The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1884-03-15 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

THE ALLEGED MURDER ON THE HIGH SEAS.  In London, on Tuesday, at the Thames Police-court, Domingo Velasquez, captain of the Alice Holden, lying in the West India Dock, was charged on remand before Mr. Saunders, with carrying on a system of cruelty to Louis Bonaparte, a cook on board, during a voyage from Surinam to London, and finally causing his death by throwing him overboard into the sea. It was stated by Richard Wildey, a plain clothes inspector of the H division, who had charge of the ease, that since the prisoner had been under remand a lad named Coker, who had been engaged on the Alice Holden during her voyage from Surinam to London, and was the only witness to speak to the fact of seeing the prisoner seize hold of the cook by his feet and throw him overboard into the sea, had died, and an inquest will be held on his body. The last time Coker appeared in court he seemed to be in good healthand spirits, and apparently had nothing whatever the matter with him. The lad died in the London Hospital, not having recovered consciousness after he was admitted. The doctors are said to be still of opinion that his death is due to poison, all the symptoms pointing to that , conclusion. It is now stated that he was found insensible in his berth in the Sailors' Home, and not in the street, as first reported. Charles Coulson, an able seaman on board the Alice Holden, was called, and he stated that on one occasion he saw the cook bleeding from the face from the effects of a blow delivered by the prisoner. After leaving Tobago he saw the prisoner beating the cook with. bamboo sticks every day between that time and, Christmas Day. At seven o'clock on Christmas morn— ing witness went to the galley to fetch his coffee, when he saw the prisoner beating the cook with a stick, and heard him say "I will kill you before much longer." The cook afterwards went on to the bowsprit, apparently to commit suicide, when he was dragged back by order of the captain and fastened to the rigging by witness and the mate. The prisoner then took a rope's end and thrashed him with it. On the day the cook was supposed to have fallen overboard, witness was at the wheel when the cook came to the pantry for some water, and the prisoner asked him where the cork of the bottle was. While the cook was stooping to look for it the prisoner kicked him in the face, back, and shoulders with his heavy sea boots, and he continued his ill-usage for three or four minutes. The cook went to the pantry, followed by the prisoner, who seized hold of him by the hair of his head, and said, "This is the way you waste my stores." At that time they were wearing the ship rnnd, and the prisoner took the wheel from witness, who went to the main-brace on the starboard side. He then saw the cook coming aft on the port side, and shortly afterwards heard a screaming aft. Witness took the wheel, and in about twenty minutes he saw the prisoner go to the lazaretto and call out, but got no answer. The prisoner asked him if he had seen the cook, and he replied he had while wearing the ship round. Between one and two o'clock in the afternoon the prisoner came to witness and said "Come and sign this statement;": but it was put off until four o'clock, He then saw the captain had made an entry in the official log-boek, and read it over to him and asked him to sign it. Witness said "I don't want to sign it," and the prisoner then said, "Do you want to get me into trouble when I get to London. Do you want to knock some nails into my coffin? I have more trouble with you than all the other hands in the ship." Seeing all the other hail& had signed the log to the effect that the cook had fallen overboard, he signed it.—Several other witnesses were called, and the prisoner wa% committed for trial, _