The Sun. — 1837-04-27 (London, England)

DETER MINED SUICIDE, AT SEA.  On Saturday last a dreadful attempt to murder Mr. Robert Reid, the owner of the. schooner Rehear (which arrived yesterday in the London Dock, from Roscoe, in Brittany, with a cargo of cork), was made by James Rider, the Captain of the vessel, who on the same day committed suicide, by throwing hiMself overboard. It appears from the statement of the mate and crew, and the entry of. the 'log, that the deceased was a very intemperate m.dn, and while the ship was at Roscoe he drank large quaurities of brandy, which he procured ashore, and when the schooner sailed he was almost unable to direct the navigation of the vessel. The owner and mate took upon thmselves the command, but as the Captain did not immediately display any symptoms of derangement he was allowed to act, and took the same watches as the owner. The cravings of the Captain for brandy were loud and frequent, and as the system had become used to the liquid, it was thought prudent by the owner to allow him a glass occasionally. On Friday last he began to talk in a very incoherent manner, and said be knew the owner and mate were going to murder him, and that the crew had been bribed not to divulge the plot. Mr. Reid endeavoured to pacify him, and directed Mr. Buckingham, the mate, and all hands to keep a watchful eye on the captain, as it was feared that.  he meditated some mischief. All hands on board uze'l every efFort to quiet the captain, but without success. Hu became very refractory', and said he-had the horrors through. drinking so much brandy in France. The mate conversed with him a short time, and assured him at he would soon be well. The unfortunate man, however, was so strongly impressed with the erroneous idea that the crew had a design upon his life that, to quiet him, a Bible was procured at his request, and the form of an oath was gone through by, owner, mate, and seamen, who kissed the book, amt deedared that they did not intend to do him any injury. Copt. • Rider after this became more calm, and remained below. At midnight, when the watch was relieved, Mr. Reid went beow and turned into his berth in the cabin, the 'captain was in bed on the opposite side of the cabin, and Me. Reid was almost asleep, when he was aroused by Rider, who got up, walked across the cabin, and askedLV ei to giv him a glass of brandy, for the horrors were StP4,;`•-e--zee: Mr. -Reid turned out of bed for the purpose 0f44- 11:4" glass of brandy', and while' stooping, and in tigiet-o-1--na locking a drawer under the cabin table, the' captain- 41};. was standing by his side, stabbed him by pluneine a sitar ! pointed knife into the left side of his neek:eeld, Reid called out " Murder, murder ;" and the malt immediately.. jumped out -ef bcd, and prevented a seeoritebTon;, was airmer eat Mr. Reid, from taking enee eee- ***-e 4er then made a blow with the knife at the mate, whol -par—ried it ; and after a severe struggle with his eapteitte..-weested the instrument from him, and secured him. TheA•ouoct inflicted on the owner Was a -very serious one ; bled profuiely, and it was some time before theltaemorthigo cotilti be stopped. The owner's wound having beenedeeseed, two men were appointed to watch the captahr,'whese Malady increased ; and during the whole of FrOttY night the 'men had great difficulty in preventing higariiin •aninee further violence. On Saturday morning he+eihn ravieg, and said he ,heard his brothers talking alvngsiitt the ship, and he was sure the vessel was haunted. For the purpose of undeceiving him he was allowed :ttego oudeA for a short time, and he returned to the cabinand wale more quiet. lie begged of the ()Avner and mate. trot to injure him, or Jet the crew kill him ; and he was assured that no harm should befal him, either on board or ashore ; indeed, every means Were used to compose him. In eubSequent. part 'of the, day,-he made another attempt cee tii#r the owner with a shut-handled knife he had seetiaca tlhtler hedeand which he had' drawn out unperceived. He was stealing quietly with the knife towards the owner's bedplace, and was about to plunge it in when one of the men-caught his band, and prevented hiet carrying his intentions into effect. •In the afternoon he was again elloyed to go on deck, for the purpose of removing the itnprorsiim from his mind that the ship was haunted. &bent four o'clock heeteent on deck a third few, the mate and two men keepieg dose to him, and after some time: he went down below again, with two men, the mate remaininon deck. Directly afterwards the mate jumped off a buerthee-of corks, which were piled up a height of eight feat, beef 'prepeded-towards the helm. The captain no sooner heard is than he jumped up the companion, and before shapes) •could seize him, threw himself overboard. The stip was -instantly put about for the purpose of saving titer-captain: ; but, singularly enough; 0 this was no sooner Ilene than the wind 'died away, and it became quite ceits. The captain swam away front the . vessel, and an oar and a bundle of casks were thrOvn towards hitn".'eelie -then made towards the veeeel, and the crew were about-to lower the lone boat ; but, bcfore-11,, r,-.9 this could be done, the uefortunate-tnan sunk, and was not seen again. The ship wida-about..3o miles from the Start when the decease& threw himself overboard. Mr. Reid', who still remaiiisen u very -weak state, communicated the whole of the ciretetitstetteee eotiukteted-with the utifort utak; transaction to Mee. Wiliantine, the Thames police Magi's, trate,-yesterday afternoon, and from inquiries made by the `chief surveeorieitedet: hie eireetiOns, it does,nnt ai:pear that any blame. etna be raebed to the people on board the elofiee, wito used every efferteoseve the deceased. It i* the oriiiion of the crew that the captain would have stabbed all hands if „he had not,. seen Seetired by the T.ho deceased was native. of Pip-Mimi-1, where his ilmaiik are living. Ilie.Madreess-is to be attributed Solely to the chore mots quantity of beinely lie consumed Frafee. lie was previetedy.in the ettjey inentof good health, much respectielley the ()weer end crew. Mr.. Reid had "e narrow eseapte;e4bis life,- the itnifeehaving de• t rahld 4eth elese th the vte"'  . , . luCters froz.a it appears titzt,4::l tit c 'northern part. (if.O.at cou;-.ty tlic Avemher contluttes uitts.tully cold and uoiFterel.ls, the tnovw ott the gro;.:rd tU tl:e .! feet. The consequeLee Las been a great y the lambs ; OVIO less lyeieg_ about one in r, said very. -ciipned parts ire in three. The—T;,i,r;g,' cropF, will not itacr en mil:4i 1:1 Inv: soLtlierly raitt of the I,'.ligitnaaflikok; vr.), little N%ittat. raited tioc;  It