Bridlington and Quay Gazette. — 1882-03-18 (Bridlington, Humberside, England)

THE MURDER OF A HELL FISHERLID. At the Hull Police Court on Monday, Osmond Otto Brand, late master of the smack Rising Sun, was charged on remand with the wilful murder of William Pepper at sea. The building was crowded to the utmost, great curiosity being manifested to see the prisoner and hear the case. As public indignation is still strong, the police take every precaution to protect both the prisoner and witnesses. The cross-examination of the witness Dench was concluded, but nothing material was elicited farther than that already stated. At the conclusion of the examination an attempt was made to hiss Dench, but it was suppressed. William Blackburn, apprentice on the smack, was then examined. the evidence in the main corroborated Donal's. When the smack left Hull he heard the prisoner say to Pepper, "I'll kill you when you get outside." Witness described the first thrashing prisoner gave deceased, and produced a thick piece of rope with which the flogging was administered. This aroused the indignation of the spectators, who hissed loudly. The thrashing, wituess said, lasted 10 or 15 minutes. On smother occasion prisoner thrashed Pepper with a rope with an iron ring at each end, striking him principally on his head.— Prisoner here said he never used the rope.— Witness replied that he did. Prisoner struck deceased with his fists or with a rope every day. I After that prisoner and Rycroft threw stones I and other things at Lim. Witness described the occurrence of the lad being put on the' stem' and tied up to the crosstreee. Prisoner told Pepper on Christmas Day that a dog should have his share of the dinner. When Pepper reached for a piece of pudding prisoner hit him on the knuckles. The dug picked the bones, which were then sent to the deceseed lad Pepper for his dinner. Witness described uther ill-treatment, and the lad's death. The case was then adjourned. The thoroughfare adjoining the Towu Hall was crowded, and a special force of police were employed to keep the latent passable. In the house of Commove on Thursday night, Mr. Charles Wilson said: I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the brutal treatment of a fisherlad named W. Pepper, belonging to Hull, when at sea, and resulting in death? Sir W. Harcourt: As soon as this very horrible case was brought under nay notice by my hon. friend, I consulted with the Attorney-General, and placed it in the hands of the Public Prosecutor. A London correspondent telegraphing on Thursday night on the subject, says: The statement made by Sir William Harcourt tonight, in reply to Mr. C. H. Wilson, upon the brutal treatment of a Hull fieherlad Ilse given considerable satisfaction to representatives from the seaports. The case, said the Home Secretary with characteristic decision of tune, and with the self-complacency of a man whose mind has been doubly made up, has been placed in the hands of the Public Prosecutor, and this announcement was received with several cheers. A hideous—at auy rate, a sinister—suepieum is suggeottet by this dark tale of the sea, wuich is deserving of some attention in ports like yours. Two or tures members with whom I 6/Ae since spoken on the subject are more than ever convinced, from thi, Hull case, that ingat:ces of mysterious deaths of lielierleda at sea are nit ed too cemtuon for the law to wink at. Lade are reported to have fallen overboard, to have committed suicide, or to have come to an untimely end in many ways, but, unfortunately, all thee. reports have to be taken on the faith of those who make them. I. believe that ene result of the attentiou which the Hull case has attracted a ill be the setting up of some krm of Government inspection of fishiug-boats in addition to mere . gunboat patrol. Sir. William Harcourt and Mr Chamber:ld, have the matter at this moment under their outsider&Lieu.  I