Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser. — 1861-12-06 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

HORRIBLE DOUBLE MURDER ON AN AMERICAN SHIP AT SEA.  From information received by the American consul, at Cardiff, the superintendent of police, with an efficient stair of constables, repaired to the West Bute Dock, at an early hour on Tuesday morning to await the arrival of an American ship, Playedes, on which a horrible murder had been reported. Thousands were present to await the arrival of the ship, and the police had no easy task to accomplish to keep the people at bay. At about ten o'clock the long-looked for came at last, and eight foreigners (Italians, Americans, Germans, and Austrians) who comprised the crew, were immeitiately arrested on the charge. Their names were Peter Storey, Peter Merrier, frach Joeynine, Martin Sando, Perfeto Safes, Joseph Hansel, John Hansel, and Peter Sanga. From the captain of the ship the following particulars were afforded It appears that for some considerable time the crew had manifested very Litter feelings against the mate of the ship for his repeated hard conduct towards the men, and accordingly it had at length been decided in counsel to murder hint on a favourable opportunity presenting itself. The I.2th of last month proved the fatal day not only for him but for anether poor fellow, who is supposed to have been an unwilling accomplice. The mate (whose name we have, rts yet, been unable to ascertain) went, as usual, at an early hour in the morning to call up the men from their sleepilug apartments, when he VMS itaniediately 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 sliAte:t h mes of his recovery. His body presented a frightfully mangled appearance, and the wounds caused him the greatest agony. He lingered by the aid of stimulants, not many hours, after which 110 was, according to the custom, thrown overboard. The other poer fellow, whose name also we have not learnt, was the interpreter, and was despatched into the ocean with little or no ceremony, at least so in supposed by the captain, for he missed him without seeing any struggle, or ksartng any disturbance. The villians, however, were not content to stop in the execution of their deadly work after causing the death of two, but they afterwards attacked the sectrad mate, upon whom, fortunately they considered, to exercise a little mercy, and he was subject to no further molestation, after having receivtd 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 in Cardiff gaol, awaiting the arrangements of the American consul to transfer them to the American police authorities for Cm admiaistrat'on of the laws of that country. The greatest itxcitement is mattifested in the case at Cardiff, and the vicinity of the police station has been crowded throughout the day by persons anxious to glean every particular.