The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1909-06-11

his comrade that he bad planned 60
scize that ship in place 81 the one
he had lost, and threatened Skerrett
that IL he exposed his hand he would
murder him. Il was planned 70 take
both the captain and supercargO Of the
Louise J. Kenny unawares, and to nun.
der them. Skerrett, seizing the oppsr.
tunity to free himself from the tolls
Of the monster, wrote a hurried note OF
warning and threw il in the open win.
don Of the captain s cabin. Mortlemans
was then placed in irons
The Confession.
SSerrett or jackson, who has turned
King evidence, in his confession made
to the authorities some time ago, said
that there was a crew of four all told,
including the captain, mate, Mortle-
mans, and himself, who was engaged
as cabin boy 1t was apparent that
Mortlemans had previously planned to
take the ship, for they had not been
at sea many hours before he made a
bloodthirsty attack on the mate. The
mate was attending to some portion of
the rigging when the cook, who had
secured a tomahawk, crept up behind
him and aimed blow at his head. At
that instant the mate moved, and in
stead of killing him, as was intended,
the blade struck his arm, causing
severe wound. The mate then grappled
with his assailant, and attempted to
wrench the tomahawk from his grasp
Mortlemans, however, is powerful
man, and the mate was greatly handi-
capped with his injured arm. After a
desperate struggle, lasting some min
utes, he found he was unable to over
power his antagonist, and made a dash
for the rigging. Mortlemans was TAX
en- aback by this move, and the fugitive
reached the rigging before he was
aware of his intention. The pirate
again rushed at him and made slashes
at him with the tomahawk, but the
mate by this time had reached a place
of safety.
"The commotion brought the captain
on deck. Before he could arm himself,
however, Mortlemans spied him, and
| leaving the mate in the rigging, at once
turned his attention to the captain. Be
fore the captain could get anything
with which to defend himself he was
struck on the head with tomahawk,
and rendered unconscious. Mortlemans
now had full charge of the ship. He
hurried to his bunk, and secured rifle,
which he had secreted- After deliber-
ately loading it, he pointed it at the
mate, and threatened to shoot him if
he did not jump overheard. The mate
attempted to pacify the now Infatuated
man, but without effect, and after argu-
! ing for some minutes he took header
from the rigging into the sea. He was
seen to rise to the surface and swim
towards the shore, but few minutes
| later he disappeared, and was appa-
rently drowned. By this time the cap
tain, who had lain where he was struck,
down, had recovered consciousness, and
Mortlemans gave him the option of be-
ing shot OF jumping overheard. He
chose the latter course, and immediate
ly leaped over the rail. Young Jackson
or Skerrett, who had been an eye-wit-
ness of the terrible deed, took no part
in it, and when the captain jumped
overheard he threw him a plank. He
was unable to say whether the captain
managed to secure the plank, but was
strongly of the opinion that he did not
see it, and was drowned. The vessel
was then fourteen miles off the coast
Mortlemans compelled Skerrett to prom
Use to stand by him, and assist him to
navigate the vessel. Being afraid that
he might meet the fate of his shipmates
if he refused, he at once fell in with
the plans of his companion. The cargo
of coke was jettisoned, ard the name
of the vessel was then erased. The
elder man said he intended to call her
the White Rose. and sail for Australia,
where he would dispose of her."
Joseph Mortlemans was sentenced to
penal servitude for life for piracy and
murder in connection with the theft Of
the schooner Neuvre Tigre and the muir.
der of the captain and mate of that
vessel.