The Pontypridd District Herald and Rhondda Valley, Llantrisant, Caerphilly, and Mountain Ash News. — 1894-06-02 (Pontypridd, Mid Glamorgan, Wales)

TERRIBLE STORY.  Herman Spree, a big, rough-looking fellow, was charged at Bow-street Police.oourt, London, on Saturday, with the wilful murder on the high seas of Carl Petersen.—lnspector Mellish gave evidence as to prisoner'. arrest. —Charles Leharde said that he was an &toe seaman on the Paul Eisenberg. Carl Petersen was an able seaman. He died on March 14 in 30deg. south and Meg. west in the South Atlantic, after they had left San Frsnoisco. Witness saw him four hours below° he died. He was hanging on the main mast. He was hauled up the mast by the mate and one of the boys. It was his watch on deck, and he had been fetched out of his bunk in the forecastle by the captain at about half.past 6. When the cap. tam had him on deck Spree came forward and hit him several blows with a strap all over the body. Petersen said "Leave me alone, I can't get up." The captain ordered two men to fetch him aft to the mast, but witness did not see any mere, as he remained in the forecastle till $ o'oloek. Witness then went on the look-out forward. He tionld not see Petetseu then, but could hear him howling all over the ship. He was crying, and witness coald hear many blows being struck. Petersen was crying till 10 o'clock. Witness then saw him hanging under the mizzen topgallant stay. He Wall sitting on a rope, but witness could not see how it was fastened. He kept on crying for water, and some was brought him by a boy, who tried to reach it up to him. He was hanging about 12 feet above the deck. The prisoner came from underneath the bridge, and asked the boy what he had got there. The boy said water, and the mato told him not to mind, and that if the deceased asked him for t.nything be should not answer him. At half-past 11 Petersen managed to come down. When he got ,down, the mate ran at him from under the bridge, and struck him and kicked him all over. Petersen fell on to the deck, and the prisoner gave him more blows with the strap, and several kicks, The mate and the boy hoisted Petersen up again with a rope to the same place. He hung there on his stomach, with hie arms and logs down. Witnas beard him groaning. Petersen had been hanging up the third time about 20 minutes when it struck one bell, and the mate told him that if he did not shut up he would hang there till after eight bells, or midnight. Petersen did not answer, but kept on groaning. After a time, the mate lowered him, and threw him down onto the main hatch. Petersen's head was hanging over the mate's shoulder, his feet were hanging down, and he appeared to be helpless. The mate said, "Are you dead now 1" but Petersen did not reply, and the mate went aft. Witness asked the captain if they should roll Petersen up in woollen blankets, and he said, "Yes," and Petersen was put in the donkey-engine house. The next time witness saw Petersen was I o'clook in the morning, when his body had been rolled up ready to go over the side. Petersen had complained of being ill that day when he was lying in his bunk. He had not eaten for some time. He joined the ship at San Francisco.— Peter Faller, who stated he joined as nabin boy at San Francisco, but was put into the forecastle, gave corroborative evidence.—The accused was remanded.