His story ira.
there were four other boys confined in the hold
was also proved to be untrue. The boys father
says that he is loafer and worthless and that
he had shipped the bark with his (ths
father's) consent and knowledge. and withcu,
haste undue influence
The question Of the enrolling of men who had
not signed articles was the one which held tha
bark In port yesterday. Several conferences
were held between Collector Stranahan. Colonel
F. E. Hamilton. his counsel: Assistant United
States District Attorney Wise and the French
Vice-Consul and it was finally decided thar
under the present treaties there vas no ground
on which the captain OF the bark could be held
If there had been a case against him he would
merely have been put under $500 bonds. and then
allowed to sail Collector Stranahan saws that
in allowing the vessel to sail he did not settls
the question Of taking men without signing
articles, and the case will be sent to washing
ton. Mr.. Stranahan said:
The stories that wece resisted with force
on the French bark are untrue. We were
treated with courtesy, and no attempt was made
to hold the boy. He was released under the
treaty. The case brings up a delicate legal
question which the federal authorities will have
70 pass on. The incident here is closed with the
release of the vessel and discharge Of the boy"
William ]. Leonard. the superintendent of for
eign tank steamers for the STANDARD Oil Com
pany, who helped to engage the crew. declared
that the father Of the boy wanted him shipped
on a long voyage to get rid Of him. he was
drone at home. The boy agreed 10 go. with full
knowledge Of where he was going.
John Williams, who calls himself shipping
commissioner" with an once at Pearl-st. and
Coenties Slip. and who negotiated for part Of the
crew, said
Christopher Thompson, the father. brought
his son to US and wanted him placed He received
$50 advance money. after found the place
for his son. Thompson came 70 US through
Andy Brown OF No. 3O2 Van Brunt-st., Brook
lyn who is agent"
The Legal Aid Society is looking into ths
case. Arthur Won Briesen. the president o. the
society. called on Collector Stranahan yestsr-
day about it When seen later Mr.. Won Brissen
said.
Technically. the boy became a deserter when
he tried to escape from the French vessel oy
leaping the water boat As I understand
it. they should have informed the United states
a marshal TO examine into the case. II strikes
me the whole proceeding in taking him on ne
vessel is irregular. Under French law he did
not have to sign articles. If l had been ee-
lector I would not have allowed the vessel 70
sail until everything was clear. Nevertheless
1t would be we'll to look into the prdctlce q
shipping men without their consent, which has
grown of late" Abbott l. Clark the counse
for the Legal Aid Society, said last night
The practice Of shanghaiing has grown Ok
late. and we are going to take measures 20
stop it Andy Brown has been mixed up in
the business before. once in 1901"