Denton and Haughton Examiner, etc. — 1882-07-15 (Denton, Greater Manchester, England)

SHOCKING TRAGEDY OA THE HIGH SEAS. At the Thames Police-court, London, John Anderson, at present second taste of the shie Marianne Gettebohn, lying in the South-West India Dock, was charged before Mr. Lushington with feloniously killing and slaying John Francis by striking him on the head with a capstan bar, on the British ship Cuttysark, while on the high seas. John Somers said lan a steward out of employment, and I live at 120, East India Dock-road, Poplar, London. I was a steward on the Cattysark, which sailed front London on May 15, 1080, having on board the prisoner as chief officer, and John Francis, cook and steward, who had shipped as an able seaman before the mast. When the ship was rounding the Cape of Good Hope, and while I was asleep in my bunk the mil-maker came running into my cabin, and awoke me up by saying, 'Get up, the chief officer has knocked Francis down." I knew as a fact there had been a little illfeeling betwee,n the prisoner and Francis because he could not do his work as a se,mnan. I dressed myself, and a quarter flats hour afterwards left my berth, and on going forward I now Francis being carried aft, and blood flowing from a wonnd, 4in. in length and app Irently deep. on his head. The captain cut away the hair and dressed the wound. On the following morning I went on deck, and was going down the cabin to get a coffeemot when the prisoner said, "I have done for that --; he will never lift the capstan bar to me again." Francis died at nine o'clock at night, and was buried at twelve o'clock at noon on the following day. The captain read the Burial Service. and the body was consigned to the deep. The prisoner was not put in confinement until Francis died. I used to take his meals daily to him in his berth, but the door was not kept locked. In the beginning of September the ship was lying in the roads at. Auger, and in the evening I took the prisoner his tea. He soil, "I an, going at nine o'clock to-night." I told hint not to talk like that or I should be obliged to tell the captain. He said, " Iron need not trouble; the captain has arranged everything." That night he dims. petrel from the ship, and a boat was seen under the bows. The second day after we left Auger the captain committed suicide by junming overboard into the sea, and we were unable to save him. The ship was brought back to Auger by the second mate, and he telegraphed to the agents at Singapore. In answer to a question by the primner, the witness said: I did not see how the affair happened; I was told of it. Mr. Lushington read an entry from the official log-book, which was to the effect that when the chief mate came on the poop Francis grossly insulted him by usiug abusive language and refusing to obey orders' and on his going into the forecastle to expostulate with him for using such language he made a blow at lot head with a marling-spike, and Andemon hit him on the head with a capstan-bar in self-defence. The captain said," This is awful work; and the mate said, "Well, what could I do? It was to be killed or to kill I" Mr. Lushington remanded the prisoner for a week.  THE South-Eastern Clerical and Lay Church Alliance has commenced its annual conference at the Town Hall, Folkestone, under the presidency of the Dean of Canterbury. At the afternoon sitting the Rev. Francis Gen, M.A., vicar of Lydd, read a paper on The work of the Holy Spirit in the heart in the Church and in the world," and a discussion subsequently took place. The annnal report of the alliance was read by the sea. lacy, which was of a very mtisfactory nature. At the evening sitting the subject, How to deal with prevalent modern forms of unbelief," was opened by the Rev. Henry Ware, MA., prebendary of St. Paul's preacher at Lincoln's-inn, and Professor of Ecclesiastical History,  Evamma BRIDGER, aged 23, has been committed for trial at Brighton on a charge of stabbing Frank Pierson, with whom she lived. It appeared that they quarrelled because prisoner refused to get tea for a man whom prosecutor had introduced into the house. In the course of the dispute she struck prosecutor with a poker. lie got her down and was holding her by the throat, when her son, aged 8 years, at her bidding beat Pierson off with the poker, which she handed to the child. Cm her being released, she seized a glass tumbler and struck Pierson with it upon the head, into which several of the fragments stuck, and seizing a fork, she stabbed him on the right breast. The man was taken to the hospital, where his injuries were attended to. At the same sitting a milk dairyman, named Edwards, was fined £5 for having his dairy end utensils in a filthy state.  AT THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE of the clergy and laity of the Archdeaconry at Derby, presided over by the Venerable Archdeacon Balaton, the president severely animadverted upon the action of the Rev. Robert Flay, of St. Andrews, Derby, in inviting the Salvation Army to his church, and permitting some of its male and female Weinberg to address the congregation. The urethra opt, mil of the army was condemned in the discussion that followed, and the president, in closing the subject, ad. vised the clergy present to stand to their guns, as here was something of doubtful character and equally doubtful inane. _  GEORON Bunn, clerk to the Local Board, Neighley, has been informed that the Privy Council had granted a charter of incorporation to Keigh/ey. The town which contains a population of 25,000, will be constituted a borough from November 1 neat.  THE COMPETITION for the Sterndale Bennett Prize, If. A. M. (purse of ten guineas), was competed for a few days ago. There were twenty-four candidates, and the prize was awarded to Lilian Munster. The fleathcote Long Prize (purse of ten guineas) was divided between Arthur Dace and Septim. Webbe.  A GRAND FIELD DAY, at which a large portion of the troops of the dividon were exercised as opposing forces has taken place at Aldrrshot. The operations took the character of a sham fight, the idea being that of a force advancing northward having reached the Hoes Back, when it receives information that a body of the eneniy has bivouacked during the night on the southern portion of the Fox Hills. On telegraphing to the rear for instructions, the officer commanding receiveo orders to attack vigorously, and to endeavour to crush thts enemy's troops before they can be rainforest.