The Sun. — 1861-10-07 (London, England)

THAMES. ALLEGED MURDER AT SEA.—Soon. after Mr. Woolrych had taken his: seat on the Bench this morning, Mr. J. C. Evans, t uperintendent of the Thames division of police, who was accompanied by two seamen, named James Gilroy and William Benson, applied fora warrant to apprehend William Burwood Baldry, the master of the ship Shantang, which was away for three years, and which arrived in the port of London about a fortnight since. Mr. Evans said that three of the seamen belonging to the Shantang had made statements to Captain George Pearce, the shipping master at the Sailors' Home, in Well-street, that James Riley, an ordinary seaman, had died on the 12th of September last, at sea, a few days after he had been severely flogged by the captain. The statements of the men were forwarded to the Board of Trade, with the omcial log-book, and a communication was made to the Home Secretary. Captain Harris, the Assistant Commissioner of Metropolitan Police, was directed to put the police in motion, and two of the seamen were now ready to be examined on oath. The third man, a very material witness, had gone to Liverpool since he made his statement to Captain Pearce.  Gilroy and Benson were then examined at considerable length by Mr. Woolrych, and from their united statements it appeared that the captain had frequently beaten Riley with his fists. Before the ship arrived at St. Helena Riley appeared to be very ill, and ho wanted to go on shore with other sick mon to obtain medicine and medical advice. The captain refused compliance with this request, and said he would give him all the medicine he wanted at sea. After leaving St. Helena Riley got worse. One day the captain ordered Riley to clean some brasswork and assist in tarring the rigging. The mate told the captain that Riley was not able to work. The captain said rope's end him, and make him work. The mate declined doing so, and the captain gave directions for Riley to be sent up from below. As the deceased was coming up the ladder the captain beat him with a rope, and upon reaching the deck he flogged him severely over his body. The deceased sung out for mercy, and the captain said, there is no mercy for you, I will have your work, or have your life. The captain then tied two over hand knots in the rope and resumed the beating of the deceased, who cried piteously for mercy. All the crow assembled, and one of them proposed to go aft and take the deceased away. Another seaman overruled this, and said you will get yourself in trouble if you interfere. After the captain had beaten Riley in a most savage manner for a long time, the poor fellow was taken below and put into his berth, where he groaned heavily and appeared to be suffering much. Three days after the deceased was flogged he stripped for the purpose of washing, and his body then presented a dreadful appearance. The flesh, as described by Gilroy, " was black and blue all over, and the colour of it could not be seen. His breast, legs, and shoulders, were covered with weals." Five days previous to Riley's death he sent fur the captain, and said, in a faint voice, "are you not ashamed of yourself." Tho captain said "what for." The deceased said, "for not putting me on shore at St. Helena; you have beaten me, and murdered me." The deceased also said, "he want to make a will, as I know I am going to die." The captain told him there was no ocoasion to make a will, and, on his complaining of cold, gave him a blanket and things to cover him. In answer to questions by Mr. Woolrych, the witnesses said they believed that the brutal flogging inflicted by Captain Baldry was the cause of the deceased's death. Mr. Woolrych immediately issued his warrant for the apprehension of Captain Baldry, and it was entrusted to Mr. Evans to execute. Captain Baldry was summoned to this court a few days ago by six of his crew for balances of wages due to them, and he said his own wages were not paid, and he could not get any money from his owners to pay them. Mr. Selfe then made some strong observations on the captain's conduct in spending money he had received for and on account of several men shipped in Batavia.