Swansea and Glamorgan Herald, and South Wales Free Press. — 1849-07-18 (Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales)

ATTEMPT AT MURDER AND MUTINY.—The particulars of a foul and wicked scheme for the murder of the captain and officers of a British merchant ship, and the seizure of the vessel, were disclosed on Friday, before Mr Rushton, at the Liverpool Police-court. The names of the men in custody are Henry Mitchell, Joseph Ward, Jas. Carthy, John Hennessey, John Ray, William Burke, and James Wiffin. On the 26th May last, the ship "York," a fine vessel of upwards of 1000 tons burthen, consigned to Messrs. Alexander Dennistoun and Co , of Liverpool, left New Orleans with a cargo of cotton, corn, Indigo, and staves. After the vessel had_been out two days, and while . .  she was still in the Gulf of Mexico, one of the hands went aft to the captain, and told him that there was a conspiracy on board of the vessel to kill him and the chief mate. The man who communicated this information is named Don. king, Ile said that he had been laid up for some time, and had been confined principally to the forecastle. After they left New Orleans he heard a great deal of talking and whispering among the men, Litt could not tell its purport. On the second day after sailing, he went upon the forecastle, and he there ascertained that it was the intention of some of the men to kill the captain and mate at ten o'clock that night. After some time, one of the prisoners, Joseph Ward, came up to him and told him what they were going to do. When they had got the vessel, they intended to make him (Donking) an officer. tie immediately replied that it must not be done, for he should not stand by. Ile was then told if he made the matter known ,he would suffer. After a while he went and told the captain. Another seaman, named Charles, who had also been kept in ignorance of their design until the time of his watch, on being informed of the intentions of the men, told the mate. A third hand, named Morrison, also said he was asked to take part in the diabolical affair, but refused. On the night in question he heard the mate call to Willin to heave the lead. Ward immediately said, "If you go, I will cut your throat."—The captain said he believed Wiffle had been persuaded in the affair; and that of himself he had no doubt he was true to the officers.— In reply to Mr Rushton, Wiffin stated that Ward asked him to assist in the matter, and for some time he refused. Ward said his intention was to knock out the brains of the captain and the mate, to put Mitchell in command, and make him (Wiffin) the mate, and take the vessel to California, or run her on Key West and set fire to her. At the ten o'clock watch, when he (Wiffin) was told by the mate to heave the log, he did not like to refuse, and,in attempting to obey the order, Ward said he would cut his throat if he did so. It had been previously arranged to refuse duty on that watch. In a short time Ward walked aft, and was seen with a heavy instrument in his belt, which proved to be a large iron bar. By previous arrangement with the trusty portion of the crew, the alarm was then given by the mate, and the mutineers seized upon and placed in irons. Ward had on his person two pistols. The captain turned the vessel round, intending to run back to New Orleans, but, having consulted with the mate, it was decided to keep Ward and Mitchell, the ringleaders, in irons, and proceed home. The vessel arrived on Friday morning, when the men were immediately given into