The Sun. — 1840-10-05 (London, England)

THAMES POLICE.  COMMITTAL OF A SEAMAN FOR MURDEL—Thomas Hanlon, an Irishman, was brought before Mr. Ballantine for final examination, charged with the wilful murder of Andrew Drynan, a sailor, off the island of Trinidad, on the Bth of June last. The prisoner was sent over to this country by the authorities in Trinidad, and arrived here in the Princess Charlotte a fortnight ago. lie was then remanded by Mr. Ballantine until the arrival of the witnesses who had returned to -Cork in the vessel in which the transaction occurred. :They came here on Thursday in an Irish steamer, and yesterday the prisoner was fetched from Clerkenwell Prison to hear the evidence. It appeared from the testimony of David Rawlinson, the chief mate, and Timothy Cronan, a youth belonging to the brig, New City of Cork, trading between Ireland and Trinidad, that the prisoner was second mate of the ship, and the deceased, a boy, serving on board the same vessel. On the Bth of June, the deceased, Cronan, and three others belonging to the crew, had occasion to go ashore in the joily-boat, with some clothing for the master, and on their way left the second mate (the prisoner) on board a sloop, named the Prosperity, which was at anchor near the brig. The jollyboat called alongside the sloop on its return, for the purpose of bringing the second mate away, and some drink was provided for the people, of which the deceased, Cronan, and others, partook. When they left the sloop on their return to the brig, Drynan complained that be had been struck on board the sloop, but he did not say by whom, and Cronan declared that whoever struck Drynan, must strike him, or he would strike them. When the jolly-boat came alongside the New City of Col k, it was hois.ed up to the davits, and all the party went on board, and the prisoner complained that while he was in the cabin of the sloop conversing with the Captain, a piece cf wet canvas waa thrown down the skylight by Drynan, and that lie would thrash him for it. Drynan said he was leaning over the skylight, and the wet canvass fell into the cabin accidentally. Cronan made some complaints about his shipmate Drynan having been struck, and the prisoner told him to hold his tongue. Crowns was insolent, and said that the second mate might hit him as soon as he pleased, on which the prisoner shoved him down and struck him, and said he would serve Drynan the same. Drynan was at that time in the after part of the vessel, standing close to the chief mate, and he came forward, when the prisoner went over to him apparently with the intention of striking him, and directly afterwards Cronan, who was sitting on the hencoops, saw the deceased go overboard, and he fell into the sea.  Rawlinson, the chief mate, who was close to the afterhatch at the time, and heard the splash, but did not see the lad fall overboard, jumped into the sea after him, and the boat was instantly lowered, but the boy was not seen again, and perished. The prisoner also exerted himself to save the boy, and got upon a barge alongside the ship, with a rope in his hand, to throw to the assistance of the boy, and in endeavouring to save him was nearly drowned. On his return to the ship he delivered himself up to the chief mate, and said," I have committed murder—l deliver myself over to you for murder." It was 11 o'clock at night when the transaction happened, and neither of the witnesses saw the prisoner throw the deceased overboard ; but he went over directly after the prisoner made towards him, whether from a blow or not they could not say. The gangway was open at the time. The prisoner, in defence, said he exerted himself to save the lad after lie went overboard, and with a rope in his hand be jumped on board the lighter and fell overboard himself, and was obliged to get up the side of the vessel by the ship's fender. He was then committed to Newgate for the wilful murder of Andrew Drynan, and the witnesses were bound over to prosecute.  •