Evening journal., 1913-11-18
TWENTY-FIVE SAILORS
FACE MUTINY CHARGE In
UNITED STATES COURT

William G. Mahaffy at eleven o'clock
this morning. in the Federal court
room. Second Mate Siegfried Sno-
bohm and Otto Tongler. the ships
cook, both of whom testified they did
not join in the mutiny, were on the
witness stand this morning Snobohm
said he never had been on a voyage
where men were treated as badly as
on the Manga Reva. Both men testi-
fed that First Mate J. S. Tripp had
been drunk after the ship sailed, but
both said they had not seen Captain
III. c. Townsend drunk, although he
was sick a great part Of the time.
Snobohm said the captain used
abusive language toward the crew af-
ter the ship left the Breakwater. and
lhe had heard some complaints of
scarcity of water and food. He never
saw the captain strike any of the
crew, he said.
The hearing at lis took a recess until
2l5; when the cross-examination OF
Tongler viii be resumed bv j. Frank
Ball, who represents the accused sea
men. he having been retained by the
Norwegian British and Swedish vice
consuls in Philadelphia to look after the
interests of the seamen, who mostly are
OF those nationalities.
A large crowd gathered in the court
room and in the corridor outside for the
heari1g. The twenty-five mutineers,
manacled in pairs, were taken from the
county workhouse to the courtroom by
Deputy Marshals Mitchell and Finn
with Hallack S. Ray and Fred Hannum
as special deputies.
L. Alexander Ford. British vice-con.
sui and Christian Moe Norwegian vice.
consul of Philadelphia, We're in court
during the hearing and frequently con
ferred with Mr. Ball. District Attorney
John p Nields prosecuted the case for
the government.
Mrs. John P. Nields, Miss Emily P.
Bissell, Mrs. James B. Clarkson and
Miss Abbie Speakman sat with Mar
shall Townsend during the hearing
A woman in black. heavily yelled,
who represented the Naval Aid So
ciety, also was present She said her
husband had been a sea captain, but
she declined to give her name She
was present in behalf OF the seamen.
Shipping men, as we'll as represen-
tatives of the eSamen's Union also
we're in the court room.
District Attorney Nields said thd
issue before the commissioner was
probable cause of mutiny and re-
volt. Commissioner Mahaffy inquired
whether Mr.. Ball represented all the
defendants and he replied in the al
firmative.
Mr. Ball at the outset asked for per-
mission TO change the plea OF j A. Reid,
one of the crew, TO not guilty. Reid nad
lpleaded guilty under strong proyoca.
tlon, when arraigned last week. Mr..
Ball said that really did not constitute
a plea. 1t was decided to take the
point up later. Mr.. Ball then asked leave
/ to withdraw the pleas Of guilty 5i
John Edmunds and William Andersen
and to substitute a plea OF not guilty
iCommissioner Mahaiiy said he had asked
the men if they realized what their pie.
of guilty meant, and had questioned
them about it, and they had replied af
lfirmatively. lie then accepted the pie.
land issued a commitment for the men
he said. District Attorney Nields ssi'
it was an unprecedented suggestion 3.
far as he knew, and would like to heat
authorities ON Withdrawing a plea OF
that stage.
Mr.. Ball contended there was nc
question about the regularity of per
nitting the men to Withdraw pleas
OF guilty at that stage and enter
pleas of not guilty. William Ander.
son. one OF the men who pleaded
guilty, had informed Mr.. Ball that he
did not understand what the plea
meant.
Mr.. Nields, in behalf Of the United
States government said that he had
no objection to Withdrawing the pleas
ii il could be done legally. Mr.. Bal
replied that if Mr.. Nields would with
draw his objection there would be nc
objection. Commissioner Mahaffy
asked w. G. Edmunds lawyer Of Phil.
adelphia, who was present as coun.
sci for Captain Townsend, ,>if the plea
could be withdrawn regularly under
the circumstances and Mr.. Edmund'
basing his reply on long experience
said he did not think it could be.
Commissioner Mahaffy said that II
the absence of authorizes being quot
ed he would not permit the change
of pleas to be made, but If he coulC
be shown authorities later to iustif,
a change he would permit it. Th'
hearing then proceeded.
Justin R. Smith, United States ship
ping commissioner in Philadelphia
was the first witness called. His duty
lis to sign crews for vessels, enter
enter into contracts between captains
and crews. etc. He said the shipping
larticles Of all but five members o
the crew of the Manga Reva were
read in his presence, and the crew
isigned the shipping articles, The fiv'
men we're First Mate James S. Tripp
j Second Mate s. Snobohm, Eric Carl
sen, Joseph E. Reid and Lee Wallace
Mr.. Smith, referring to an "excep
ltional circumstance, started TO speal
. lof a previous voyage, Mr.. Ball OBJ
liected, insisting that Mr.. Smith SHOULD
speak only of his personal knowledge
mir. Smith admitted his testimon.
would have been about something HI
knew of by current report and h
was not permitted to testify. Mr.
Smith said the crew were notified
that if they signed and appeared il
an intoxicated condition for muster
lthey would not be permitted TO sal
ION the Manga Reva.
Commissioner Smith said the crev
was gathered by Johnl H. Quinn, 0
PHILADELPHIA. who makes a business
of securing crews. Mr.. Nields aske'
Mr.. Smith about Quinn's reputation
} but Mr.. Ball objected, and the ques
ition was not pressed. The men weri
: signed for a voyage, which general.
lasts from 100 to l35 days.
Mr.. Ball cross-examined Commits
r / of ,fr,aI IF