The Sun. — 1854-06-17 (London, England)

THE INSUBORDINATION ON BOARD THE LADY ELMA BRUCE.  Captain BradshaW, of the Lady Elma Bruce, who, as stated yesterday, had been brought to this country from Monte Video, on a charge of murder, was on Thursday brought before the Mayor and borough magistrates of Southampton, when five of the crew—John Morris, able seaman ; Augustus Egans, seaman; Augustus Melville, carpenter ; Peter Tully, painter ; and John Bolin, able seaman—were examined at great length. It appeared from their statement that the vessel, which belongs to Liverpool, and is 1,000 tons burthen, was joined by some new hands at St. John's, New Brunswick, in consequence of several of the crew having deserted, and proceeded on her voyage to Valparaiso. On the evening of April 3, there were some disturbances on board, in consequence of some of the crew becoming insubordinate and refusing to pump the ship when ordered to do so by the mate. Next morning (the 4th of April) it commenced to rain very heavily, and Chesterman (the man who was subsequently shot) and another man took shelter under the poop. The captain went up to them, and said, " Men, get buckets, and pass rain-water along." Chesterman said he would not pass any more rain-water along while he was on board the ship, and, on the captain asking for his reason said, " Because, captain, I have as good a right to drink good water as you or your wife." They disputed together for some time, but their quarrel was terminated for a time by its becoming necessary to trim the sails of the ship. After the captain liaCi put the crew through the necessary manoeuvres, he crossed from the starboard towards the port side of the ship to Chesterman, and asked him what was the reason he would not pass along the rain water ? The man replied point The blank, " Because I won't, captain." captain again asked, " You won't ? " to which the man replied, "No, I will not." The captain then ordered him off the poop, and when he had turned round to go below, Chesterman received a blow on the head with a " sling shot." or life-preserver, which the captain held in his hand. The blows were repeated, the captain trying to trip the man up. Chesterman then grappled with Bradshaw, who attempted to strike him again with the " sling shot," but it flew out of his hand. Chesterman caught the captain by the hair with his left hand, and with his right hand dealt him a blow under the eye. They were then separated, and Chesterman was in the act of leaving the poop, when the captain produced a revolver pistol, which he had before attempted to draw from his pocket, raised it, fired, and shot the man in the left side. Chesterman staggered down the ladder, and a short distance along the deck, and fell forward on his hands and knees. The captain turned to the men, held out the revolver, and exclaimed, " I'll shoot every one of you." The crew ran to Chesterman, and conveyed him to the forecastle, where he exclaimed—" I'm shot, Charlie," and immediately expired. The deceased was buried at sea. The occurrence took place near Rio de Janeiro, and the ship was run into Monte Video, where the acting consulgeneral investigated the circumstances, and forwarded the prisoner and the witnesses to England, together with the stock of the revolver. The case not having been concluded, the mayor remanded the prisoner.