The Bee-Hive : — 1869-06-05 (London, England)

MARGE OF WILFUL MURDER AT SEA.  4.ohn Granby, a German-American seaman, aged 29 years, was brought up on remand, for the fourth time, charged with the wilful murder of George Albert Wills, the second mate of the ship Hertfordshire, on the high seas, on the Bth of December last. The.vrisoner has been in custody since the 28th of April. He was repeatedly remanded to give an opportunity to examine the captain and first mate of the Hertfordshire before the next Old Bailey Sessions, if they 'should arrive in England. The ship has not reached England, and it was stated by Inspector Clarke, of the Thames Police, who arrested the prisoner, and who has charge of the case, that he believed there was no probability of the arrival of the Hertfordshire at present. Under those circumstances Mr. Paget said he should complete the case at once. The Inipector then stated-that the British Consul at San Francisco, who sent home the depositions of the crew of the Hertfordshire, had also forwarded to England the clothes and linen of the deceased worn by him when he was stabbed, and the knife with which the fatal injury was inflicted. The parcel was sealed with the official seal of the British Consulate, which, with the magistrate's sanction, he would now break. Mr. Paget said the inspector had better keep the parcel intact until the trial, and open it in the presence of the.judge and jury. The depositions of the witnesses, taken on the 29th of April, and of another witness on a telbsequent occasion, were then read. They establish the fact that n altercation took place between the prisoner, the first mate, and the second mate on the Bth of December; that the prisoner was very savagely beaten and kicked by the two mates; and that in a moment of frenzy he took his knife from its sheath and stabbed both. The second mate, who was wounded in the abdomen, died a few hours afterwards; the chief mate recovered. The prisoner asked for a pocketbook which had been taken from him by Inspector Clarke. It contained only a few memoranda relating to the investigation before the British Consul at San Francisco. Mr. Paget said the prisoner might have the poeket-book ; and, after the usual caution, asked the prisoner if he had any• defence to make? The prisoner -said he should make no defence now, but that he•-wished the magiStrate to ensure the attendance of a young man named William M'Allister at the trial, for-he was a most important witness on his behalf. Mr. Paget—You call him now if you please. The prisoner then called Wm. M'Allister, who gaye evidence almost confirmatory of the other. The prisoner said he wished to call two other witnesses on his trial. Mr. Paget said the witnesses could be called and ?nterrogated now or at the trial, and reminded the prisoner that •M'Allister had not given any evidence in his favour. M'Allister said the prisoner expressed his intention of putting*" a into some of the officers," and called them-by an opprobrious name as he was ascending the rigging, and that seemed as if he had formed some intention of doing-mischief. He should commit the piisoner for trial for manslaughter. The only question was the amount of provocation received. The prisoner was then formally committed.