The Washington times., 1907-11-05
SHANGHAIED
SAYS PRISONER;
FINED IN COURT
Man Tells Story of Cru
city on Oyster Boat.
Swan Ashore.

A case OF shanshaiing which may de-
Nelop into a sensation was unearthed
In the Police Court this morning By
Judge Muiiowny, when Thomas Henry
was brought before the court on a
charge Of disorderly conduct.
Henry was in y weakened state this
morning and being unable coherentIy TO
tell the story OF his brutal treatment at
me hands OF the captain Of an oyster.
Dodt which Is now engaged in dredging
oysters on Colonial Beach, Va, OF the
PEELED 20 impose a fine Of s. or fifteen
days imprisonment II is understood
that M. Massey, who is engaged in
rescue work among the prisoners who
Ter with Judge MuIlowny this afternoon
In the interests u the man.
Went Out for "Good Time"
Henry, though unable 70 tell his story
IN court. talked freely OF his narrowing
experience to a Times reporter. He was
engaged several months ago as a scene
Shitter IN one OF the theaters IN Phila-
delphia, but thinking that he could bel
Ter lis condition IN Baltimore, went to
the latter place In search of work To-
setAer WITH one or two other men.
henry started out October 6 for a good
unlo ana IN the course OF the evening
met several other men who said that
they were members Of the crew OF an
oyster Eo1t which was then lying at
Baltimore.
These new aCQuGiutances. plied Henry
and his friends with liquor. Henry SAYS
that he remembered no more until he
aWGke on schooner out IN Chesa peaks
bay. lie asked the captain Of the boat
70 let hIm go back on shore, but the
latter only laughed and told MIN with
an oath and a blow that ne had ae-
Cepted a berth on board and that until
the captain saw fit 70 let him off ne
would have 10 work
Work at Revolver Point.
From that time until Cctober Is, when
the boat anchored opposite Colonial
Beach, Henry says that the captain and
first mate made the lives OF the crew a
veritable torture. He said that the food
was net only insufficient in quantity
but inferior IN quality and that one of
the men fell sick with dysenteTy. De-
spite the fact that the man, whose
name Is said to be Thomas TObin. was
almost too weak to walk TO the filthy
room where the meals were served he
was forced at the point of A revolver 10
go about his work.
One night TObin made an attempt 10
escape. but ne was caught before he
could leave the boat and shortly after,
according TO Henry'S story, the captains
of several other oyster boats, then ly-
luS near at nanU, came ABOARD and with
the help Of TObins captain beat the sick
man inSensible. The injured man Was
then brought around with brandy, and
he was told that the next time he tired
&c get away he would be served worse
A few nights after this incident the
boat was taken 10 FairmOunt. Md. and
Henry decided to make his escape. To-
gether with Julius HeTbst another
sailor. he cut the tender loose from the
rear Of The larger craft an0 began row.
ing toward shore. Before they had
gone far, a wave capsiZed the small
boat, AID both fell into the icy water
Henry started TO swim for shore, but
seeing that MS companion was unable
to swim, b. turned back, helped the
man to catch held OF the
boat and then swan TO the shore.
Henry SAYS that be managed 70 walk
from where ne landCj almost frozen
and starving, about one mile from Fair
mount. to Washington, and that with a
little money he had begged on the way
he secured a bed night llefOre last. Last
night he met several men whom he
knew slightly, and treE started drink
Ing. 1t was then that Policeman He
brew saw Henry on the street IN
helpless condition and arrested him.
What the outcome of the investigation
which Judge Mullowny intends making
will be cannot be aSccrtatned. but IL is
that il the mans story is
true. an attempt win be made to prose-
cute the oyster boat captain against
whom Henry makes the charges.