The Sun. — 1860-04-24 (London, England)

APP.RETIENSION OF A MURDERER IN  AMERICA.  The Boston Courier of the 2d mentions the arrest of a man named James Johnson on board the ship Brewster, Capt. Fessenden, from Calcutta, Nov. 30, on a charge of murdering three seamen belonging to the British man-of-war Retribution, from Calcutta, about five months since. The facts in the case, as near as can be ascertained, are as follows :  " Johnson is an Englishman by birth, and states that he is 23 years of age, although he appears several years older. He belonged to the British army in India, from which be deserted two or three years since: He afterwards acted as a bar-tender at a low rum shop in Calcutta, and it was here that he, with others, murdered the three seamen. The men were killed by being beaten over the head with a slung shot and glass bottles. They were supposed to have been murdered for their money. Johnson was supposed to be the chief perpetrator of this horrible murder, and officers -were sent in every direction to ferret him out if possible. Ho escaped, however, by hiding behind a chimney in the house of a friend, where he remained three days without anything to eat. At the end of that time he left, and smuggled himself on board the ship North America, which was to sail immediately for the United States. He bribed the mate by giving him a gold watch to allow him to remain. He was detected, however, by some of the crew, as a fugitive from justice, and sent on shore. He then went on board the bark Clarissa Currier, which was bound for Boston, and bribed the mate by giving two gold rings and a silver watch to allow him to stay ; but here he was discovered again while going down the river Iloogly, and to get rid of him they sent him on board the ship Brewster, which was just leaving for this port. He climbed over the bows of that ship, and, when one of the sailors asked him what he wanted, he said, " For God's sake save me ; if the officers get hold of me I shall catch the seven stretchers.' rhey concluded to bring him over, and did not suspect at the time that he was a murderer. The sailors state that during the passage he has been seen to start up in his sleep, and cry out, Go away, I did not murder you alone ; he helped me to do it.' My God, there they are !" See the blood !' and other exclamations of horror, mingled with oaths. The police are in search of the mate of the Clarissa Currier, to whom the prisoner is supposed to have confes'sed the crime. The ship arrived here about a week since, and the mate has concealed himself on account of a debt for which he has become liable, and for which a warrant has been issued against him. The evidence is probably strong enough to convict him without the testimony of the mate, but the British Consul desires to have the evidence beyond a doubt before sending him to Calcutta. Johnson is of medium size, and has a decidedly hard-looking face, especially when looked upon as a murderer. He refuses to hold any conversation in regard to the crime with which he is charged."  The colonelcy of the 10th Regiment remains vacant by the death of Sir Thomas M‘Mahon, and no recommendation has yet been made to her Majesty respecting the selection of the officer to be appointed is his place,— oarilly and :Yoz7l Gazette.