The Potteries Examiner : — 1880-02-14 (Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England)

MURDER ON THE HIGH SEAS.  William Davies was charged on Saturday at Bow Street, before Mr. Flowers, with feloniously killing and slaying a man of colour named Price on December the 25th, 1879, and also with assaulting James Craig, the mate of the ship Standard Bearer, on the high seas 15 degrees north of the equator. The defendant was captain of the ship Standard Bearer, and on tho 25th of December Captain Charron, of the Sardinia, saw the Alp hoisting signals of distress. He went on board, when the defendant atid that he had shot the man in self-defence, and if he was left on board he would jump into the sea. Captain Charron then put his chief mate on board the Standard Bearer, and the defendant Davies was taken into port, whereupon he was charged with wilful murder.—James Butcher said lam an inspector of police at Scotland Yard. On the sth inst. I saw the prisoner at Dunkerque, where he was detained at the request of the British Consul, on a charge of murder. I said. "You are Captain I Davies." He said, "Yes, Captain W. Davies." I • said, "I am an inspector of police from London, ' and I am going to take you there, where you will be charged with feloniously killing and slaying one Price, a coloured man, steward on board the barque Standard Bearer, on the high eras, on or about the 26th of December, 1879. You will also be further charged with attempting to murder James Craig, mate of the said barque, at the same time and place." He said, "AU I hops is the truth will come oat: what I have done I did to defend himself. I saw the mate coming down the cabin stairs with a revolver in his hand. As forth° steward, I knew nothing about it. I did not know he was there, and when they (the crew) told me he was dead I did not believe it. I thought they wore telling me lies to make me come out. I shall give you no trouble, and will go to meet the charge." I received from Mr. Zephir Charron, of the ship Sarclinian, a double-barrelled breech-loading gun (produced) and a small seven-chambered revolver. tin,' chamber of the latter has been discharged, and contains the empty cartridge ease, and the other six chambers are loaaed. In the Prisoner'. chest I found two bones of cartridges, one full and the other partially so. The Prisoner said they belonged to the pistol. I brought the prisoner to London, and he was charged at King Street on Friday night, at midnight. The charge was read over to him, and he said 'Yen, I understand."—Mr. Flowers (to the prisoner).—Would you like to ask this witness any questions B—Prisoner No ; what he has stated is correct.—Chief inspector Williamson then said: I shall have witnesses to bring from Ireland, and in an important case like this I have no doubt it will be taken up by the Treasury. I will, therefore, ask you to remand the case for a week.—The prisona was then remanded.  The butter brought from Australia by the Strathleven is said to be worth Is &I. per lb. In Australia its cost was only sid. Dr. George Gibson, 8.A., one of the surgeons of the Royal Naval Hospital at Pert Royal, has been killed by a fall from his horse. A verdict of wilful murder against John Wingfield who is in custody, charged with killing his wife. at Kilburn, on the 27th ult., has bean returned by a coroner's jury. Mr. Loyalty has airanp4l a sorter Of porton., :laces by Mr. Toole, at the Crystal Palace. for area month, and also son, teatimes tar )tr. Took ..nd Mr. Byron at the Theatre Royal. Brighton.  Sir liarcourt Johnstone. If P., has remitted 10 per cent. to the tenants of his Meekness estate, Seerbonnmh, end removed the restriction requiring them to supply him with a certain quantity ot straw. The re;tel &rel. Ca.T4tte states thit. according to present Intentions. a flying squadron will be organised in April next, the command of which will be given to Bear-Admiral Earl Clanwilliara, C.B.