Year: 1879

THE STEWARD OF A BRITISH BARK MURDERED


BY THE COOK OF THE VESSEL IN HAVANA


PETTY TYRANNY THAT WAS ENDED WITH A


KNIFE THRUST.


From the officers of vessel recently arrived from
Havana is obtained narrative of murder on ship
board. The British bark Barbadian it appears. had
entered the port of Havana in the early part of last
month and discharging her cargo. and close
alongside the British bark Greenock. 1t
almost dark. the still of the evening had come and
lights beginning to glimmer about-just the
time wher seafarng folk were at mess-when the
feud of day was terminated by the knife. Perhaps
no better moment could be chosen for settling a
grudge without witnesses, but chance brought upon
the scene two men who saw the whole affair from
beginning to end.


woRDY WARFARE.


On board the Barbadian Charles Simmons was
steward. He was generally a well behaved fellow
but in his cups he stern, overbearing and
irascible. Time and again he had trouble with
James Mullgan. the cook. who resented his exer-
else of authority when he was united tc use it
properly, and who was his especial antipathy when
in liquor. On the day Of the murder the steward
had early in the day worked himself into an rn.
gentle humor by frequent potations and at sundown
he went upon deck to bully his subordinates
in his usual masterful way. He met Multi
gan there, who was not prepared to submit
readily, and high words soon passed between
the two 1t was this alteration that brought upon
the scene the witnesses whose testimony served to
reveal the occurrences that followed Two seamen
aboard the Greenock were leaving work when the
warm words the vessel alongside caught their
They went up to the rail near the forerigging
and there brought abreast the galley of the
Barbadian. Whether the cook had neglected his
work not they could not learn, but the steward
gruffly ordering him back to it when they came
within earshot, and he was demonstrating. There
was an excited parley OF few minutes and then
Simmons forced the other into the galley, where for
a space their words were smothered Presently the
two appeared again, the steward threatening and
the cook boldly defying him with "No, you
won't"


As he said it Simmons turned upon him as though
to carry his menace, when Mulligan swung
single stroke drove it through the stewards heart.
The man fell dead without cry. and so rapidly did
it all pass that the homicide could not reslize his
act Even while the blood was yelling to the deck
out OF the gaping wound Mulligan stood over the
dead man kicking hun and telling him to 'come and
truth he knelt beside the body and tried lift
it, and when he found it limp and inert fear Of tho
consequences of his crime seemed to come upon
him, tor he stepped hurriedly to the side aud flung
the reeking knife into the sea-


ANSWERING FOR THE CRIME.


1t was too late, though. for the watchers aboard
the Greenock had all. and already they had
given the alarm and told the mate, who moment
later appeared. he saw summons lying In MS
blood, and STOPPING over him found him quite
dead, with the knife thrust i'll his bI east At
he ordered Mulligan to be put i'll irons. The latter
was quite Disconnected and made effort to
ceal tue blood which covered his cap and shirt and
drippel from his hands. He made no admissions
though. and soon turned over to the police
Then, the prisoner was British subject, a naval
court was held to try him at the British Consulate
Lionel Garden. the acting British Consul General,
presided, and assisted by Captain Gardiner Fox,
OF the steamer Alnwck Castle Lloyd's local agent
and various naval nagnates. The testimony
conclusive that the second day OF the trial the
prisoner aud said he had confession to make.
He was duly cautioned. but insisted stating that
hc had '.cut" Steward Simmons believing that the
latter had made motion to get hold
OF u slungshot he usually carried. The tes-
timony about his having subsequently kicked
the corpse lie seemed childishly to believe
the most eliminating charge against him. and he
persisted in denying it throughout. The mention
of the slungshot led to further inquiry, which
yealed that Summons had been accustomed TO carry
such weapon and had o small on his person
when found dead.


When the trial was closed the Court ordered that
"the prisoner. James Muligan, be discharged from
his ship, and kept in sale custody till an opportunity
offers sending him to England there to stand trial
for the stabbing and killing OF Charles Simmons.
The evidence taken also prepared to be for
warded. that ail exten nuatng circumstances might
be weQhcQ