The Herald of Wales and Monmouthshire Recorder. — 1885-01-24 (Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales)

INHUMAN MONSTER.  Capt. John Williams, oyster dredger has been charged at Princess Anne, Md., U. S., with murdering one of Lis crew Otto Meyher, Frederick Boye, the member of the crew who was captured by the Baltimore police, teatifle I to the most atrocious cruelties practiced by Capt. Williams. He said that the crew of the Eve consisted of Meyher Haas, two Americans known as Bill and Ruins, and himself. on one occasion, a few days after they sailed from Baltimore, Meyther complained to Capt., Williams ef being sick. Although it was bitterly cold, the captain threw a bucket of cold water over him, and then beat him with a marlinspike until he promised to work. A few moments later Meyher dropped Senseless to the deck, when the Captain kicked him and stamped on his face. At frequent intervals during the next few days Williams knocked the man down bee ins° he did not werk fast enough. Once Williams kicked him away from the crank handle of the dredge. Meyber screamed, "Oh, God! my back! my back!" Williams then jumped on him and trod on his neck and fare. Rufus helped beat him. Then he and Bill picked up Meyher as though to throw him overboard. Toe captain told them to put him down, and tied a rope around his waist. They rigged the rope to a block and fall and threw him overboard. Alter wards they pulled him up to the top of the mainmast and tied him there. It was hitter cold at the time. The other members of the crew were so stiff with cold that they , could hardly work. When Meyher was lowered ! he was almost frozen to death. His clothing was stiff with ice. He was thrown down in the hold. Later the captain took a piece of tarred rope and going down in the hold began to beat Meyher, who was Piling with his back propped up against the centreboard. Witness and the re-t of the crew heard the shrieks of the unfortunate man, but could not interfere. The next day the csptain made the crew carry Meyber on deck. The captain then pulled Meylier's boots off, and swore that he should go barefooted in ' the cold until he worked Meyher was unable to stand up, and, then the captain tore all his clothing off, and while Meyher was lying nude on the deck, the captain beat him with oyster shells, which cut his flesh. Moyher was then thrown back into the hold, where he stayed until next day. The captain went to witness in the night and said: “Dutchman, you kill that man or I'll kill you." The witness replied: "I won't touch him, and you may kill me if you want to." When they reached the landing of Lower Fairmount the captain went down in the hold and tied Meyher's thumbs together with a piece of tarred rope. Then he passed a pulley rope through the loop and ordered the crew to pull Meyher 011 deck. The latter was half in sensible, and as his body came through the hatchway on the deck his head, which was awaying backward, caught on the coaming. The captain deliberately walked up to the hatchway and kicked the body and head until it swung clear, and Meyher was pulled on deck. He lay there half unconscious all day. At night the captain fastened the two Germans in the hold, and they heard Mcylicr scream and groan as though SOMA one was beating him. Then they heard the small boat bumping against the side of the schooner, and the dip of oars followed. Liter, when they were allowed to go on deck they saw Ms yher's body lying on the shore about thirty feet from the water. That night the schooner sailed, and they did not get back to Fairmount for several months. Justice John W. Carroll committed Captain Williams to await the action of the grand jury. The feeling against Williams is intense, aud there has been talk of a lynching party.