Evening journal., 1913-11-12
MUTINEERS
MAY ASK AID
OF ENGLAND
British Sailors Intimate They
May Appeal to Their COun-
try'S Consul to Help
DISTRICT ATTORNEY
BEGINS INVESTIGATION

Second Mate Samuel SBobohm and
taking possession OF the ship 500
miles east of Bermuda, spent today
in cells AZ the county workhouse
awaiting q preliminary hearing for
eighteen OF their number on Monday
morning next before United States
Commissioner William G Mahaffy
Three Of the sailoru pleaded guilty
after they we're asked by COmmis-
sioner Mehany and District Attor-
ney John p. Nields u they understood
the meaning OF their pleas. John A.
Reid one OF the men. an Australian
with a remarkable Gov OF language.
pleaded guilty under strong provo
cation" While the accused sailors
did not have counsel yesterday. il
was said yesterday afternoon that
they expected tho Seaman's Union 10
procure counsel for them. and some
OF the sailors who are English sub
jectB ssid they would appeal TO the
British ambassador a. Washington or
the English Consul at Philadelphia.
where they shipped, to intervene IN
their behalf.
District Attorney Nields today said
he had received no communication from
any representative Of tho British gov
eminent about the arrest OF the English
sailors who were in the creW Of the chip
Tying the American flag
The district attorney today began an
examination OF exhibits in the case, in
eluding the log books kept by Captain
Townsend and First Mate Trip, and
also She entries made in what they des-
gnate as log books by Joseph A. Hers
fell Richard Williams and Reid, three
Of tho uutineers. Their so-called log
book IL record of alleged i'll treatment
/ by the captain and mate toward the
crew and also accuses the ships officers
Of being too greatly under the influence
Of drink most OF the time after the
Manga Reva left Philadelphia on Oc-
tober r. Captain Townsend, still some
what dazed and far from well mau,
donies the stories of abusive language or
actions on his part toward the crew, and
he and Mate Trip brand az false the
accusation that they we're intoxicated
at any time ON the voyage.
District Attorney Nields today said
that his inquiry so far had ELECTED
| Information attesting 10 the reputa-
tion OF Captain Townsend as mar
iner noted for leniency toward his
crews. Such Information came fron
Philadelphia shipping circles, he
said. Mr.. Nields also Is looking al
the record of Hersfall, one OF tn
4 sailors whom Capt Townsend think
! was one OF the ring-leaderb Of tn
. revolt. Hersfall. while an English
| man, served IN the United States Ma
rine CorpH or IN the navy. M
Nields has heard, and he desire
Hersfalls record.
Otto Tongler cook OF the Mangl
Reva, was released ON $500 bail as q
witness yesterday afternoon, Com
missioner Maheffy dismissing the
charge OF mutiny against him at the
request of District Attorney Nields
Captain Townsend said Tongler was
loyal to him, but Vas cOerced by the
uutineers who assaulted the cook.
OF far greater Importance in tho
case than the mere charge Of mutins
was the result Of the examination,
made yesterday by reVenue cuttel
men on the bark The statementl
of Captain Townsend to the effect tina
the ships stores had been rihed. tn
lcsptain's goods stolen and the shil
damaged. constitute. IL true, charg
OF the highest crime of the seas--tha
OF piracy. Conviction means life I'm
lprlsonment The Federal law con
1 .cerning piracy says;
Whoever on the high seas commit
the crime Of piracy as defined by IN
laws of nations. and is afterward
l. brought into the United States sha
!" be imprisoned for life.
Whoever, being seaman. la,
Id
a to hinder and prevent his fighting
defense Of his vessel or the goods el
trusted to him. is a pirate, aud sha
% be imprisoned for life"
70 District Attorney Nields said tod;
m that he might prefer charge
M piracy If the evidence. after his fu
ut Investigation. should Justify it. m
xe minimum penalty for mutiny Is
st years imprisonment. The last m
he tiny case in this district was in leC
e. involving the yacht Roamer's ere
and resulted In their acquittal
EngVal Andersen, +. Werner a.
Fritz Koch. sailors who cannot u
derstand English, will be arrang
4. this afternoon, when an interpret
~ will be present They were not a
O. raigned yesterday because of {
a absence Of an interpreter.
10 Captain TOwnsend's Log.
no Captain ToNnsend's log furnishes
ID interesting story OF the period OF I
x mutiny. Under date OF October % ca
ey tain Townsend wrote:
y. "At eight Dells. after had eat
DO breakfast. the chief mate was on de-
Dn l had Just come below after taking I
sun and was in the cabin when eia
'st bells was struck.
a. "Just about the time the bell "
ar made somebody called to me and 81
ad one sailor wanted 20 speak to me.
ra piled 1 would be out in five minut
al not thinking anything had taken pla
was seated in the cabin when six 50
ors came running in and grabbed y
One had pistol. and while | tried
n. find out what the trouble might be II
tied my hands and feet with strC
81 cords. / was too weak TO defend n
- self and was AZ their mercy.
- "The ringleader then came down
"a said they had taken charge OF the =
n, and were going 20 put back tried
=" ..ie find out what their guimbling "
-, They did not know. only they inten
.nu gong back. They got ship irons
iSr put the mate and the second mate
irons and also apair on me. tried
to reason but could not get them TO lis
but TO anything
tn They have got me in their power
oat theF hsve ali nv firearms, and the m
raj has got nothing; 80 ] am in hole
Lee /