The Sun. — 1845-08-25 (London, England)

CHARGE OF MURDER ON THE HIGH SEAL-Michael Moore was indicted for the wilful murder of John Campbell on the high seas. Mr. Blair and Mr. Drinkwater conducted the prosecution ; Mr. Atkinson was assigned as counsel for the defence. The deceased, John Campbell, was, it appeared, boatswain of a ship' called the Mountaineer, which on the 29th of March last sailed from New Orleanq, on her voyage to the port of Liverpool. The prisoner shipped at New Orleans as an able seaman. On the 14th of April the vessel was getting clear of the Gulph of Florida. The mate's watch had been set to work about 1 o'clock of the afternoon of that day. It consisted of 11 men, including the prisoner and the deceased. About 2 o'clock the mate, the deceased, and another sailor were engaged on the forecastle, getting the anchor on the rail. The mate was standing on the rail, and the deceased was about a yard behind him. The prisoner was near the windlass. Mr. Barrow, the mate, heard the deceased cry out, " Look out, Mr. Barrow." He half turned round and l'ociked up ahvit, where some of the watch were employed, when he received a push on the back, he did nut at the rnement see from whom, which threw him over the rail, but falling across the flying jib guy, he succeeded in recovering himself. OU looking round, he saw the prisoner running pas' the windlass end towards the starboard aide of the ship. He followed and seized him. He was not at that time aware the brtswain had been injured; hut on returning towards t heflecastle he found him being assisted by two men aft, and on examination it appeared he had received a stab in the belly in the region of the stomach, from which blood and froth were oozing. Near the spot where the deceased had been working was found a knife which belonged to the prisoner. It was a clasp knife, with a blade about four inches long, which was covered with blood. The prisoner on being asked in the presence of the deceased what could have induced him to do such an act, said he was quite satisfied with what he had done, and wished he had done it before. The deceased said he felt he was dying, and begged them not to hurt the prisoner, saying, " I forgive him, and I hope God will." He died about seven in the evening. It. appeared from the further examination of the several witnesses, that the prisoner had had no quarrel either with the deceased, the mate, or any of the crew. He was a good seaman, and had done his duty well. A day or two after he left New Orleans he was in conversation with the mate, and said he was very sorry he ever came on board the ship. The mate asked him why, and he said the crew were in a plot to throw him overboard. The mate asked him which of the crew, and he said he did not know. The mate endeavoured to eradicate this idea from his mind, but he several times repeated the same expressions both to him and other members of the crew. The day before this occurrence he saw the deceased and another sailor reading the Bible, and he said they were swearing the crew to throw him overboard. It appeared from the testimony of the surgeon of the gaol under whose care the prisoner had been after he was committed- for trial on the arrival of the vessel in Liverpool, that the prisoner complained of pain in his head, and seemed incoherent in his conversation. He said he had had the yellow fever at New Orleans. From what the medical man observed in ssveral long conversations with him he thought the prisoner was suffering under sub-acute inflammation of the brain, and prescribed for him accordingly. While he was under medical treatment he seemed reserved, and rather avoided the notice of the surgeons, but appeared anxious to be discharged from the hospital. He seemed much better in consequence of the medical treatment.—Acquitted, on the ground of insanity.