The Sun. — 1860-01-02 (London, England)

THAMES.  ALLEGED MURDER OP AN ENGLISH SEAMAN ON BOARD AN AMERICAN SHIP.-Mr. Walter Cole, of 25, York .street, Blackfriars -road, came before Mr. Yardley and stated that his brother-in-law, James Matthew Humphreys, an ordinary seaman, had been beaten and cruelly murdered on board the ship Devonshire. Mr. Yardley—When, and upon what voyage ? Mr. Cole—He was beaten in a most savage manner between Ist and Bth of December, and upon the last-named day he was again beaten by the second mate, who shook the rigging and cast him overboard, and he was drowned. Mr. Yardley—Where is the Devonshire ? Mr. Cole—ln the London Docks. She arrived on Saturday.  Mr. Yardley—ls the Devonshire a British ship ? Mr. Cole—No sir ; an American ship—one of the New York liners. Mr. Yardley—Then I have no jurisdiction whatever. Mr. Cole—What am I to do, sir ? My relative has been beaten and murdered. How am Ito obtain redress? Mr. Yardley-1 would advise you to make application to the American Consul.  Mr. Cole, who was accompanied by Mr. John Charles Humphreys, the brother of the deceased, then retired. Before leaving the court they handed to our reporter a statement, of which the following is a copy, and said if the American Consul did not give them redress they should apply to the Home Secretary and the Board of Trade. James Matthew Humphreys, an Englishman, joined the ship Devonshire. at New York, as ordinary seaman, on the ISt of December last. He was kicked by the captain on the first day the vessel sailed The second mite of the ship frequently ill-used him. On the night of the 6th of December the second mate beat the deceased with a belaying pin, kicked him in a savage manner, and sent him up to the main royal mast head. Humphreys was then so seriously bruised about the breast that he could scarcely draw his breath. On the 7th deceased went to the chief mate of the Devonshire and obtained some opodildoc to rub his breast.. On the 7th of December the second mate went down into the forecastle and called the deceased a d-d loafering' son of a b- and:a d-d London thief, and struck him two or three times in the face, and gave him five minutes to get out of the forecastle on to the deck, and threatened if he exceeded that time he would pull him out. On the Bth of December the finishing stroke was put to the cruelty of the second mate. All hands were engaged in reefing the maintop-sail. The second mato came up the rigging with a marling spike and beat the urtfortunate deceased off the rigging, saying, " Go over you God d- son of a b-," and the poor fellow went overboard and perished. No means were adopted to save him, and no boat was lowered. Mr. Cole added that he received the names and addresses of several of the crew and passengers who were witnesses to the brutal punishment inflicted on the deceased.  Mr. Mitchell has engaged the London Glee and Madrigal Union for a series of performances of English part music to be given at the Dudley Gallery in the Egyptian Hall : the first takes place to-day. Her Majesty's steamship Urgent will not leave Queenstown for the Cape of Good Hope until to-morrow. Letters, &c., will be in time for her if posted at the General Post-office to-night. INQUIRY INTO THE Loss OF