The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-05-13
COWBOYS IN 4
MUIINY SEQUEL
Murder on the High Seas Is Fol
lowed by a Strange Trial in
an Arizona Court.

gal adviser, J.. X. K. COrmac, have been
here attending the trial of Deputy
Sheriff Lee Hobbs Of Arizona, charged
second mate Of the British ship Leices.
ter Castle, on Sept. 2, 1902, in the South
Pacific ocean.
The murder of Nixon, brutal and APP
parently uncalled for, is tragic page (
from the history of the sea, and the
trial of Hobbs was no less thrilling |
to the British consul general, who had
grave doubts whether he would reach
San Francisco alive.
Attic Nixon was identified by mem
Der Of the crew of the Leicester Castle,
he succeeded in establishing an alibi,
and the case, which consumed three
days, was dismissed by Judge Kent.
The. mutiny, resulting in the wound.
ing of Captain Robert D. Peattie and
the killing Of Nixon, occurred off Pit
cairn island.
The Leicester Castle arrived in San
Francisco from Hongkong in ballast
May "a, 1902, and shipped as able sea-
men fourteen men, among whom were
three Americans, who gave their names
as James Turner, aged 21, Of Ida Falls;
w. A. Hobbs, aged "a, Of Litchfeld,
Ill, and Ernest Sears, aged Fl, of Me-
Koy, Ore.
Hobbs was stout, smooth-shaven
man, tanned by the sun. Sears was Of
gentlemanly appearance and slighter
build. Turner was like Sears, but
thinner. ---
Threatens the Mate.
The ship sailed July 26, 1902, with
cargo Of wheat for England, and was
barely under way when it was discov-
cred that the three Americans were
ignorant Of a sailors duties. Hobbs
was ill in his bunk and was ordered
l. f,.e4 10 hut ,afI1 Tn
90, and told the first mate, eff you
knew who you were talkin' to, you
would let me alone:
The men were disrated by Captain
Peattie. and after they got their sea
legs the first mate made it unpleasant
for Hobbs, according to a landsman g
thinking. The. latter had boosted to
Arizona
On the night Of Sept. 2, when the
ship was making three knots an hour
in smooth sea, with light wind
blowing, Hobbs stole the second mate g
revolver and approached the first mate,
who saw that it was run or get shot. He
fed to his cabin, where he barricaded
himself: Failing to dislodge his enc
my, Hobbs attempted r4se. He sent
report that a man had fallen off the
forearm and broken his leg. The cap
| tain prepared the table for the victim
and turned to the door of the cabin
| to go on deck when he was confronted
| by Hobbs, revolver in hand.
A Brutal Murder.
Now, then, captain,'' he quietly re
marked, and, with the muzz1e he, six
feet from the captain s heart, pulled the
trigger. The bullet lodged in Peat.
ties chest, but, full Of fight, herushed
at Hobbs, who fired again, the ball pass
ing thru the muscles Of the left arm
The captain staggered, but did not fall
and Hobbs ran at him with Delaying
pin. He battered him on the head, and
as he fell fired two more shots into his
body. nN 81
The report Of the pistol brought Nix
on to the scene, just as Hobbs believed
he had killed Captain Peattie. Turn
ing, he shot Nixon thru the heart. The
second mate, dropped in the doorway
adm the murderer stepped over his body
the captain s wounds Hobbs, Sears anc
Turner kept the first mate and crew a
bay, one standing guard, revolver il
hand, while the others constructed {
raft of planks taken from the whea
bulkhead, cork cylinders from the life
boat and ends of the jib downhauls
Provisioning the raft, they launched i
during the night and dropped astern
amid fusilade Of shots from the crew
who had been armed by the first mate
A lookout was kept for the raft the fol
lowing morning, but it was not sighted
and it was thought that the three mel
had been drowned. =. .M.
The mutlny was reported at Queens
town on the arrival Of the Leiceste
Castle, and British cruiser was ordere,
to search Pitcairn Island, the neares
land.
But the murderer and his companion
lived on the frail craft until they wer
sighted and picked up by a schoone
Drifted to Arizona.
Christian WOLF, an able seaman, VIII
witnessed the mutiny and subsequentI
left the Leicester Castle, was maxim
his way to Clifton, Ariz., where he in
tended to settle, when he encountere
;, Turner at Ell Paso. Turner told hir
formed him that Hobbs was living i
; Clifton.
WOLF had no desire to meet the mul
derer, and in fright changed his plan o
!, locating at Clifton. But in passin
I thru Arizona his connection with til
: Leicester Castle was learned by til
Arizona Rangers and they detained hill
to identify Lee Hobbs, who was al
rested.
Hobbs took his arrest coolly. but
aroused the community, and cowboys al
I tended the trial by the hundreds.
:. Hobbs, as deputy sheriff and cousi
y Of Sheriff J. V. Parks, was well know
! in the territory, and when, armed wit
extradition papers, Consul General Bel
Q nett arrived here, he was less intereste
8 in the picturesque setting of the grouI
e of cowpunchers than he was disauiete
by their scowls and hitching Of thei
q "guns.'
WOLF declared Lee Hobbs, the DEBUT
!. sheriff, was W. A. Hobbs, who signed o
q the Leicester Castle as an able Seaman
: but a number Of witnesses swore tha
Lee Hobbs was in the state when til
: mutiny took place, and even produced
g newspaper that had a paragraph rela
ing to visit Hobbs had made on tia
date. 80
If the consul general can prove thu
the mutineers landed in San Francisc
4 after they were rescued from the raj
r the British government will reopen Ii
9 case, and make a vigorous search f.
: the accused men.
!, RUSSIANS FEED THE JAPs
: Four Cargoes Of Supplies for Roles
4 venskv Cantured 1hv Kamirnnro