The Savannah morning news., 1903-11-22
JOE RUCKER is HERE.
sHANGHAIED BOY RETURNED As A
WITNESS TO SAVANNAH.
BEFORE U. S. GRAND JURY
WILL TELL HOW HE WAS SHIPPED
ON BRITISH SHIP KAMBIRA.

Rucker the Most Important Witness
Against Olsen, Kelly and Blum,
the Men Now Under Bond TO Await
Action of Grand Jury in Consider
ing Shanghai Charges Against
Them Fuckers Whereabouts
Kept secret by officials Till After
He Has Appeared Before Grand
Jury-SeaEe, the other Boy Who
Went on the kHmbira, Not to BE
Found.
Joseph Terrell Rucker, the nephew of
ex-Mayor Woodward Of Atlanta, who
was shanghaied at Savannah on the
British ship Kambria and taken to San
tos, Brazil, is back in Savannah, hav-
ing been brought here to appear as
witness against the men who have since
his departure been arrested on the
charge of shangaiing. He is by far
the most important witness in the case
against Henry Olsen, John Kelly and
John Blum. 1t is expected that he will
give his evidence before the United
States grand jury tomorrow
Rucker arrived in Savannah last
night, after a voyage both going and
coming, that he will probably not for
get in hurry. His case is fairly well
known.
shipped by n Runner.
Rucker was shipped from Savannah
by a runner for one of the men now
under bond to answer for shanghai
tng, on the British ship Kambira, was
taken from the ship when she reached
Santos by the British consul at that
port, acting under orders from the
British ambassador to Washington,
whose orders were sent at the request
of the United States government.
The boy was wanted as witness
against the men in Savannah and was
started for this country on the bark
Trinidad. He was to have reached
New York some weeks ago, but was
delayed by an accident to the Trini-
dad off the Bermudas and reached New
York a day or two ago. There he was
taken in charge by the United States
marshal and sent to Savannah to Dep
uty United States Marshal Pearce, who
last night delivered him to Assistant
District Attorney W. r. Leaken.
His Whereabouts Kept Secret.
Mr.. Leaken declined to reveal the
boys wherea bouts here, but it is
known that Rucker sent a telegram
to his mother in Atlanta, telling her
of his arrival here, and as it Is under
stood that he is to appear before the
grand jury tomorrow. it is quite GER
tain that he has not left the city. 1t
is probable that the authorities in
terested in the case wish to keep his
whereabouts a secret until after his
testimony has been given to the grand
jury, as he is not only the most i'm
portant witness against the shanghaiers
but probably the only one, for the boy
Johnny Seage, who shipped with
Rucker and who arrived in Savannah
some ten days ago has disappeared, or
at least could not be found when a
search was made for him yesterday.
Fuckers story of His Trip.
Fuckers statement to the grand
Jury will be, it is believed, that he
was willing to go on the Kambira for
the experience of the trip, but that
the promises of Whitley Mcdonald
who shipped him and his two boy
companions as galley boys, whereas,
when once aboard, he was not only
made to do the work of an able bodied
seaman, but was horribly mistreat-
ed into the bargain, having been beat
en-, put in irons and made to suffer
other indignities while on the voyage
TO Brazil.
Mcdonald Missing.
Strenuous efforts to secure Whitley
Mcdonald have been made by the
United States officers, but without
success. 1t was thought at one time
that he was in Brunswick, and at
the suggestion of superintendent of
Police Garfunkel, who readily lent
his aid to the United States officers,
man in Brunswick was arrested, but
he proved not to be Mcdonald, and
so was released.
Since that time no testimony has
been taken in these cases except that
supposed to have been given the grand
jury. 1t is believed that Rucker will
tell that body he has no charges to
make against anybody other than that
promises were made him and his two
companions that were not kept once
they were got aboard the ship.
Rucker, though but 16 years old is
said by those who have seen him to
be fine specimen of young manhood.
1t is probable that his statement to
the grand jury will have much weight
with that body, and doubtless will re-
to 49, I'll