The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-06-10
'ACQUITS PEDERSENS
ON MURDER CHARGE
Jury Finds Captain and Son
Not Responsible for Sea-
mans Drowning.
ACCUSED WEEP FOR JOY
Still Face Trial on Seven
Charges of Assault on
Sailors.

The Federal District Court jury, |
which for a week listened to conflicting
testimony about troubled voyage of
the barkentine Pualea around Cape Horn
last summer. found Capt. Adolph Corne-
! Illus Petersen and his son, Eric. second
mate. not guilty OF murder yesterday.
The jury took only fifteen minutes to
give expression to Its agreement that the
drowning of Axel Hansen, able seaman,
| In the roaring forties' OF the South At
| lantic was not an act for which the
| master or his second officer should be
| held responsible.
The jury accepted the story OF Capt.
Petersen and his two sons, Eric and
Leonard. the latter first mate, that they
were menaced throughout a four months
voyage from Victoria, b. c.. to Cape
Town by members OF a mutinous crew
who did not hesitate at attempted MUIR
| der. rather than by the stories Of sea-
men that Capt Petersen and his two
sons practised systematic cruelty In op-
pressing the crew. Capt. Petersen
maintained that Hansen was never
beaten or otherwise III treated and that
he cast himself overheard in a squall in
which 1t was impossible to try to recover
him.
Capt Pedersen's eyes moistened in the
| reaction that followed the announcement
OF the verdict of not guilty by Farquhar
j. McRae, foreman. There was a space
OF several minutes during which Judge
Hough and the jury. speaking through
the foreman, exchanged compliments.
| During this the little weatherbeaten
captain stared toward the bench. His
eyes filled and reflled, but he kept the
tears from starting down his cheeks
with the strong will that the testimony
at the trial left Is no doubt is his Eric
sat beside him without trace of ex-
preston on his boyish face.
As the jury marched from the box
Dudley Field Malone and Edward w.
Mcdonald, the defendants counsel. and
the Los Angeles policeman who identified
Hansen as an l. w. w. agitator. formed
a circle around the captain and his boy.
As many hands reached toward him in
congratulation Capt. Petersen broke
down completely. His head bent lol.
ward and he reached for a handkerchief.
Eric followed his course Both sobbed
for several minutes.
| The captain and Eric passed last night
In the Tombs prison. where they nave
been for several months There are
seven other indictments against each,
based on alleged assaults on seamen.
Judge Hough said he would hear a mo-
ton to admit the defendants to freedom
under bail this morning Mr.. Malone
will ask for bail in IS. 600 for each. This
is the sum In which Leonard is free fol-
lowing an indictment for assault. Leon
ards trial Is scheduled to start to-day.
Capt. Petersen made a statement to re-
porters He said
mo matter what the verdict might
! have been l would have been satisfied
, in my conscience. knew that we were
not guilty, and knowing that, I have
been satisfied from the start that we
;, would be acquitted. We are grateful to
the jury. to the prosecution for its fair
ness. TO the lawyers who SO ably DC
Tended US and 10 the court
Mr.. Malone said that testimony that
appeared to suggest that Kinds, Rolph
x Co. owners OF the Puaka, were I'M
friendly to union labor was unfair IL
, them. He said that from its star. the
: firm had instructed its masters to engage
r only union seamen when such were
available. One of the members OF the
firm Is Mayor Rolph OF San Francisco.
!; In charging the jury Judge Hough
l said he would set aside verdict OF
murder in the hrst degree. because he
5 was satisfied that the element of pre-
meditation and elaboration was missing
E He said that either the master or the
( second mate might be found guilty OF
i murder in the second degree, but not
both.