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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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SXAHITTATIOK TAKES ON FRIDAY , Before Joseph Simpson , Esq ., Msynr . Jobr . Lotbricgton , Eh } ., Joseph Brown , M . D ., Edward Backbone , E ? q ., and Richard White , E > q . touching a charge made bj Mr . Browi ; , Superintendent of Police , against the crew of the Frisian brigac-ine , Phoenix , of Stettin , now lying in Sciderland harbour , of wilfully nardering their captain , Johana Friefirieh Berkboltz . Before tbe prisoners were introsceed , Mr . Gborsb Booth presented himself to the magistrates , in hi . ' official capacity of Prussian Consul , to see fair and equal jn * tiee done to the subjects of His Prussian ilajesry .
Mr . Bxtch wa « sworn S 3 interpreter- for tk « Crow-D , asd Mr . WissESKiKD for the prisoners ; these gentlemen , dnring the examinadon j interpreting the evidence t « the accused . It being considered desirable for the pKrp-ves of jestiee , that one « f the apprentices , named Mailer , should be kept from hating the slightest communication with his shipmates , fire only were at first "bri ght forward . These gave their names , ages , and residences as follows : —Jacob Freidrich Ehfers , aged 29 , mate , from Bahrt . —Johann Chrfctiat Jreidrich Eichstadt , aged 28 , cook , from Tremplien —Daniel Freidrich Post , seed 42 , feaman , from Koperz . —Jobann GnBtav Ferdinand VTeideraan , aged 19 , apprentice , from Uekermaad . —Carl Yfilhelm Hunrersohn , aged 46 , seaman , from Ju / elin .
Mr . Bkotvk , Saperintsndent of Police , being sworn , said that , being informed yesterday afternoon that a person , whose body hzd been fo ' and in the ri ^ er , wag Fupposed to have been ranrdered , and that Mr . Dodd , rarzeon , after a carefal examination of the eorpse , had giren that as bis opinioE , he ( Mr . Brawny deemed it his daty to investigate the matter most thorou ghly . He accordingly went on board tie Pha-nix , and , about half-pa ? t eight , wsnt into the captain ' s cabin , and there fenhd the bed made "Dp ; a cap w&s on the pillow , the clothes were tarned co-. ro , and on taking off a sort of quilt , the sheet ¦ vras observed to be perfectlj clean , and as if no one tad laid down xrpon it . On takiig np one pillow , and
turning over that beneath ir , he observed a large staia of blood , and that abont the stain there was-a roughness and dampnew , as if a wet sponge had been employed npon it . Mr . Brown here prodnced tae pillow , which was gtaiced with blood and mneB iiscolocred , presenting the appearance des-T v" ** " * noticed a stain of blood on a fea - ther-bed , and en the partition at . the Wd-head , wmeh wss painted bine , he raw a splash of blood , as if gome one had filled a sponge , and dashed it against the weod . There was al » o similar marks against the side of the berth ; and the floor near the bed-head appeared is if recently -washed . The splashes on the skirting , and some articles lavinc near , bad sot been washed off . Mr . Brown theri
prodaeed a towel that hang in the captain ' s cabin , near the head of the bed , aid which , revoking down to the groend , had one corner splashed with blood " While he ( Mr . B . ) was down in the cabin , the mate appeared anxious to go away , bathe told him to remain , baring little donbt that a nnrdar had been committed . He tkerefore left the mate in the ccst » dj of Hedtey and Bailes , and went on shore for a sufficient fore * , with which he returned and took the whole crew Into custody . He carefully examined their clothes , and . on the mate ' s - jacket he discovered several drops of blood , though the lower part appeared as if it had been -trashed . The jacket was iere prodaeed , I searched Mm at the stationhome . Thi * if the-cap ( produced in conrt ) whieh they said was the captain's . The captaia's cabin hid blood-marts all aw it . This is the neck-fiandkercMef which I took from the mate lait night . I
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Tmate went on shore * and took a square stoae whirM was there , and brought it into the boat . When t £ 5 stono was m the boat , they poshed off , and pulled towards thebridge , When they were about £ i middle of tie nver , near toe bridge , he ctw pulling , and the mate drew the body a little aH the water ; when the body was drawn up tht trows rs and the bag had dwappeered . WitaMi saw the mate fasten the rope to the stone bud witness cannot say in what manner t ' ae tying to ki place , as the mate was between Jam . and the stone i When the rope was fastened to the atone , th < 2 mate threw , the atone into the water , and thai body sunk after it . They then pulled back to the ship and went pa board . When thev ' amyed on board , the mate told witness to retire to re * ty and he ^ ould call him at four o ' clock to set fhe captain en shore . This was at tmX ^^^^ - k ^ m
o clock m the morning . When the mate told the witness to go to rest , the witness answered , that he ( ihe witness had to call the cook up at two , whose watch u was- hut the mate said , he need not do it , as he would keep the waich himself . The boy retired to sleep . The mate called witness up at four o clocc , and said , ' Fred , you must rise and put the captain on shore . ' When the witness went into the boat , tho mate told him that he had to sav he « -t the captain on « hore , on the nortk side of the river , and that he was dressed in a blu * pea-coat , grey trowsers , a new « lk hat , and a pair of little bfots . Witness saw tne mate have th ^ hat in his hand belonging to the capfaw , and which he had on when he ( the matolwu taken . At four in the morning be iren into the boat , as desired , up to a place on the south side , where jthe keela ^ ere lying f remained a short time , and then came back to th « « hin Ti ,.
next watch which had to come on deck at four o clock , then came on deck , and he w « t to bed . Ons of the seamen , Pud , said he heard the mate call him on deck , to put the captain on shore . The mate told witness next day that he had thrown the captain ' s watch into the riwr . The mate threw the hammer out of tae after cabin window into the nver , before they look the captain ' s body out of the cabin . Witness saw the mate sell the remainder of the rope and a block to a man in a crockery-boat , whom he did not know , on Thursday morning about ten o ' clock , for eighteenpence . By the Jury—The boy saw the blood spurting about when the mate struck the captain with the harnmer . Two mate had not a hat or cap on his head . When tha mate came to witn-.-ss , he came out of ni » own cabin . The caDtain and mat .. h * A *
iiuarrel about the mate not doing his . duty on Tuesday afternoon . The mate had been three month * with the captain . ; By a Juryman— Why did you refuse to go down into the cabiu when the mate called upon you ? Witness 1 donjt knew . The maw bad never said anything to hiia about attacking the captain . The mate said he might go down into the after cabin to fetch some wine up . Witness knew the captain had . bought , some wine at Elsinore , which had to be brought up . Witness never had a quarrel with the captain . u A juryman—Why did not witness give the alarm during the two days thatelapsrtl r Witues .- ^ ed answered , becsuie he wa . « afraid the roato would act upon his threat and kill him . 1 he evideace m the case bsiug no ? ccmclnded
—, TheCoBO . NEa rose and sail— - GeeUt men of the jury , the wh : > ie ot this proceeding will hava to be put on parchment . It will take a great df-al of your time , and I think it will be most prudent to adjourn it to another titne . Any time consenitnt to you , I win appoint . " Severaljurymen named Monday next , when it was accordingly adjoarueito el-ven o ' clock in the for .-neon ot ihat day , to receive the verdict in a termal manner .
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^ Accounts from Limerick , Cork , Kilkenny , and W aterford ? tate that-these counties have been visited with a vioteut thunder storm , which occasioned immense destruction of property , and some loss of Mr . George Stephekson , civil engineer , stated publicly at the recent opening of the York acdlSorth Midland Railway , thathe commencedin life as a ploughbey . The hekring fleet fitted out this year in North and South Holland consists of 120 vessel / ef which 79 are from Vlaardingen alone . ' The late Prussian Ambassador Extraordinary on the occasion of her Majesty ' s Coronation , Prince Von Putbu <« , is said to be the probable successor to Baron Bulow , as resident minister at our court .
Thb first trial for the amateur championship of the Thames in sculling , am > 8 g ^ t the gentlemen of the University of Cambridge , took place on Wednesday . Mr . Vincent , of St . ¦ John ' s , came ia first . The prize is called the Cjftnbridge Silver Sculls . —Court Gazette . Thb Bookseller ' s Benevolent Society dined together on Thursday last , at the West India Dock Tavern , to celebrate the second anniversary of their creation . Tbero were present upwards of 200 gentlemen connected with the literature , the publishing , and bookselling trade of Great Britain . It appeared that the funds of this society already amount to £ 8 , 000 , but that they will reroaia intae * until they reach £ 10 , 000 , which will probably ba the case in another twelvemonth .
Sudden Death of Mori , the Violinist . —It is with deep regret that we have to annsunce the death of this clever musician , who * as for a number of years occupied a prominent situatiou ia the musical world . Mr . Mori fulfilled his duties at leader of the band at her Majesty ' s Theatre ou 1 uesday last , and hia absence from the orchestra oa Thursday night was ¦ understood by his professional brethren to have been occasioned by au attack of lumbago . A 3 the ballet approached its termination , at nearly one o ' clock oh Friday morning , fllr . Mori , junior , who was then performing in the orchestra , was called away , by an intimation that has father was m a dangerous state ; and when he arrived at the house in Bond ^ treet , he received the melancholy informatioa that hi * father had ceased
to exist . The family of the la : e Mr . Mori consists of two gons and three daughters , for whom hia great talent and indefati gable exertions have enabled him to leave an ample provision . —Lmdon Paper . Fatal Accidents . —Oa Monday evening week two boys were drowned in the Thames while bathing . One of them lost bis life uff BanfcFide , rear London Bridge ; the other nearly off Godiog ' s Brewery , above Waterloo Bidge . The accident * were attributed t « the da- geroLs atate of the river Tor b ituere . On Tuesday morniag week a similar accident occurred off Deptford . Several lads were bathiBg , and one of them suddenl y got out of his depth and perished . It is a fact that last week the variola Coroners in and near the metropolis had twelve inquests ou persons who were drowned whiis bathina in the rivers and canals . ^
Confusion of Ideas .-Ih Westminster Abbey there is a monument , on which an old sea do * e ! a commodore w represented as Neptune coming out of theaea , with a full-bottomed wig on , powdered acd puffed . A Scotch sculptor once mad / an angel on a tomb-stone , with a similar article of full dres » on . When his patron remonstrated , " H < Sot , mon , did ye ever see an angel with a wig ? " The sculptor inquired , "Did ye ever see an angel without ?" On the Htern of a Boston ahi p , called the Tarmin , there w a representation of Tarquin , King of Rome , m a chariot , and an eagle flying over hi « head , with a tarpaulin hat hanging on his beak . —New York Dispatch .
Aln wick . —Melancholy Suicide . —OnWedsesday morniBg week , a young woraau , about 22 years orage , of the same of Sarah Forster , daughter of an industrious widow woman , residing in Pottergate-street , put a period to her existence by hanging herself . She wss suspended by a cord to the ceiling of her dwelling , and in this Htate was first discovered by her mother ( whose feeliags on the melancholy occasion cannot easily be described ) and medical aid immediatel y procured , but proved unavailing , as the vital spark w « then entirely extinct , and its tenement left a cold and lifeless corse . The unfortunate girl had for some time previous been complaining of slight indisposition , and it is generally believed that she had committed the ra # h act under the influence
of a troubled state of mind , brought on by improprieties , the result of which , as it became daily more apparent , preyed upon the poor creature ' s mind , and at last , hurried 'her into a premature and unnatural dissolution . An ¦ inquest was held upon the body in the evening , and a verdict of " Temporary insanity" returned . Ludicrous Accident . —Almost disastrous wA ludicrous accident occurred last week on the Birmingham and Liverpool Railway . The passengers coming from London were reused from their slumberi
by the guaid suddenly stopping the train , crying out breakers a-kead . On approaching this " wret * ashore , " it was found that the fore-axle of the head'waggon , containing several tiers of boxef , filled wit * Glasgow and Paisley manufactures , h * o been broken d « wn , tk-e goods being scattered in all directions , smothered by the second wagg on full « pigs , some cut in two , some alive , escaping through the raixture of printed g « ods , oranges , cigars * ano cheeses rolling about and tumbling down the eo « bankment . We have no doubt the country people , bfcfore daybreak , vfooldreap ftplentifol haiveBt&oa thia miscellaneous mass .
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have been this morning to < earch the ehip , wMch I did very minutely . I discovered tbat a body had been dragged from the cabin , and put cut of the window at the Htern of the vessel . I tracvd smears or drops of blood at the Fmall wiadow at the stern r .-f the vessel . The -window had been opened and the body put out there . By Dr . Brown—YTas the body found near the vesse ! ? Superintendent Brown—No ; it wai found a considerable-distance from the ship . It had not been wa » hed there by the tide . It had been carried , and there it would remain . By Mr . Lotherinoton—As a proof that the body had been put cut of the window , were there any marks of blood ? i £ si ? sK £ sS
Superintendent Brevrn—I traced drops of blood frrm the Captain ' s berth to the window . There was a flat there beside the window which had evidently been sponged and cleaned . Under the-e circumstances , I considered mystlf justified in takisg the whole of the crew . The mate ' s clothes were the only clothes of ihe crew which had blood on them . I examined them all . At the window at the stern of the vessel , I found this piece of woollen ( produced ) as thoagh a person ' s arm had been put rhroogh . I found it nn the window of the cabin . Mr . Blech then interpreted to the crew the deposition of Superintendent Brown .
Superintendent Brown then further added—The jacket was marked with blood in several places , acd the cap has bloed upon it . I searched the ve » sel , and focad blcod upon the window , a « if the body had been . put out of the window . I found that the piece of wooUen which I discovered at the window corresponded with the shirt of the mate . ^ The prisoners , after Wing cautioned by the . Mayor cot to criminate themselves , and which was interpreted to them , inriraated that ih « y had no ai < wcr to make to Mr . Brown ' s deposition .
Superintendent Bro-ttn asain further added : — There was a bolt on each side of the window by which the window is fastened , and there was " a small portion of blood a" each place where the bolts were in the winJew , where the body was supposed t » have beea put out . Ir . corroboration of what I state , 1 may say that Mr . Hardcastie also attended
wnn me . -Mr . Hardcastle said—I only attended as editor of the Herald , and woald much rather not be called upon to give evidence . Mr . Backhouse—Are these bolts of wood or irsc ? Mr . Beovtn— Of iron . At the " top of the first ^ a * h of the wiudow there was a large smew of bbod . These additional statements of Superintendent Brown were also interpreted to the prisoners . Tae May en— "We are ttly taking the examination to show our reasons for detaining the prisoners tiij the Loroser ' n Inquest takes place .
Ir- ^ ppctor Bailes vm next swern , and deposed as follows : —Ytsterday , I was informed by Sergeant Holmes that he had assisted in co : m ? ing a body to the poor heu ^' e of Monkwedrinoutb . ' 1 wen : there and iuand the tody of a man with a fUnnel . hirt on . He bad also a lintn shirt on , m--rkrd " J . B . No . 1 . " Around the body there was a thick rope tied , a portion of which " i have here . It was tied on one srde with a strong knot . It was tied ripht above the hip . It wa « very rehtly tied . The cook of the * hip Las seen the shir : niaried I ; J . B . " and recognised it . There was a store attached rn ihf > m :, « or ^ ; . ^ was a store attached to ihe and it
, rope , was about eisht or ten stones wti ^ ht . Dr . Brovtx— Eight or ten stones weight I Ic * ptttor Bailes—I observed on the right side of the free that it was completely beat in down the ch = ek bone , and above the brow . The eve was partly beat in . There wax a cut clo « e arj ^ iriins t the eye , about sn inch and a half loDg . I attended the body afterwards with Dr . D . i-id , under the firecrion of the Coroner , and Dr . Dodd ga-re it aa t : < < -pii ; i oa that the blows vteie stffu-ient to cause death , &rd had been ii-flicted before deith . Under the ? e circumstances I reported the mattt-r to Superintendent Bfown . But I saw no instrument with wh : ch it hid been dor . e . I was present with Mr . Brown on searching the vasel ian night . I have heard Mr . Brown ' s evidence , and it is true . I have nothins further to add to it .
Mr . Booth— "Which of thtm paid it was the Ciptaic ¦ Baixes— ( Pointing to two of them )—Ttey sa-d they were * a ; i « fic-d it was he ; and dtrtribed him as having a ring on one of his fingers . 1 mentioned it to tbe ccok and another , and they recognif »» d it as that of the captain . They both recognised him W the ring on the fii ^ tr . The ring « u on the fourth fiager of ihe left hand . I iten ' t in the morning to Gey Put : ? , captain of the stesm-boat Tiger , to enquire about the bag * hieh 1 vras informed was left ¦ n his boa ' . I fonnd the bap , and among other thing ? which it contained , was this b « d-xheet . ( The ¦? heet was here produced , with marks of blood upon it . ) The sheet on the bed was clt an , and had the appearance as if it had never bren Lud oh . On enquiring the de . « cr iptioa of the clothes in which the
captain was crtsstd the night Wfore , he was descriWed as baring on a blue pilot coat , grey trow ^ rf , and a Waek handkerchief . There was a great number of things in the bag , which was a very large one . The last time tbo captain was seen , it was ? aid be had s warch with a gold chain . I produce the eh ^ iB , but not the watch . There are no initials apen the sheet . I also fosnd a small box ( proiac ^ d ) containing a greatTEriety of articles , amongst Which were iane c-ain * ana pums ( proSnCcd ) . Aracng the coins was an Eugiish sovere gn . It was saA 4 thit the captain the night before hdd two pair of boots nearly new . In the bundle I ok-erved two pair of boots—one pair was nearly new , and one pair was an inch locker than the other , aad appeared to belone to adifferent persan . The captaiB ' a boot * & . r « the shorter pur . The evidence was a . lso interpreted to the
prisoners . Gay Potts was next sworn . —He said , in a hurried manner , " "Well , gentlemen , I will not tell a lie . " The Bench —Speak the frnih . Potts —\ 7 ell , I will . Well , yesterday morning ( Thursday ) at nearly seven o ' clock . Mr . Lotherikgton— Do jouknow that bag ? Pctts—Ye * . A beat came alongside ef ear quarter , and there was a foreign man in the boat , and this bag was in the boaC It was & sculling boat the
. I wag mating stern rope of my boat fast , and he say g , " Can I put this bag in ' your boat for a few minutes ? " I understood that he wanted thebhg onWrd . He * poie , bat I could not * xact ! y say what he saia " , I said " Yes , I will take the bag on beard for a few ruinates . " Lly men and me came on shore . I hauled tbe bag on dtck , and got the bag tiere . I cannot tell whether ihe man was any one of tbe prisoners present . I was in a great hurry to pet the boat moored fast to Alcork ' s landing . We were delivering timber aloDgndeof the boat .
Mr . Bacxhotjse— "VYhat was the dress of the man ? Potts—I cannot say ; I did not take notice of the man at all j I was in a great hurry in mooring the boat . Mr . Booth—Did yon take the bag from the man in the boat ? PottE—Ytf . Mr . Booth— "SThat made yon think it was a foreigner ? PotU—Bv his talk .
Mr . Backhouse—Had he a red shirt on ? Potts—It ' s no use me telling a lie— -I cannot tell . Mr . Booth ( pointing to the mate , -who was dressed in a red shirt)—Does it strike yon to be that man whs bad the bag ? Potts—No . There yrns a carpenter and the engine-man on board . The name of tbe engineman ia Thomas Guest ; I do not know the name of the carpenter . Mr . Lothebington . —Did jou leave { he tag on d * ek ? Potts—Yes ; and the man -went away . Mr . Lothkbixoton—How Ion / did it lie there ? * Potts—He went away at half-past tw » , and he was there acain at seven o'clock .
Mr . Lotherikgton- —Did the bag appear to be tight ? ^ Potta—Yes . I seat tbe fireman on board tbe foreigner to gee if tbe bag was theirs , and he took it on board , and they said " it was not tbeir bag . I do not know the name of the foreign vessel alongside of which the steam-boat vrag . Mr . Backhouse said , he would submit if it were Bot their duty to obtain all the information they could withiH the range of those walls , because some part * might not hereafter be forthcoming . The Mayor— I think -we have got as far as is material to the case , as regard * our detaining the parties . °
Dr . Juoj rw ^ d that Potrj ' s testimony left the bag as if it had never been found at all . Potts ( at fhe request of the Bench ) looked again * t tbe prisoners , and said , I cannot swear to any them ZLl ° ^ ™ ™ «« «* ° f
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" "Potta b evidence was then interpreted to the prison trs . Thomas Guest was then sworn—I am engineman on board tbe steam-boat , Tiger . I did not see the bag when it was put on board ; I did not take notice . Mr . Lotherington — "Where were you ? Guest— I cannot say exactly . The other man was wqrV : ing ihe engine . I was not aware that a man had come on baard . 1 did not see that boy till two o'clock . Our mister came for us to go away . When be came , be said , " Who doei thU bag belong to ?' He said a foreigner bad put it on board this morning , and we had better tell them , and ask them if it was their bag . They said it was not their hag . I do cot know the name ef the foreign ship : she vra * delivering timber . £ rr : r =::: |
Inspector Bailes said be got information of the bag from tke cook in Captain Miller ' s ship . The Phoenix was lying alongside of Miller ' s whip . A . reamer waa lying alongside of the Phoenix . The Phoenix was in the centre . Tbe cook in Miller ' s ship said that application had beea made to Potts about the bag . Potta—I gave the bag to Mr . Bailes . Mr . Bailey Sacker , merchant and broker , was ueyt sworn , he « aid—I belitve I have seen this pilot coat and trowsers before—[ Mr . Sacker here made a minute examination of the coat and trowsers]—I swear to them ; it is the dress he was in at our office on M * nday ; a gilt ed ^ ed Lutheraa psalmbook wa . g then produced , and which was recognised by the prisoners as belonging to the captain ; it , however , had no name written in it .
Mr . Sacker resumed—I have seen the captain wear these clothes . The Mayor then addressed the prisoners , and said—It is my duty , as Mayor , to inlorra you , that we must remand you to such fature time as the Coroner ' s inquest tates place . ; This was interpreted t » the prisoneraf and one of them began to speak in the Prussian language , but was warned by Mr . Blei-h not to gay anythiug . Daniel Frellick Muller , of Janserin , aged 19
wa * then brought into the chamber , whtn Superiatendent Brown stated - that the evidence which he had against him was precisely the same as against the others . He charged him with being a principal , because he was at watch wpon , the ueuk the whole of the night , and he had stated that he put the Captain on shore at four o ' clock in the morning , and he ( Mr . BrowD ) should be able on a future day , to disprove what he had said . The lad had ftatcd that he put the Captain on shore oa the North side of Monkwearmouth shore .
Captain Miller here stated , that the deceased captain had been on board of bis ship ( which lay aloDg-Mide ) that night , and that he saw the deceased go on board of his own vessel at eleven . Mr . Backhouse—We roust have every informatioa how , because , at the place where the boy says he put the Captain on shore , it was utterly impoj * -ibk- for him to have done so , — at the platlbrni at the ferry-boat landing . Serce . aut Paxton was sworn , and stated that yesterday afternoon he was requestrd to go down on board Captain Miller ' s ship , when one of th > - mec Haid he knew somethiEg of the captain . Capt . Miller asked the lad when was the last time he saw
tne capt £ iD , and the lad sa \ d , he set him ashore at the gang-way , ( as be called it it , ) at the ferryboat laudiup , at half-past four o ' clock on Wednesday morning ; 1 and Capt Miller asked him if there was asy person on the quay at the time ; tbe lad said no . I a-ked him if the deceased captain had said anything ad to where he was going , and when he was comin g back ? Tbe lad replied , that the caplain answered that he was to mind how ha came on shore a ^ aiD , as the tide was strong , and he waa to nrnd how he got on board .
Captain Miller stated that on the evening of Tuesday last , Capt . Berkboltz and he came on board togethtr from shore . I asked him it he would come oa board , bnt he said he would go on board and take his boou off . He afterwards camo on board to m ? , and smoked a cigar . It was about nine o ' clock . He remained until ten miuutts past eleven on Tuesday evening . I saw him get on board his own vessel—on his own quarter deck . Mr . Backhouse— \ N as he perfectly sober ? Qaptain Miller—Yes ; he sat for three hours and had nothing but a gla ^ s of water . Mr . Lotheriagton—Do you keep a watch on deck ? Captain Miller—Yes ; but not a regular one , we do not depend upon it .
The Mayor— "Was any one on deck on deceased ' s ve ^ tl w hen you saw him go on board r Captain Miller—Yes . Tht ) Mayor—Do you remember who ? Captiin Miller—Yes , it waa the csok . I was present when the boy told Pnxton th-t he put the captain on shore at the gangway , near the ferry-boat landing at four in the morning . Dr . Brown—You saw certain clothes here ^ could you identify them ? Captain Miller—No . Mr . LoTUtaiNOTON— "When the men brought th ? ba £ ou board , was you present ? Captain Miller—No ; the cook teld the officers of her . Majesty ' s "Customs that they had a bag there , ani tbev informed tbe police .
Captain Miller ' s evidence was then interpreted to the prisoners . The Mayor ( to the prisoner *)—It ia my duty to inform you , that you stand remandtd to a future day . This 'beiii g interpreted by Mr . Blech , the Mayor thanktd him and the orher gentlemen for their a 8 » istarc-e , and the explanations given by them . The prisoners were then removed . The Chamber was crowded during the examination .
FULL CONFESSION OF ONE OP THE PRINCIPALS IN THE MURDER . Shortly after the close of the examination reported aViove , Johann GustavFerdinaud Weidpmann , one of the spprentices on boaid the Pita nix , expressed a wi .-h to communicate to the magistrate * all he knew of the mysterious affair which kas filled this neighbourhood with horror . Accordingly , the Mayor , Dr . Brown , E . Backhouse , Esq . a * d R . White , E * q . met immediately at the Police-station , No . 1 ,
Sunderland , Mr . G . Booth again attended as Prussian Consul , and Messrs . Blech and Rahn , jun . officiated as interpreters . The young prisom entered into a lon ^ detail , which went te clrar himself and some of ki ? shipmates from a degrt-e of suspicion , and te pre ? 8 the case with greater force against the mate and the apprentice Moller . Several links in the chain of evidence beirfg still wanting , it was thought expedient by the Bench that "Weidemann ' s state :-ment should not be published .
Scarcely , however , had we congratulated ourselves on resting from the labours of the week , when we were informed that Daniel Friedrich Moller , unable to bear the tortures of concealed guilt , had voluntarily offered to make a full disclosure of all the circumstances attendant on tbe horrid affair . Accordingly , at six o'clock , we attended tbe Mayor ' s Chamber , where Richard White , Esq . and Edward Backhouse , Esq . were the presiding magistrate * . Mr . George Booth , and Messrs . Blech and Eahn , jun ., appeared in their respective capacities . Molier being soon after introduced , evinced the greatest firmness and composure , and delivered his important communication with remarkable clearness ; though , at tbe same time , hia demeanour was entirely free from anything bordering on the reckless audacity ef a hardened villain .
Mr . Backhouse explained to the prisoner , that he was ready to receive any free statement from him , bot it must be without any hope or promise of favour . Prisoner engaged to prire a fair and honest account of fact * . He said , " I had the watch on deck on Tuesday night , from twelve to two . The mate came on deck about half-past one , and asked me to go with him below . I asked the mate what I had to go down for , but the mate said ' Follow me . ' He had a hammer . I went down , and the mate told me to hold a lighted lantern , -which he had under hi * jacket , and we went into the captain's cabin , and the mate struck the captain on the head with a
hammer —( a macker . ) I held the lantern , and tbe mate etruck him three blows on the head . Tbe captain waa lying in bed asleep . When the mate had struck him , I cried out , * Mate , what are you doing ?' and wanted to run away . The mate desired me to stay , and t » ok hold of me , saying , * You must remain here . ' The mate then took the body out of bed , and slung a rope . round the neck . The rope was about the thickness of my little . finger . He put a pair of stockings on the body and put on it a pair of blue trousers , then fetched a bag made of Bail-cloth , and drew it over
the body . I attempted again to go out , but he woald not let me . He said , if I would not help him to put away the body , he would kill me with a knife which he drew out of his pocket . He opened the knife ; it was a clasp-knife . I began to cry , and said I could not help the captain away . The mate said , " You mast help me . If you d « not I will kill you ; but if yon do , I will give yon £ 300 . " The mate also said , (< The captain has so much bere , that I can give yen j £ 30 O . " I went out of the cabin , to the roo / , a « d wept bitterly , and the mate came after me , and took the cap-window ( . sky-
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light ) off . The mate was in the captain ' s berth when I took the opportunity of going on deck . The mate took the sheet , which I have Been here , from the bed , and rubbed th « blood from the floor . Th * mate ran after me , and when I was rearing against the roof , he cut a long cord from the gear , and went btlovr again , and tied it round the body , and came on deck and pulled it up the sky-ligbr ' , handovei hand . I did not help to lift the body out of the cabin . The mate took up the body , and threw it over tbe stern . I heard the body plunge in the water . The mate c&sae up to me , and desired me to bring the rope round to the stern . "When I had KSSfiSs . s
pot the boat round , the mate came down into the boat with the end of tbe line , and fastened it to the boat . I then attempted to get away , but the mate held me fast . I had to take an oar and help to row the host to the south side of the river , where the ships are built . The mate went on ohore , and brought a square atone , that was lying near the river ; and brought it into the boat . Tbe mate desired me to pull up the river , for a good end , ( a good distance ) and then told me to lay the oar by . In pulling up the river , the body lost off the bag and trowsers . The Mate pulled the bod y , so that it was above water , and laid a stone on it . All this was done by the mate alone . I did not see how the
stone was tied to the body , because the mate was between me and the s > tone . He wag on the starboard of the heat , and I saw his hands move . He let the stone and body go into the water , and they disappeared . Then we hotb . returned on board the shi p , and the mate told me to say I had been called up to set the captain on sbore . It was about two when we returned . It was dark and rainy . The mate told me what to nay as we were going to the chip , and when we got on board , he told me not to call the cook , whose watch it was , as he was not needed , but to go to rest myself . The mate said he would call me up at four , as if . to set the cap tain auhore . I went into the roof to my berth ,
where all the crew were asleep . The mate called me at four o ' clock , saying , " Fred , you must set the captain on shore . " The seaman , Pust , would hear the call . "When I came out of the roof , I went to the boat , and revvtd to the south-side where eeme keels were lying , and returned to the ship ; and the mate told me to say , I had put the captain on shore on the north-side . The mate then called the other boy , the " cook ' s mate . " Ferdinand came ou deck , and the mate took me to tho fore part of the * htp , and told me if 1 was asked how the captain was dressed , to say , he had on blue pea-coat , grey trowwers , new Bilk hat , and short bright boots ( little boots to brighten . ) Then he told me to go to restand if I told anything
, he would murder me . I went to bed , and wa < called up at the usual time . The mate has told me he hav thrown the captain's watch overboard . Yesterday , at dinner time , when the boy was preparing for dinner , the mate went into the boat astern , but for what purpose I do not-know . A pilot called 'Vom the south side to sa . y that a body had been found , supposed to be ths captain . Then Piist and the cook went to recognise tbe body . 1 put thtm ashore . It was not tbe habit of the mite to go into tbe boat , and why h « did so neither the crew nor I oould tell . The crew talked about what the meaning of that mi ^ ht be . No one spoke to the mate
about it ; but he ? eemed thunder-gtruck wheu he heard the body wan found . The mate wi « bed to go on shore , but Pust said , be and the cook would see the body . When I had set the Bien ashore , I went back , and was afterwards hailed by a policeman and the cook , who wished to te on b&ard , to ask Capt . Miller , in tbe next ship , ar . d myself , , to recognise the body . The captain only made one gioau after he was struck . None of ths crew but myself aud the mnte knew anything about it , either before or after . If I had been asked any questions thin morning , by the magistrate !? , I shuu ! d have said whai I have done now . " The prisoner v . as then removed .
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- By the Jury—I have not opened the body . The blows were inflicted before death * The wounds were not pale and livid , but fresh , « s if the man . had dted a violent death . I think the wonn le were not only inflicted before death , but were the immediate cause of death . Mr . William Brown , superintendent of the Sunderland police , sworn—On Thursday , at one o ' clock at fcoon , I . had information that a body had been found near Mr . Mill * ' building yard . Attached to the . body wa * a large stone , weighing six p .- eight stones . From a bruise in the head I was inforrae-i by a surgeon that the asan had been murdered . I thonght it my duty to investigate the matter , and went on board a Prussian vessel lying in the Wear , named Pfiwnix . The first person I saw on board ssssss
was tbe mate . I attempted to converge with hi n , and being a foreigner , I motioned to him that I wanted to go into the captain's cabin ; I was accompanied by Inspector Bailes , and we went into tbe cabin . I first proceeded to search the captain's berth . The bed was made up , aa though for the reception of a person , —as if not slept in . I took off the quilt , and under it was a clean sheet which appeared not to have been slept in . I then found a pillow at the head of the bed , without the case , and appeared to be new . I then turned over another pillow without a case , aud there saw marks of blood upon it . —[ The pillow was produced . ] The pillow appeared to have been sponged—iu fact it w » s scarcely dry . I then searched further , and at the
head of the bed , where the captain ' s head would be , i » a partition from the floor to the ceiling , and upon this partition I found blood , as though it had been ¦ plashed . The mate was then in the cabin , and expressed a wish to go on deck , I put him back with my hand to a sofa , and motioned him to remain . On discovering the blood , I thought my * elf justified in taking the crew into custody , and stationed Inspector Bailrs in charge of the mate , till I went and got sufficient force to take all the crew . On arriving at the St-ition-hoase , I examined the mate , and foend several spots of blood on hi . s waistcoat . ( Tbe waistcoat was here handed to the Jury . ) I aUo searched hij jacket , which had several spots of blood on it . ( The jacket was handed to the
J ary . ) I searched the re a of the crew minutely , but did not find anything . I went to the ship the * next morning ( Friday ) at a little after eight o ' clock . 1 examined tho floor of the captain ' s berth , and found that it fead been recently washed . 1 found two tillers lying , -which were likewise spotted with blood . ( The tillers were , produced . ) This towel ( produced ) was hanging from the bed-head , and touched the floor , and was much spotted with blood . I commenced searching the main cabin ; . and from the captain ' s berth to the stem of the vessel , I traced spots and smears of blood . The window opens and makes fast to the ceiling , and ou the uppyr part of the case was a spot of blood , about tho size of a penny-pieco . Oa the lower part of the windowfrauie , was another Maear of blood , about tho size of j . shilling . A sLuUer to the window had two bolts
to fasten it , and on each bolt was some blood . On one wide of the window-frame was a splinter ; and on examining it , I found a pi ce of woollen , which . 1 found corn spuuded in Colour with tie mate's shirt . ( The piece oi woollen . vfa < produced . ) From further information which I received last night , I went to the ship this morning , and fouad on the skylight of thf » cabin , and on each side of the frame-wo " rk of tbe "kyligut , two or three distinct smears of blood . 1 took the boy this morning to the ship , and he pointed out tbx- place whtrethe rope was taken from ; and hi * says that tUe mate told him he had sold the remau . dt-r of the rope to a dealer in crockery ware , that was passing , for eighteen-pence . I wan told this by signs . ( Thu neck rchief of tbe mate wa . * here produced , marked with blood . ) Th . « bo ' . tom of the male ' s waistcoat ; vnd coat appeared ta have recently been washed , and were scarcely dry .
John Hailes , inspector in the . Suud ? rland police , swor : <—On . Thursday , about twelve o ' clock , 1 was informed b y S ^ rjaaiit Hol mes , that a body had beea found in the river Wear , and that it w& * taken to the Miiikweartnoutb poor-house . I w .-nt to the }>! nce in company with Dr . Dodd . Upon exsunination , he believe ! the bli >^ $ were inflicted before death , and , in cons-qnenco , I gave information to Superintendent Brown . 1 was with him on board the PA « f / i ! . r tho same evenirg . On Friday moraing , I was directed by Mr . Br < nrn , to enquire of Guy Potts , the master of tbe Tiger steamer , if th ^ re had not been a bundle left in his boat the day before . I found him , and he produced the bap from the cabin of the steam-boat , an i which bfig I no * produce .
A number of arricks of wearing apparel were in it . 1 found a blue pilot coat ami a pair of trowsers answering the description of the dress in wLiclittie captain w » s last s ^ en . I also found a sheet with some blood upon it ; also the cover of a b ^ d . I observed in the cabin a pillow case , similar to thin produced . ( Here tke two boys were brought into ourt , and were followed by ^ reat crowds of people . ) I also produc-i a jacket , which has been burnt . ( The jacket was produced , and had two holes burnt in front , near tke top . ) I produce a purse , made of small coloured beads , which , I have reason to believe belonged to the ceceascd ; also a watch-chain and b seal . I produce another purse , which I have reason to believe is the mate ' s . ( This purse was
produced , and was a splendid one , made of beads , ; i » d ornamented with # old spangles . ) I hav * several other articles , but I do uot know to whom they belong . 1 also pTodnce tbe sheet which Superintendent Brown aad 1 fonnd on the b * d in the cabin , which does not appear to have been slept on . By the Jury—Tuesn gheeta are of tho same size , butnot of the same quality . Guy Potts told me that his boat was lying inside of a foreigner , * nd that at seven o ' clock ouThursday morning a foreigner whom he didnotkno * -, came alongside his vessel in a boat and asked him if he would allow him to set the bag on bis boat , for a few minutes . He did so , and as no ose came again for the bag , and as he Could not find an owner for it , he put it below . Oue bag haasome niouey in it .
By tba Jury—The large bag wa » tied , and Potts told me that he never opened it , and did not know what was in it .
Mr . Bailoy Sacker s ^ otr—I have seen the deceased ' * body , it is that of Capt . Berkholtz , of tho Phwnix , of Stettin . The pilot-coat now shown me , and the trowsers are bis clothes . Guy Potts , master of the Tt ^ er gteam-boat , was called and seatfor but could not be found . Mr . Ridley said , that Potts told tho magistrates that a man had left the bag on board , and . thathe lid not know the man , but that he knew he was a foreigner by his mode of speech . Daniel FreKrich Muller , of Ganserin , was then sworn . Mr . Blech interpreted to him tbe oath . Muller was told , that he need not answer anyone * , tioas tending to criminate himself .
Mr . Blecfcsaid he had told him they would a ? k him no queitious . Tho examination then proceeded . I am an apprentice to Captain Berkholtz . 1 saw the captwn on Tuesday night . —Captain Miller was considered by Mr . Blecb , as likely to obtain information from the witness , and he therefore assisted in the examination . The boy said he wished to give , a f « ll confession without questioning . Resumed . —I bad the watch between twelve and two ou Wednesday morning , on board the Phoenix . About one o clock in the morning , the mate came on deck , and desired me to come down into the cabin . I refused at first , and the mate drew ont a bottle of brandy . I took some spirit and then went down . The mate had a lighted lantern nnder his iacket
( The jacket was produced , which tho boy acknowledged to belong to the mate . ) The lantern produced was acknowledged by the boy to be the one csed . Tke boy said , the mate had not the jacket on him , but used it as a cover to the lantern . The mate gave him the lantern into his hand , ana desired him to tako the cover off meaning the jacket . After removing the cover ( the jacket ) from the lantern , the mate stood in the door of the cabin where the captain was sleeping . The light fell upon the face of the captain , and the mate struck a heavy blow with a large hammer . He gave three blovrs on the head of thecaptain . When he got the first blow , he only groaned once . When the mate gave the first blow , the boy wanted to run
away , crying , " Mate , -what are you doing ?" ¦ The mate held the boy fast , and desired him to assist him to put the body away , and threatening to kill him with a knife if he would not do so ; and if he would assist him , he ( the mate ) would give him £ 300 , saying he thought the captain would have as muck to give him as £ 300 . The xaat « locked the witness in the cabin , so that he could not get out , and they both remained there . It appeared to witness that the mate was rather in , liquor . The mate took the body out of the bed ho took a rope and tied it round the neck of the body Ihe mftte fetched a bag , made of sail-cloth , out of a cheat of drawBrs , and threw it over the whole Do _ ay . Alter havinsr done tbiai he , nnWV « A - * v «
cabin door , and the witness took tho opportunity to run out . Whilst going out , he saw the mate take a sheet from the bed to wash the floor . The xnate came running after him on deck , and took hold of him , threatening to kill him . The mate took the ft £ l f BP ' "l& ^ took a « m » ll rop e from a £% -ftk " ?»* e- « rt » piece off , and let one mat e wiS ? the 8 f 7- *« - k *> t ^» ca ° «< The ££ ™ i Tif down himself , and tied the rope Th « ^ l bag wLich stained the body . h ~ ¦ l ^* c * " * ti p agaiH * and polled £ L $ "M" * * *¦ " £% !? ftaTKJ caweondeck , the mate threw it overboard at the !
own , on tae larboard ade , into the river . The S ^» V j £ «*»* itneM to the fore part of theahip , to take the boat to the aft . He did so . When fie t ££ ¦ Ju tte boa > Dttr » i > g the aet of tying the rope , £ !*^ Tv ^ W * ttake K * « w * P « . - The mate took hold of lmn , and pnshed the boat off the vessel , and made witness take one oat , and the mate ^ dthe . bpatdragge d the body , the rope being tied * £ ^ y rewed to B Place where » ship was bmldmg , on the south side of the river , higher ^ Lr" ^* " - - Wl V » cannot exactly Hay in what pwtof Uienver , but itwwBpthe nver where the
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ITRTHStl PARTICUI-AKS . Half-past Eleven . —VTe have J 2 ? t karzed , that lil ^ - Ili : l ?> ^ - Brown , Superintendent of Police , went on board the Phoenix , and , a : ter conversing » ome time with the mat ? , requested to ? ee the Capra n ' g berth . The morntnt he raw it , he tras struck -with the eircsmstatie-e , that the shett appear ^ d ^ aa and smooth , as if U had not been sle pt on ; and nn dr .-vnng it doxn , and turcirg oTtr the p-llow , wb ; chvras without its case , he focuS on the tick of t > e pillow , a large blood-stain , ac-5 aa appearance a ? if pan of tse tick had t > eea pporged over . The woodwork at the head of the btd , seemed as if * handful of hiood bad been d = « h « i
rpoa it ; the fl > or , near the b-d-bead , had been Eewly and hastily washed , bnt on the skirting board and under the bed , were splashes of blood . On Eik : ne farther ^ esreb , he found a linen ?> hirt « . f the Captain ' s , marked at the bosom , " J . B " . 5 , " acd en the upper part of the collar a large stain of blood . Ifr . BroTB therenpon requested two officers that were with him to deraia the mate in the cabin , ana , on pc- ; ng ashore , returned with a scineifnt force of the police to apprehend the wb » te e : ew , Mnasdni of the Kiate , three seamen , aBd two boys , all foreigner ? , who were immediately taken oat " of the ship , E-ud locked cp in different celis . "VTc learn , that in the cearse of jessei-iUr , the mate had eiprcfisfcd a wuh to leave the pert .
b-xij . The appearance of the woond on the head , is such a * to lead to the = upp--skion of its having T > etn ir . 3 iftrd daring life ; a ^ d tbe weigirt of the stono , the manner in which it hr-- been tied ro the bodj , and the place in which the corpse wsj foar . d all point to one conclusion— that Captain . Berkholtx has been fou'ly mardered ! The polic-e are activeiv engased in investigating the mysterious besisesia , azd in the hope that seme satirfactorv eTidence mav be broseht to Hint , the isqec-s : has been postponed to a future day . The cnfortuF . ate dec-eased ¦ w a * -well iroivn in this port . He h ? d sone procerrv , and ha ? left a family . He wa < a man of luc : but mu * cnkr male , and was betwten fifty and sixrv rears of a » e . ' ¦ '
¦ " ¦ jich Captain Bc . 'khohz came to a vielent , and , " « ve fear , premeditated death . The ri ght « de ol the frontal bone of the skull , and tbe orbit of the right gye , have been driven in upon : ha brain by a "violent blow , and ovsr the right eye- is a deep honzoatal cot . abosr an inch and a half is length , which appears to have bten inSieud with gocae sbarp sn-rrcm-rnr . There is also a smaller cot on tbe forehead , and some trifiin ? bm se < about tbe faee and the left ha-i . Mr . l ) odJ , the rcrgeon who examined the body , has pronoooeed the injurv done to the skull sufficient to aavs caused- instant death . Roand the neck there is the mark of a cord , from which i : m i ght seem that a rope had been also tied aho-ut tha : pirt to draj ? , or rstber ho st t >> e
Prussian vessel lying alongside , and went on board his owa ship abcut eleven o ' clock . Tke account gixen bv his cre ^ r is , that the captain weut on shore oi ihe ferry-buit landuig , on the north « de « f the river , about haif-past foar on Vfedfiesday moraine , dressed in a new siik hat , new pilo : coat , &o ., and cad with him a watch , with gold chain and seals . Prom ttat time , they fay , they never Saw him alive , but hi = absence excited no uneasiness till ve ? terdav morning , vken the Phoenix was in turn for cea ]? , it being STippo « ed ttit tbe unfortunate man bad yrnie ovsr to Newcastle on a vi « it to some fortign captains of his acquaintance , row in that port . "VTe have been th-s minute in recapitulating the facts that have come to ow icowledge , as rheir pablicadon mav lead to a discoterv of the wav in
there -sva » no other apparel than a pair of stockings , a flaanel shirt , and a cotton ghirt , to : a open , and marked &t the bo * o-c , with red cotton , " J . B . — 1 . ' Attached to the neck was a small camphor bag , and » n the fourth finger of the lef : hand a plain goid ring . —The Yody being removed , hy tbe polict and the persons who found it , to the Moakwearmonth eld werkhoos * , was foea af ter re-COgnbtd ty two of the Cievi of the bneantine , PhceKu , of Stettin , as that of their captain , John Freidrich Berkkohz . Thi » ship , which is in ballast from Leiih , to the address of Messrs . Greenwell and Sacker , has "been lying fer some days off Mr . Alcock ' * building yard , a considerable distance below the place where the body -wsa found . The captain * p ? nt Tue < dav evening on hoard of a
'bridge . Alaerson saw the bean moving in the ¦ water , and giving the alarm to the people on board the At ' a ; itic , a man , named Ralph Stafford , and another ptr * oc , a ? si « -ted him in raising the bedv , ¦ which was found td be tied to a large square piece of lime-stone , weighing upwards ^ of a hundred weight , ai : d -which , by gome mortar on one side , seems to have been used in building . The rope , which appears to be of foreign maie , and to have bem u « ed in the running rigging of a ship , was tied tightly ro-und the ¦ waisiTof " the body , and both end :-hai been saf * ly knotted in a very complicated Banner about the t-rone , leaving about four feet of rope "between the stose and tke corpse . On the bodv
( From the Sunderfand Herald . ) On Thursday noon , the inhabitant * of this boreugh were thrown , into a state of excitement by a rumeor , that thp body of a murdertd niaa bad been found in tbe river ; and- on ina ^ irg enquiry , wt found but too much reason to soppose the report to be correct . The "bedy was discovered by a ke « i-nisB . named James AlderpoB , ab ^ ut thirty yards from the Korth shore , between ele-ren and twelve o ' clock in the foren&on of yesterday , when the tide was 1 st , sear tbe eff-side of the At antic of London , theH lying off Mr . Mills ' * rbating-dock , below - the
V ^ MUBDER OF A FOREIGN CAPTAIN IN SUXDEBLAXD . w "™ r"
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6 THE NOja T £ E ^ N , . STA , . B . ^ JlJNE 22 1839 K
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IN'QTJEST HELD ON THE BODY , ON SATURDAY . The inqu'st on the body of the unfortunate Captain Be . kh « lt £ , which lay at the Monkweirmouth Poor House , vns held before Michael Hull , Esq ., and the following Jury : — Mark Lmu- < dou , Joseph Imisen , Gales Atkinson , Thomas Lamb , Robert Fleming , John Huddleston , William Doxford , Mattb-iw Thornson , R > bfrt Miils . John Hedley , Richard Robinson , John Morrison , John Robson \ V . lch , Jobu Smith , Jameu Catchasides , William Etherington ; wh » having chosen Mr . Doxtord , ioremart , and been sworn ,
The Coroner said— " CJentlemeu of the Jury , by the common law of this country , it is orderod and directed that inquiry shall be roade into the cause of all sudden , violent , or suspicious deaths . To you , gentlemen , your couutry has deputed the duty of mhkiug inquiry on the present occ . v-ic n ; and I hereby cnarico and command yon , in the Queen ' s r'ame , to maka diligent inquiry , when , where , andby what means , John Freiurich IierthoUz came to bis death . Your first duty will be to take a view of tha body , and to see if any and what marks you find upon it ; and , from a careful examination of the witnesses , to return me a just and true verdict . "
The jury then retired to view the body , and on tht-ir return , A juryman begged that the jury might sit together in one place . Mr . Backhouse—I think it will be needful to adjourn to a more commodious place . 1 think the school-room near the chapel will bo tbe best place . The adjournment then took place to the Methodist School , in IJarclay-sUvet , Monkwtarmoutb . The uamefi of the jury were a ^ nin called over , after which the Coroner said— G-ntlemen , You have bad r view of the body of the poor unfortunate man , and rn . -d . iQ the necessary obt : ervatioi . s . I shall now call the witnesses , to whom I crave your best attention .
Richard Bnen was sworn . He said , I am a sailor . About half-past eleven in the morning of ihursday , I -was on board of a keel beside tho brewery of Mr . Allinon . I was told there was a body in the rive / . I went to tbe place , and found tho body of John Freidrich Berkholtz , which I now know it to be . When we hauled him up , I found a rope round his waut , and that he was fastened to n » tone . He was cut upon the forehaad . His skull was fractured . He was then taken to the Workhouse at Monkwearmouth . The wounds on bis head , I think , were the cause of hia dea ' . h . By th * Jury—He had a pair of worsted stockings , and a white flannel shirt . He had a ring on one of bio finders . We cat the rope at the ferry-boat landing , I tbink the stone would weigh five or six stones .
Some hesitation took place as to tbe order in which the witnesses were to come forward . The Coroner said Ue was a stranger in the place , and kuew not who the witnesses were to be . Mr . Kidson aaid , ho would give every information he could . It appeared that nothing had been previously arranged on this subject by the proper authorities . rhe overseers refused to have anything to do with the matter . Serjeant Holme * , one of tbe police was sworn . Last Thursday , near twelve o'clock , I was coming past the ferry-boat landing at Monkwearmouth . A gentleman came running down the street and told me that a body had been found in the river , and they were coming to the ferry-boat landing with it
. I instantly -went there and found a boat with two men coming to the shore . 1 went into the boat , looked over the stern and saw a man in the water . Tbe stone was in the boat , and it weighed npwards of a cwt . I raised the body up with a rope , and found it was naked except the stocking * . On the right side of tbe head I found a large bruise , and tbe front appeared to be knocked in . There were one or two cutu—one especially large above the ey » . AU the bruises appeared on one side of the face . It appeared to me that the wounds were the cause of his death . Some riien standing by fetched a board . We got some canvass and covered the body The stone would weigh above a cwt . We endeavoured to carry the body with the stone , but we could not .
By the Jury—It was & common rough stone—it appeared to be limestone . William John Dodd , surgeon , of Monkwearmouth-shore , sworn : —At halfpast thres o ' clock on Thursday afternoon , I was called to examine the body of a man who , I was told , had fallen into the nver . I did so . On going into the room , I was struck with the shockiug mutilation of the forehead . LA drawing 6 f the murdered man ' s faca was produced . ] From the right of the forehead to the left temple it was echymose , as we call it . Th © frontal bone was broken and depressed considerably . The bones , to u » a popular term , were smashed in 1 here were three principal wounds on the forehead —the first about hah' an inch above the eyebrow and another horizontally , oyer the eye , was an inch ' nttaflau
a , wnicnwoald be alone sufficient to have killed him . Jhere ^ a a trifling woun d in the centre of the lorehead . It must have been done by an instrument partly sharp and partly blunt , as by a hammer—aninstrument having aflat end and asharD one . 1 have no doubt the wounds and bruises were tha cause of his death . The whole of the right temple , part of the left , and part of the right cheekbone , and one part of the eye , was red and nwouen . They were puffed , and red , and black . There w £ nnother wound which penetrated tha cheek-boneT Whe J ' k * ¦ f ? W * ° M found the wfaofeof S £ SSSffi £ ? SftSte k&f ^ S
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), June 22, 1839, page 6, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1062/page/6/
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