Northern Times. — 1857-09-03 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

THE NORTHERN TIMES.---LIVERPOOL) THURSDAY] SEPTEMBER 3, 1857.  SERIOUS CHARGE AGAINST A SHIP CAPTAIN,  At the Tharnesrolice-court, on Tuesday, after the disposal of the night charges, Inspector Bridges applied to Mr. Yard.ey for a warrant for the apprehension of Captain John William Doyle, the master of the barque John Ingara, from Ceylon. for various acts of cruelty to a sailer boy named Robert Eastick, who it was alleged was driven to commit suicide by the harassing treatment of the captain and the ill-usage exercised towards him. The subject was mentioned incidentally by Mr. Charles Young, a solicitor, three weeks ago, when the captain was summoned by five of his crew for their wages, which he had. withheld. Mr. Yardley then said he could not go into a case of cruelty against the master of a ship, on a ease of sea wages, and if any assault had been committed a distint chtrge should be made. The matter was brought under the notice of Mie J. C. Evans, superintendent of the Thamee police, who thoroughly investigated it, and despatched Inspector Bridges with two of the crew to obtain a warrant. Mr. Yardley, after qeeetioning one of the men, and perusing some documents put before him, granted a warrant, and the captain was brought before the magistrate in the afternoon, and formally arraigned. Mr. Walter Pelham, clerk to Mr. Fletcher, a solicitor, of Arboursquare, Stepney, defended the accused. Prince Montague, 1' a man of colour, said he was cook of the John Inger& now lying in the St. Katherine dock, on her last voyage from Hartlepool to Ceylon, and back to London. The deceased, Robert Eastiek, shipped at Hartlepool, and was a healthy boy when he came on board, and appeared to be about fifteen years of age. He had repeatedly seen the captain ill-use the deceased, and flog him with reefpoints (ropes) with eyes in them, and also kick him. and knock him down. The boy bad nothing but his blue shirt to protect his back when he was flogged with a rope. The captain also compelled the boy to march up and down the deck, like a soldier, with a handspike on his shoulder: This punishment was inflicted very often in the evening when he had done his work. The captain beat the boy very severely with a rope about a cheese that was lost. He had repeated:), heard the boy call out, " Murder, murder, save ma," in the cabin. while the captain was beating him. One day afier the boy was flogged he was crying, and upon receiving his dinner said, "Ah, cook, this is the last piece of dough (pudding) I shall ever receive from you." Ile thought then that the lad was meditating suicide. About a fortnight afterwards the boy was was very shamefully beaten by the captain in the cabin, and called oat " Murder !" and shrieked. He saw the boy's shoulders and arms. and tberwere red and blue and covered with wales. The boy was cryinc, and said, "Ile could not endure it any longer." On the same day the boy came to him in the galley or cookhouse on deck with a biscuit, and asked him to pour some hot water up-on it for the captain. While he was doing so the boy disappeared. Mr. Yardley : He vanished that evening from the ship ? Witness : He did so. I heard a cry that the boy was overboard, and wss drowned. Mr Yardley : Did you see him in tha water ?--Witness: No, sir, I did net ; but others saw him go overboard I believe. Mr. Yardley : Was any boat put out to save him P—Witness No, sir; no beat was hauled eat. Mr. Yardley: What sort of sea was there at that time ?—Witness : The sea was smooth at the time. Mr. Yardley: And at what rate was the ship going?—Witness : The sea was smooth at the time. Mr. Yardley : And at what rate was the ship going P—Witnese : About five knots an hour. Mr. Yardley : Who was upon the deck at the time?— Witness : The chief mate was on deck. 'Mr. Yardley : Was the captain on deck at the time? Witnets : I don't know, sir. inspector Bridges here stated that the owner of the ship was in attendance. The Owner : I am very anxious to have the case investigated. Mr. Walter Pelham said the prisoner, for whom he appeared, had been taken into custody only during the last hour,! and was qnite unprepared with any defence. He therefore applied that the further investigation should be postponed until Saturday next. when he should be ready to cross-examine the witnesses, and enter upon the defence. Mr. Yardley Very well ; the ease shall he postponed. Has the prisoner any hail ready? Mr. John Ingars, owning the ship named after him, tendered himself as bail, and was accepted.  DR.