Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-18
OYSTER BOAT SLAVERY.
officials to Run Down Witnesses in
Gallagher Case.
Specla! Dispatch to The star.

Speciai Dispatch to The star
NORFOLK, Va. December 'lS-Now
that the remaining members of the crew
of the oyster dredger ELLEN Ruth, aboard
which young William Gallagher claims to
have been shanghied and m1streated, have
been sent from the dredger and are missing.
the government will spare no expense In
running down these witnesses for an in
vestigation OF the charges brought by young
Gallagher against Capt. Marsh commander
Of the Ellen Ruth. 1t is alleged that soon
after the escape of Gallagher and the re.
port that he had filed complaint with the
federal authorities in Virginia against Capt.
Marsh, the latter dismissed the remaining
members of the crew and sent them ashore
with SUFFICIENT money to reach their homes.
When Marshal Bendt arrived on the
scene he found the Ellen Ruth deserted.
He was told that the witnesses he wanted
had been sent home by Capt. Marsh and
that the latter had proceeded to Norfolk
TO investigate the charges brought against
him by Gallagher.
The names of the witnesses wanted by the
government are: James OBrien, James
Moran, George Branner and Frank Bar
gorli. They are all said to- have gone to
Baltimore by circuitous water route, but
the government authorities have put agents
out everywhere to apprehend them =. a
In his examination before US. Commits
sioner Bradt, Capt. Marsh admitted that
he had Knocked down and tied young Gala
crew of negroes had threatened to throw
Gallagher overheard and string him up to
the rigging Of the vessel. Capt. Marsh &C.
knowledged that he did not know whether
Gallagher and four others shipped with
the latter knew what they were signing
when they placed their signatures to the
contracts by which he afterward held
them prisoners on his boat. Marsh further
said he did not know whether the amount
OF salaries to be paid the shanghied crew
was In the contract at the time they
signed.
He acknowledged that he thought he had
a right to hold Gallagher and others aboard
his vsssel against their will, and said he
had feld them, despite their repeated en-
beavers to escape and return to their re-
specttS'e homes. Marsh admitted that when
young Gallagher and OBrien escaped from
the Ellen Ruth he pursued them with q
pistol and compelled them at the point Of
the same to return aboard of his vessel.
after which he placed negro guards in
charge with pistols to watch Gallagher
OBrien and others while he went to
his home in Reedsville. This was on
Sunday Marsh said the day after
Gallagher was taken in charge by
the federal authorities he released O'Brien
and the three others who had signed with
Gallagher, paying them off and telling them
to return home.
Marsh's excuse for the treatment Of
Gallagher and others was that he had al
ways held his men for the entire season.
and that other masters of oyster boats In
the Chesapeake bay were accustomed to
act and treat their men as he had DONE
Marsh said he had often threatened and
tied up men who refused to work on his
boat and that he saw nothing wrong In
anything he had done.
The cases are to come I'D before the fed
eral grand jury at Alexandria in January
Capt Marsh stated at his preliminary hear
Ing that he was worth $1,000. and Gala
CHER declares that as soon as the criminal
proceedings are over he will sue Marsh civil
~ for cruel treatment.