The Sun. — 1839-09-20 (London, England)

ALLEGED MURDER AT SEA.  On Wednesday John Blonk, an American seaman,was brought before Mr. Broderip at the Thames Police-office charged with the wilful murder of Peter Sampson, the second mate of the brig Midas, of Dundee, on the high seas, within the jurisdiction of the Admiralty of Enland.  The prisoner is a very intelligent young man, and was sent home from St. Petersburgh in a steamer, which reached London on Tuesday night. Two witnesses were sent home in the same vessel by direction of the British Consul.  The prisoner was charged with the wilful murder of the second officer, by striking him on the head with a handspike and inflicting a serious wound, of which he died on the following morning. James M'Gee stated that he was a seaman on board the Midas, and knew the second mate,who was a Swede, and named Peter Sampson. On the last day of July the ship was beating up. between Elsineur and Copenhagen. The second mate called all hands up to put the ship about. The whole of the ship's company came upon deck except the prisoner. The second mate went to the forecastle soon after, and called out, " Jack, come up and give us a pull at the lee main brace." The prisoner answered from below, " I'll see you -first before I get my dinner." Ia about five or ten minutes afterwards the prisoner came upon deck and abused the second mate in a very gross manner. The second mate again told him to go and give a pull at the lee main brace, but did not abuse the prisoner at all. Blonk, however, continued to abuse Sampson, who shoved him down on the chain cable, but whether he struck him or not he could not say. The mate allowed the prisoner to get up again, and walked to the other side of the deck to let go the weather main braces. After Sampson had made the braces fast the prisoner continued to abuse him. They were then about twelve feet apart, not quite the width of the deck. The mate directly afterwards came towards the prisoner, but whether he intended to take hold of the prisoner or not he could not say. At that time the mate's hands were down. As he was advancing towards the prisoner, Blonk said, " If any one of you lift your hand to me again I'll knock you down with a handspike." At the same moment the prisoner picked up the handspike, and struck the mate a heavy blow over the left temple. The mate fell backwards, and witness ran towards him, caught him in his arms, and took him aft. His temples were bathed, and everything possible done to restore him, but l►e was quite senseless, for the blow had stunned him.  Another seaman corroborated this evidence.  The prisoner made a very long defence, in which he said the mate was in the habit of treating the men on board very cruelly, and that some harsh words having passed between them on a point of discipline, the mate struck and kicked him, and that he (the prisoner) had dealt the blow with the handspike in self-defence just as the deceased was again about to strike him. The witnesses were recalled, and again examined at great length by Mr. Broderip, who afterwards said it was his duty to commit the prisoner for trial for the wilful murder of Peter Sampson on the high seas.—The prisoner was then taken to Newgato.