Denton and Haughton Examiner, etc. — 1879-04-05 (Denton, Greater Manchester, England)

THE GAS WELL MUTINY AND TRAGEDY: THE CHARGE AGAINST PISTORIA. The charge against Joseph Pistoria, a Sicilian sailor, .I,or beautgisnplicated in the terrible tragedy on board tWithip Glxsyte/G, ofailwOnsea, on itteligh sea on the' 4th January, 1876, was proceeded with before the Queenstown magistrates. The prisoner and his brother Gasper were frequently mentioned during the trial of Bombos as the Maltese. The prisoner now admits he is a Sicilian and that his real name is Francesco Mos°hero. He is about 42, of short stature, and squarely built. He speaks and understands English, and on this account there was no necessity for an interpreter. He paid great attention to the evidence of Carrick, and frequently shook his head when references were made to his part in the affair. Mr. Gregg, Crown Solicitor, Cork, attended to prosecute; the prisoner was defended by Mr. O'Connell, solicitor, who was instructed by Signor Miloro, the Italian Consul at Queenstown. The solicitors were provided with a printed book containing the mass of evidence adduced at the trial of Bombos two years ago. James Carrick, the able seaman who navigated the Caswell into Queenstown in May, 1876, was the only witness in attendance of the five Englishmen who were on board the Caswell. Peter M'Gregor is in the country and will be present at the next examination of the prisoner; but the others are in distant parts and cannot be produced. James Carrick, at present mate, deposed that he joined the Caswell as able seaman at Buenos Ayres on the 28th of August, 1875. He went from that port to Valparaiso, and thence to Antofogasta. The ship sailed from Antofogasta on the let of January, 1876. The crew were then fourteen ell told. The officers who were murdered were George Edward Best, master, William Wilson, chief mate. Allen MLean, second mate, and E. Griffiths (a negro), steward. The crew included three Greeks and two Maltese. They were bound for Queenstown, and nothing particular occurred until the morning of the 4th of January, 1876, when he saw Captain Best entangled with Big George, one of the Greeks. Big George had one of his arms round the captain's body and his arm uplifted. The prisoner, whom he identified, was then at the wheel. Witness I saw him running from the wheel down the pimp. The captain was then falling in Big George hands. Pistoria had a revolver in his hand, and witness heard the report of a shot, and saw the smoke. The smoke came from the revolver in prisoner's hand. Witness saw the captain shortly after, and there was a small blue mark at the butt of the ear. Soon after that witness saw the second mate stabbed by Big George in the back; but just before he cried out "Put her back "—that was put the vessel back. The mate had reached the break of the poop, and as he was running past Bombos stabbed him. After detailing the circumstances connected with the murder of the officers the witness stated that before the bodies were thrown overboard the prisoner walked back to the poop, haffing the revolver in his hand still, and speaking in English, said, "Get that kedge anchor along." The anchor was brought to where the bodies of the captain and second mate lay, when the prisoner cut the watch tickle and with it lashed the bodies, the others assisting. The rope was then made fast, and the bodies thrown overboard. The prisoner called upon the carpenter and made him assist. The prisoner was remanded.