The Sun. — 1841-02-01 (London, England)

THAMES POLICE.  George Wakehma, a tall man, chief mate of the schooner Alligator, from Constantinople, who was not apprehended until four o'clock yesterday (Saturday) afternoon, was brought before Mr. Ballantine, charged with the wilful murder of William Sayo, an apprentice belonging to the vessel. James Stirling, the second mate of the vessel, who first applied to Mr. Ballantine, and stated that the boy had died from ill-usage he had received from the captain and mate, and John Cox. were examined at length, and from their statements it appeared that the Alligator had been on a voyage from Liverpool to Constantinople, and thence to London. The deceased lad was ill-used on the outward voyage, which induced him to desert the ship at Constantinople the morning after she arrived there, and before the hands were turned up. He was ashore a month, and was part of the time in the hospital and part of the time roaming about the streets of Constantinople. He was brought on board by the port-master the day the ship sailed, and was then labouring under illness arising from tumours and sores in his legs, and was in a very filthy state. He was not allowed to sleep or take his meals in the forecastle, but was thrust into the long-boat on deck, and a blanket only allowed to cover him. He was compelled to take his regular watches and perform the usual duty, and the captain and mate gave orders to another boy always to rouse him up by striking the tarpaulin over the boat, and to beat him with a rope's-end and handspikes if he did not get up, and one day he came out with a severe black eye, caused by a blow he received. In the Channel, the boy suffered so dreadfully from the • cold that he was put into the forecastle ; but the men complaining of his filthy condition, and that the effluvium front his person was very nauseous, he was forced into a coal.hole in the run of the ship. Here he remained se. veral days while the ship was performing quarantine in Stangate Creek, and, although a medical officer came On board daily, the captain and In rte iovariabiy reported all well. One day the lad was on the weather side of the deck, and the prisoner drove hint to the lee-side, and threw a bucket of water over him, and said he ought to have as much more thrown over him. On Thursday the 21st, Stirling found the lad in his berth quite naked, and in a dying state. The clothes had been taken off the boy by the captain's orders, and given to the cook to be washed. At 5 p.m. the captain was told the lad was dying, and that something ought to be done for him. He was then taken into the cabin, and died in about an hour and a half afterwards. The witnesses attributed the lad's death to ill usage, neglect, and exposure to the cold, particularly during the frosty weather, when the ship was in Stangate Creek, where he was compAed to walk on deck all day, without sufficient cavering to shield him from the inclemency of the weather. He had been compelled to work when he was in a very 'bad state, and not the least care was taken of him. Stirling mentioned that the lad suffered dreadfully front being forced among the wet coals. The prisoner, in defence, said the deceased was not ill used by hint, but he was very dirty and offensive, and was forced out of the forecastle by the men. S:irling was one of the first to drive him out. The crew had a great objection to the lad, on account of his offensive condition, and treated him badly., front a supposition that an outrage had been committed upon him by the Turks at Constantinople. Mr. BALLANTINE said it was the duty of the prisoner, as chief mate, to protect a boy who appeared to be quite helpless from the ill-humour of the men. The prisoner declared he was not aware that the boy was in the coal-hole, and that he only flung a small quantity of water over the lad. Mr. BALLANTINE said the deceased had been dreaefully ill-used, and the case must be further investigated. Any other personS implicated in the harsh usage of the lad must be taken into custody. He remanded the prisoner until Thursday. Valentine and Fox proceeded immediately afterwards to the residence of Captain Cook, the master of the Alligator, to take him into custody.