PIRACY AND MURDER.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 8859, 29 April 1909, Page 3

PIRACY AND MURDER.

THE CASE OF THE WHITE ROSE. MORTLEMANS FOUND GUILTY. (By Electmo Telegeaph—Copybight.J Lf KB FBiiSB AtibUCIATION.J SUVA, April 24. The White Rose, piracy trial attracted a crowded audience. Joseph ■ Mortlemans was found guilty of piracy and murder. Fred Skerrett, one of the accused, turned King's evidence. Mr Costal, for the defence, raised an objection regarding the ■■ jurisdiction of the Court. The case was adjourned till Monday.

The facts of the case were revealed through the confession of Jackson—probably the Skerrett of the cable message—a cabin-boy on the vessel known as the White Rose, which was wrecked at Apamama rather more than a year ago. Jackson said: —The schooner was stolen off the west coast of South America. She was a fore-and-aft schooner-rig-ged craft, and originally was named the Neuvre Tigre. She sailed under the Italian flag, being owned by the master and mate, both of whom were forced, at the point of the gun, to jump overboard. The schooner sailed out of Callao early in November last, having on board a crew of four, viz., the captain and mate, the cook (a Belgian, Joseph Mortlemans), and Jackson, as boy.

The vessel had only got about fourteen miles off the coast —it was the first day out from Callao —when the cook made an attack on the mate and captain. He rushed at the mate-, first and struck him on the head with a tomahawk.' He was felled by the blow, but quicklv recoyered himself, and took to the rigging. The captain, hearing the scuffle, came out of the cabin, and he, too, was felled by a blow. Immediately afteWards the cook got his gun and forced first < the mate and then the skipper to jump overboard. He said, "Jump overboard or I will shoot -on." The mate sank immediately he struck the water, but the skipper struck out for the shore, which was distant about fourteen miles, and Jackson threw him a plank. The cook threatened Jackson, and he was so frightened that he afforded him any assistance. He (the cook) first headed the schooner off the land,, and then set to work to get rid of the cargo, which consisted of fifty tons of coke. This was jettisoned, and then the schooner sailed for the Soixth Seas. , The cook said he would call at Tahiti, and then head for Australia., whore ho hoped to sell the vessel, and make a few wounds. He had taken the precaution to paint the name off tho vessel, and called 'her the White Rose. For weeks the vessel \vas driven, hither and thither bv tho prevailing winds, but they had plentv of stores on board, and held out at sea until "Janunr*- 2nd, when the schooner-drove ashore on -Aparnsmin. ■ They were fonr days r on the island when they joined tho Louise J. Kenney and proceeded to Tarawa. •