The Sun. — 1861-12-05 (London, England)

DOUBLE MURDER ON .4N AMERICAN  SHIP AT SEA.  From information received by the American consul at Cardiff, the superintendent, with an effective staff of constables, repaired to the West Bute Dock at an early hour on Tuesday morning to await the arrival of an American ship, Pleiades, on which a horrible murder had been reported. Thousands were present to wait the arrival of the ship, and the police had no easy task to accomplish to keep the people at bay. At about 10 o'clock the longlooked for came at last, and eight foreigners (Italians, Americans, Germans, and Austrians) who comprised the crew, were immediately arrested on the charge. Their names were Peter Storey, Peter Murrier, Irach Jocynine, Martin Sando, Perfeto Salas, Joseph Mansel, John Mansel, and Peter Sanga: From the captain of the ship the following particulars were afforded :—lt appears that for some considerable time the crew had manifested very bitter feelings against the mate of the ship for his repeated hard conduct towards the men, and accordingly it had at length been decided in council to murder him on a favourable opportunity presenting itself, The 12th of last month proved the fatal day not only for him, but for another poor fellow, who is supposed to be an unwilling accomplice. The mate (whose name we have as yet been unable to ascertain) went, as usual, at an early hour in the morning to call the men from their sleeping apartments, when he was immediately attacked with staves, knives, and other dangerous weapons. The captain, hearing the noise, rushed on deck and fired on the men, and then, by persuasion and force combined, succeeded in rescuing the victim, but the injuries were of too severe a character to give the rescuer any faith in entertaining the slightest hopes of his recovery. His body presented a frightfully mangled appearance, and the wounds caused him the greatest agony. He lingered, by aid of stimulants, not many hours, after which he was, according to the custom, thrown overboard. The other poor fellow, whose name also we have not learnt, was the interpreter, and was despatched in the ocean with little or no ceremony, at least so is supposed by the captain, for he missed him without seeing any struggle or hearing any disturbance. The villains, however, were not content to stop in the execution of their deadly work after causing the death of two, but they afterwards attacked the second mate, upon whom, fortunately, they determined to exercise a little mercy, and he was subject to no further molestation, after having received severe wounds on his left arm. The captain appears to have enjoyed the general confidence of the crew, and was not hurt.  The prisoners are at present confined in Cardiff gaol, awaiting the arrangements of the American Consul to transfer them to the American police authorities for the administration of the laws of that country. The greatest excitement is manifested in the case at Cardiff, and the vicinity of the police station has been crowded throughout the day with people anxious to glean every particular.  feated. We should have mentioned that the greater part of the money believed to have been in Cumming's possession on Saturday evening was not found. The ls. id. dug out of the ground behind the house No. 35 was all that was recovered.