Evening journal., 1913-11-17
MUTlNY CASE
PROMISES WARM
COURT FIGHT
COnSuIS GeneralOf Three COun
tries Provide Counsel for
Accused Men
CASES In COURT
HERE TOMORROW

AT the reuest of ]. Frank Ball, who
has been retained by the British, Ger
man and Norwegian consuls-general
to defend the members of those ma
tionalities among the crew Of the
American bark Manga Reva, who are
charged with mutiny by Captain II. c.
Townsend, master of the vessel, the
hearing in the case at 1890 o'clock
this morning was postponed until that
hour tomorrow morning. District At
torney J. p. Nields, who received a
request from the consuls-general TO
permit the case to be continued, con-
sented to the motion TO continue. Dis
trict Attorney Nields on Saturday had
a conference with /. e. Thayer, owner
of the Manga Reva, and il was on
that day that he was requested to cOD-
tinue the case. The alleged mutineers
were not brought in a body from the
workhouse today, but Will be tomor-
row.
The fact that Mr.. Ball has been re-
tanned to defend the mutineers against
The charges preferred against them
by the captain, indicates that there
will be hard battle in the case, espe-
cially as Mr.. Ball has announced that
be will exert himself to the utmost
in the defense of his clients. Mr..
Nields will prosecute the case on b.
half Of the government
This morning Mr. Ball went to the
workhouse to ascertain the prison
ers' side of the case. It is expected
that following the conference With
Mr.. Ball John A. Reid, William An
dersen and John Edmunds, Who on
last Tuesday entered a plea of guilty
to the charge OF mutiny will With
draw their plea and ask that a plea
of not guilty be entered.
Among the witnesses who have
been interviewed in the case by Dis
trict Attorney Nields is a former
member of the crew of the Manga
Reva, who came to this city this
morning. John Shea. 81 years old,
who was a member of the crew of the
vessel on the trip from San Francis
co to New York. where the bark ar
rived IN SeptembeB went to Mr..
Nields' Office this morning with a
long statement Of alleged occurrences
on that trip. The mutineers who are
under arrest we1e engaged for the
return trip to San Francisco.
Shea, who lives at No. 953 Frankford
avenue, Philadelphia, alleges rough
treatment on behalf of captain Town
send toward the members of the crew,
in his stateme@ of the alleged conduct
OF Captain Townsend. Mr.. Snea said he
was q member Of the crew On the Manga
Reva coming over from frisco. The
trip took l34 days. They left Frisco
on April 80 and arrived az New York on
September B. Captain Townsend knock
ed him down with club and kicked
him. Shea told Mr.. Nields and he alst
alleged that every day some member o.
the crew was IN treated.
Shea exhibited a hand which is still
badly swollen al hough the injury ;
several months old. lie is unable L
use the hand. He alleges Captain Towns
end hit him on the hand with a club
Shea told District Attorney Nield
that Walter Wallace, cabin boy, is
physical wreck as a result of treat
ment he received on the trip from
San Francisco.
Shea, who is an intelligent looking
man, and possesses an education
above the average seaman, stated tha
he had brought suit against Captain
Townsend, in New York, on thi
charge of cruelty and told Mr.. Nieldi
that the captain had been released oI
bail, the case not having yet come NJ
for trial.
When the mutineer crew arrived ii
this city on the revenue cutter Oman
dago last week John A. Reid allege,
that charge had been preferred
against the captain In New York, al
a result of occurrences on the tril
from San Francisco. When inter
viewed by reporter of THE EVEN
ING JOURNAL on this point, how
ever, Townsend denied the allega
ton and declared that no sucl
charge had been brought against hin
in New York.
First Mate Trip, however, sal
there had been a controversy be
tween some of the sailors and Cap
tain Townsend over the charge tn
latter made for clothing he supplies
the sailors, but this was adjusted b.
lawyers, Trip said, without an
charge being preferred in court
Joseph Hersfell, one Of the crew
now accused of mutiny, at the prelim
mary hearing, last Tuesday asked
he could prefer charge against Cap
tain Townsend and Mr.. Nelds as
sured him they would be given fai
opportunity later on to be heard or t
t.Ir, u,Ffap