The Sun. — 1853-10-08 (London, England)

THAMES -ALLEGED MURDER ON THE HIGH SEAS. —Captain William Tapley Stooke, the master, and William Northcote and Thomas Goldsworthy, seamen, surrendered on bail to answer a charge of killing five seamen, who formed part of the Asiatic crew shipped at Singapore. Mr. Bodkin, who appeared for the crown, said he had some evidence to call which would put an entirely different complexion upon the affair. It would appear that the origin of the affray had no reference to a conspiracy to seize the ship at all. No attack was made on the chief mate in the first instance ; but a Lascar was found asleep by the chief mate on deck, who ordered another Lascar to beat him, and on his refusal to do so, the chief mate attacked the man who refused to chastise his shipmate, and several Lascars on board then interfered to save their countryman and dragged him away. Under all the circumstances of the case, he (Mr. Bodkin) felt bound to press a charge of manslaughter against the prisoners. A gentleman named Earl had promised to attend to interpret, but it was found that he had gone away. Jahn, the serang on board the Queen of the Teign, a native of Java, who understood a little English, was then called, but his examination was effected with very great difficulty. He said he was roused by his wife, and went on deck. Bill (Northcote) had got a cutlass in his hand. He saw no fighting going on, but Bill said that Tindal (the boatswain) wanted to kill the mate and kill every one. He then saw the captain, who got upon the skylight on the poop with a gun and was loading it. The captain said, " You see, serang, the men want to make fight, and don't know what for." The captain went forward with him to bring up the men who had run below. Ahalt, who is in custody, came up first, next Taleb, and the third was Ali, who was in custody. Ali was followed by Seraman, Casaib, Topaz, Kichil Mahommed, and " Small Schmat." The captain told him to see whether the Lascars had got knives. They were all made fast. Witness heard a gun fired after he turned out of his berth and had come on deck and gone to turn the men up. He did not see the gun. Cross-examined by Mr. Clarkson The mate had been stabbed long before witness came upon deck. Heard the gun fired after he saw the mate wounded. David Fairfold was in the forecastle asleep when witness was called. Asked the captain to let his (witness's) wife come aft, and he said "Go and fetch your wife and child aft."  M. Clarkson—Out of danger ? The Serang could not comprehend the meaning of the word " danger," and the question, though repeated several times was never answered. He remained on deck several hours after the " bobbery," and saw no one killed, and no one hurt. Mr. Clarkson—lt was all done before you came on deck ?  The Serang—Yes, all over. No bobbery when came up. Captain there—saw him. At length the difficulty of proceeding without an interpreter became so great, that a Bombay man of colour, who understood Malay, and who had been found, after great trouble, was sworn in that capacity. When, however, he translated the first question, the Serang looked looked sternly at him, and remained silent. Mr. Yardley—The witness does'nt understand him. He speaks another language. The Interpreter said the witness understood him very well, and said something to the Serang, who turned fiercely round and talked to him. After a short altercation the interpreter rushed to the door and hastily left the court.  Mr. Yardley said it was a very great misfortune indeed that, when this most singular and complicated case was first presented to the public, an efficient interpreter was not employed on the part of the Crown. After a long discussion it was agreed to adjourn the further hearing of the case until Monday, the 17th inst., and Mr. Yardley said he would at once write to Mr. Earl, the interpreter, requesting him to attend. The case against the Malays, who stood charged with mutiny, was also postponed. Mr. Treatt, the mate of the Queen of the Teign, said he had been put to great expense by his detention here, and could not afford to remain any longer. He had Leen on shore twelve days, and was without funds. Mr. Yardley recommended him to communicate with the Treasury.