The Sun. — 1859-11-25 (London, England)

RDB12 ON THE HIGH SEAS.  • Yesterday. Francis Boland, a seaman, aged 48, was brought up at the Thames police-court, charged with the wilful murder of Edward Hyland, another seaman, on the high seas, on thellth of July last.  Mr. J. C. Evans, superintendent of-the Thames police, said the depositions in this case had been taken by the British Consul at Lagos, on the West Coast of Africa, and by him transmitted to the Board of Trade. The ship Medina, in which the alleged murder was committed, arrived with the witnesses in the St. Katharine Dock on Wednesday afternoon, and he caused the prisoner to be arrested, and ordered the attendance of the witnesses who came home in the Medina. The British Consul had sent home in the same vessel a black man, who was not one of the crew, but a labourer on board, and he would give evidence of the transaction. Mr. Evans handed in the papers connected with the case, and the investigation, which extended until a late hour, was proceeded with. Mr. George Mortimer Farrow, chief mate of the Medina on her late voyage to Africa and back, said the deceased Hyland was an able seaman on board. On the 11th of July the ship was at anchor in Lagos Roads. The captain was absent on shore, and the witness had the command of the vessel. He was taken ill two or three days before the transaction occurred. At eight o'clock on the evening of the 11th of July he was about to set the anchor watch, and heard a disturbance. He went on deck and was met by the cook, who said the deceased and the prisoner were fighting, and that Boland was using a knife. Witness was very ill at the timo a and could do nothing. The cook had rust left him for the purpose of going to the combatants when Hyland fell upon the deck. The cook said he was stabbed—was killed, and the blood rushed from the deceased's wounds on to the deck. He went up to the deceased, who was insensible. The prisoner came up to him, and he said to him, " You have been using a knife ; what is the cause of this ?" He believed the prisoner said he bad no knife. The prisoner was partially intoxicated. Witness ordered a boat to be lowered, and sent for the doctor on board her Majesty's ship Medusa. There were three wounds inflicted on the deceased ; one of them was in the abdomen, and the bowels protruded. Willie the deceased was on the cabin floor the prisoner said to the surgeon of the Medusa —" All he has got was intended for me ; if he had not taken a knife to me I would not have taken one to him ; he has cut me on the head." There was not the slightest appearance of a wound on the prisoner's head. He did not find the knife with which the wounds were inflicted.  In answer to questions by Mr. Selfe, the witness said the crew had been plundering the ship'sstores, and that was the cause of the fatal occurrence. The seamen got at the champagne and ale. When I found the prisoner partially intoxicated after the occurrence, I asked him where he got drink from? He said, "We have been down in the hold and taken a cask of ale, and all hands will pay their share of it." In consequence of what I heard, I ordered some bottles to be passed up from the forecrstle. A man named him if there were any more, and lie replied in the negative. I opened a case of champagne. There were five bottles missing. After some further evidence, the prisoner was committed for trial on a charge of wilful murder.