Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-06-15
Grew Of Three Held at Boston for
Crime Committed on
Coal Barge.
TWO MAY PROVE AN ALIBI
Cook Had Access to the Skipper 4
Cabin-Powerful Hunchback
Appears the Most Nerv-
Gus of Trio.

Boston. June 11.-Three members of the
crew Of the coal barge Glendower of Phil
sdelphia were arrested yesterday near
Boston light by the harbor police on the
charge of murder on the high seas after
the lifeless body of Capt. Charles D.
Wyman of Parkerhead. Me, had been
found in the captains bunk in the barge
Captain Wyman had evidently been
beaten to death with a heavy club as he
lay sleeping. According to the harbor
police, the killing took place while the
barge was 10 miles out at sea at 7:45
O'clock Friday night.
The three men arrested are William De
graft. the cook, of 46 Clark street. Boston,
Antonio Driskitch of 2,Gl4 Richmond
street. Philadelphia, and William Nelson
CT 2,514 Richmond street Philadelphia. 1t
Is said that Degraff's home is in Glouces-
ter. but that he has been lodging in Clark
street. He is a hunchback with a pinchcd
face. His shoulders are huge and his
arms long and powerful.
The police searched the barge thorough
" for weapon with which the crime
could have been committed. but no blud
Eeon nor marlin spike bearing any traces
which would point to it's having been
used could be found. But on board the
vessel was found pair of trousers with
apparently fresh blood stains.
Captain Wyman was found lying
lace downward in his bunk. He was
dead. His face and head were cover
ed with cuts and bruises. Blood stains
were on the walls and ceiling of the
cabin. although there was no sign of
a struggle.
Captain Wyman was fully clothed.
His body was wrapped in blanket
and there was every indication that
he had been struck and instantly killed
as he lay asleep. The medical en-
aminer said that he had been muir
dered. According to the police. De-
graft told this story:
STATEMENT BY COOK.
Il last saw Captain Wyman about
quarter before twelve Friday morn
ing, just after dinner. He went to
his bunk, and after washing the dishes
l turned in and didn't awaken until
three in the afternoon. One of the
other men was at the wheel and the
other in his bunk
AT three o'clock 1 started to get
ready for supper. l thought 1t queer
| did not see the captain, but I knew
he often stayed by himself for hours
at time. At 4;45 I rang the supper
bell but the captain didn't come.
thought he was sleeping. and he had
been complaining lately of indigestion
and wanted to stay In his bunk. We
were not allowed to go TO his cabin,
so ! did not disturb him.
"Driskitch, the donkey man, came
Gov OF
asked what was the matter with the
CAPTAIN. He said he hadn't seen him.
said I did not know. He said per-
haps we had better wake him, that
there might be something wrong. I
said. Perhaps he Is asleep and we had
better not disturb him. At SIX o'clock
took the wheel. relieving Nelson. He
went below. About 20 minutes after
ward Driskitch called that we should
wake the captain as we were coming
to the harbor
T called to Nelson. He took the
wheel and went to the captain S
cabin. I told the donkey man to fol-
low me. The captain was lying in his
bunk wrapped in a blanket. ! saw
blood on the wall, and I was surprised
touched the captains shoulder. His
body was hard and I could see that he
was dead.
81 called the donkey man. He came
"a far as the door. but would not
come in. We both went on deck. and
the donkey man wanted to call the
tug, but, as there was a heavy sea
rolling, 1 told him to wait until We
got into the harbor. That's all I know
hbout It, The thing is a mystery &c
me The captain was a good man"
Driskich said
Il don't known anything about It.
know little about the captain. H.
kept to himself. Everything was al
right on board. and there was NJ
trouble of any kind until we founC
The dead body of the captain in hi!
bunk"
The prisoners were turned over t'
The United States authorities
COOK APPEARED AGITATED.
All three prisoners talked freely con
corning the happenings and their &C
tons on the barge previous to the dis
covery of the mutiliated body Of Cap
tain Wyman
Driskitch and Nelson offer as an alb
that when they were not standing thei
tricks at the Wneel tney were Sleepln'
in the hunks in the wheelhouse. so tina
1t would be impossible for either of then
to leave his bunk and go to the cap
tain's quarters without rubbing shout
ders with the man at the wheel.
Each Of the two is insistent not onl.
that he did not go below but also tina
the other did not 60 Neither of then
directly accused the cook of the crime
vet each, when asked to express al
opinion, shrugged his shoulders and said
II will not make any talk"
Cook Dcgraff had his quarters in tn
galley in the deckhouse, which com
municated with the captains cab
through the little chartroom, and h
and the captain were much alone ther
when they were not doing their trio
at the wheel.
He was no less positive than the other
in the assertion Of innocence, but In col
trast with their GOODNESS he appeare