The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser. — 1832-11-30 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

MURDER ON THE HUM SEAS. . Robert Chalons was indicted for the.wilful murder of Thomas Elves, on the high seas, within- the jurisdiction of the Admiralty Court of England, oh the 9th of April last. , John Thompson stated that he was mate of the brig Matilda, of Liverpool, which sailed from that port on the 29th of March last, bound. toSt. Thomas's, in the island of St. Domingo. The prisoner clandestinely got on board the shipinstead of his brother, who had been carpenter. When he was discovered he signed articles, and was considered the ship's carpenter. He appeared very ill in the early part of the voyage, and witness baformed the deceased, who was Captain of the Yessvl, of that•fact, who observed it was then too late to put him on shore, and he might get better. The prisriner did get better, and took watch with the rest of the ship's company. On the 9th of March, in consequence of information received from the cook, witness went below after dinner and found the prisoner lying between two chests, and moaning ; he said he was very iil, and could not come upon leek. Witness told:the Captain, who ordered him to get the medicine chest and book out; and go and ask the prisoner what was his complaint. The Captain Was ;,,oing below, and he had got half way down, when he' uttered a cry of " lifurder !" Witness tried to pull him on decii, and all the rime blows were given below with a hatchet or shipvvright's adze. More of the crew came to his assistance, and the prisoner was secured. The adze was taken from him. The Captain was wounded in the thighs and legs. Witness told the prisoner he was a cruel man to cut tie Captain in that manner. He replied '• That was nothing." On the day of the attack the prisoner ate his food -as usual, and appeared hearty. It was impossible for the Captain to strike the prisoner in the position he stood on the ladder. The dc, ceased was about 40 years of age. • Cross-examined by Mr. Anotenus.--Never heard the Captain say the prisoner was no carpenter ; never saw the Captain knock the prisoner down and trample on him. On the day in question was not aware that either blows or, words had occurred between them. William Daly examined. --Was a seaman on board the Matilda. Was at the hE,lra on the 9th of April, and heard the Captain's son call out " Murder." He called the men from the maintop, arid they went forward, but the witness remained at the helm. Saw the Captain carried by two Men : his legs were bleeding ; did not see the prisoner until a quarter of an hour or twenty minutes afterwards, when he came upon the deck, and stood by the steer:lgo. They did not converse then ; but subsequently witness asked him if he was not sorryfor what he bad done ? He replied, " Sorry, be d---d." This was trio days afterwards. Witness saw the Captain's wounds ; there was one through the middle.of the right foot ; the heel was also cut dreadfully, but the worst wound was one-in the thigh. Ile lived until the 15th of April, on which day he died. During his illness witness freqheritly visited him ;. about the second night after he was wounded he was bound down in consequence of his violent and insane' manger. He died delirious. He was a man of very good health before the attack by the prisoner. There was no doctor on board. Witness did not see the Captain ill-treat the prisoner on the day in question. - lie heard him once tell the prisoner he was no carpenter, and ordered him to knock off, and go below. Witness could not account for_ the Captain's death but from the injuries he received from the prisoner. ;Cross-examined by Mr.