The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1906-04-28
DETAILS MEAGER
PantaIeOn BaSteHeChea, Slayer
Claimed SeIf-DefenSe.
ACKNOWLEDGED THAT HE HAD
KILLED THE STEWARD, AND
STATED THE LATTER HAD
THREATENED AND ABUSED
HIM AND STRUCK HIM FOR
MoNTHS-THE EVIDENCE.

MoNTHs-THE EVIDENCE.
Juan Bastisda Sagasti, steward of
the Spanish steamship Wilma was
stabbed and killed yesterday after
noon by PantaleOn Basterrechea, cook
on the same vessel. A corOneT's
jury was summoned Immediately af-
ter the killing, viewed the body of
the dead man, and after hearing the
evidence in the case brought in a
verdict of justifable homicide.
The investigation of the killing
vas conducted by Justice J. R. Ian
! drum, ex-officio coroner, with the fol-
| lowing as the members of the jury:
]. C. Keyser, (foreman), S. f. Bo-
CART, James Whitehead, r. H. Boni-
fay, John c. Brosnaham, and E. NJ.
Frazier.
Immediately after the killing the
body of Sagasti was conveyed to the
undertaking establishment of Frank
FOu, where the inanimate form was
stripped. The wound that caused
SagaSti's death was plainly eX-
hibited, and was a horrible sight to
gaze upon. A few inches below the
left arm was an ugly cash several
inches deep, into which a mans
hand could be placed, and ran across
the region of the heart. In the opin-
ion of medical experts, Sagasti could
not have lived many seconds after
being stabbed.
Facts are Meager.
Facts in the case are exceptionally
meager, due to the fact that there
were no eye-witnesses to the deed,
Juan Dasaniz, cooks helper, was ih
the kitchen of the ship, where the
fatal encounter occurred, but the
evidence showed that This back was
to the men when the quarrel between
them took place. RI
The fatal tragedy occurred in the
Kitchen Of the ship about $3.50 o'clock
which is said to be IL feet long and
6 feet wide. The weapon used by
Basterrechaa was knife with a
blade II inches long, and measuring
in width from 1 inch to ~ inches.
SeIf-Defense Claimed.
El9sterrechea when placed under
arrest by Constable Slocumb and
Chief Of Police Schad did not deny
his guilt. He stated that he had
STABBED Sagasti, though not intention
ally, but Iat the same time he was
protecting himself from an assault
that was being made upon him by
the steward of whom he stated he
was afraid. Basterrechea swore on
the witness stand that Sagasti had
threatened and abused him fog
months and had at times struck
him. The steward was a much
larger man than the cook, and a
better man physically.
Interpreter Needed.
Justice Dandrum ascertained that
the accused could not speak English
and that Captain Vitoriana Bustinza
and Juan Dasaniz, witnesses were
rot familiar with the Egnlish Ian
guage.
Captain Fondebila, of the Pensa-
cola Police Department who speaks
Spanish fluently was selected as liz
terpTeter by Justice Landrum. Each
question asked by the court was
transmitted to Captain Fondibila,
and by him to the witnesses.
Captain Bustinza's Statement
Captain Bustinza of the steam
ship Wilma was the first witness
placed on the stand He stated that
rs knew nothing of his own knowl-
edge of the killing. According to
his evidence the steward, boatmen
anT himself had complained about
the meals served on the vessel by
Basterrechea. From what he knew
n cid not know of any ilAfeeling
between the Clsad man and his slay-
eT. He stated that the steward had
been on the ship for over a year and
that his conduct had been gooos
Never knew him before. Basterre-
chea had been on board the vessel
two months. Knew nothing dcroga-
terry of his personal conduct. All
that he knew about the killing was
told him by DasaniZ, the cooks
helper, who stated that Basterrechea
had killed Sagasti
Dasaniz's Evidence.
The evidence of Juan Dasaniz. the !
cocks helper substantiatea to al
great extent the evidence of the del
PENDANT. Dasaniz. stated that Sagas-
ii had called the cook vile names, |
and that he had heard the two men
guarTelling. He was peeling onions
at the time and his back was to the
and cook. He stated that
be saw the steward come from the
kitchen bleeding, and walk about
ten or fifteen feet and fall. The wit !
ness stated that in his opinion Bas-
terrechea had cause to kill Sagasti |
Dia not see cook stab steward.
Recognized knife in court as one he
had seen on board the ship. Dis no:
see Sagalsti attempt to strike Bias !
terrechea Knew of no previous /
trouble between the men. Had No
idea that quarrel would terminate IA |!
tally. Did not hear what was said
between two men. Saw cook with !
knife in hand, after steward had left !
kitchen bleeding. Cook was not ex-
cited.
Captain Recalled.
Captain Bustinza was recalled byl