New-York tribune., 1919-06-05
Sailor Witness
E5ares Horrors
OF w ater Cure
Testifying in Sea Murder
Trial, He Tells of Being
Chained Three Days TO
a Bilge Water Pump

Tales Of cruelty alleged to have been
perpetrated on the high seas aboard
the American barkentine Puaka, were
told in Judge Houghs court in the
Federal Building yesterday by four
2eamen.
Each Of the stories in narrowing de-
tail dovetaied into the other. The
stories were told from the witness
stand in the trial of Captain Adolph
c. Pedersen and his son Adolph Eric
Petersen who are charged with the
murder Of Axel Hansen. seaman of
the Puaka. on August 6, 1918, while
the vessel was at sea.
William Jones. Welsh miner, who
shPped aboard the Puaka at Victoria,
B. c.. just before the sailing ship left
that port for Cape Town, South Africa,
declared Captain Petersen had struck
aim across the back with a club SO
hard that he was rendered unconscious
for more than an hour and a half.
Asked by Benjamin Matthews, assis-
tant district attorney, to describe the
water cure alleged to have been used
by Captain Petersen and his two sons,
who were officers of the ship, Jones
testified.
- was chained in the pump-hold
with another man for three days and
three nights. We were chained to the
pump. The gasolene pump with hose
attached was started and bilge water
was pumped on us for half an hour
at a time. as long as there was any
wafer IN the bilges. The captain and
the two mates were present"
Al this noirt an objection raised
by Dudley Field Malone, counsel for
the defendants, was sustained by
Judge Hough and the narrative ended.
Jones previously had testified that
this treatment was meted out TO him
because he had refused to sign state
ment he alleged was drawn up by one
Of the mates at the dictation of the
csptaia. This statement, which he de-
clared he signed eventually under
duress, was that he had received 81 900
from a German agent to blow up the
ship.
His story Of being beaten with a
club was developed by Mr.. Malone
under cross examination. Mf Malone,
however, won point in the captains
favor When Jones, who suffers from
captain had given MN medicine when
his own supplies ran out.
James Campbell. of Kingston, Ont,
another member Of the crew, told a
narrowing story. He testified that
last July ne was called into the cabin
By the captain to witness a statement
that Hansen was compelled to sign.
This inciden. lasted two and a half
hours, during which the captain, both
mateg, the cabin boy and Campbell
were present.
Il relating the incident from the
witness stand Campbell said: Hansen
was handcuHcd. His face was swollen
and his eyes almost closed. There was
big cash doan his check
"Thc captain said TO me: 4 want
you 70 witness this statement Of Han
gen's. He then handed the statement
- Hansen, and asked him if it was
true. Hansen SAID go The captain
said: Confess. you - confess
Hansen said no again. and thcn
the captain SAID 70 the matcg: Wake
MN up The second mate got a big
st.cH and n, Hansen over the head.
The frat mate began debating and the
sscond mate took it down in writiny
Hansen wouldn't confess fast enough
~ they hit him again. At last the
statement wa9 finished and Hansen
signed II. and / witnessed it."
"Did you read it?' asked Mr. Mat
tnewz.
80, gir, ! never did" replied Camp
bell
The two other witncsses we're Ed
ward Reilly, a native Of ireland. anu
Jac> Joe. Il Chilean, Hawaiian born.
Their testimony corrobora.ed that OF
tne previous day.
Campbell will continue his testimony
to-day.