Wife, 17, Aids "Killer”

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 63, 16 March 1938, Page 10

Wife, 17, Aids "Killer”

An amazing story of mutiny and double murder in the yacht Aafje as it drifted helplessly off the Californian coast was revealed by Los Angeles Federal Chief John Hanson.

Only a few hours before Hanson’s G-men had towed the Aafje into port at San Pedro, California.

Dwight Faulding, owner of the yacht, was missing. He had been shot by Jack Morgan, one of the crew, and his body hurled overboard. Morgan, too, was missing. He had been killed by members of the crew.

“We found the Aafje battered and dismasted, and her passengers and crew half-starved,’ 7 said Mr Hanson. “There were two men, three women and an eight-year-old-boy, Robert Turner, on board. Morgan’s 17-year-old wife told us what had happened. She was the coolest of them all.

“Apparently it was a one-man mutiny. On December 21, the day after the Aafje sailed from San Pedro, Morgan suddenly appeared on deck with a drawn revolver.

“He ordered Faulding from the wheel. Playing for time Faulding made as if to leave the helm. Then suddenly flung himself at Morgan. “Morgan shot him in the shoulder, crippling him. ‘ ‘Faulding managed to crawl to his cabin, where he found his revolver. Then he staggered back to the door. As he appeared in the opening Morgan shot him dead.

“Threatened by Morgan, the crew and Morgan’s wife tied up tho body in a carpet and a blanket sewn together and threw him overboard. 77 “For the next few days the whole ship’s company lived in hourly terror of Morgan. He drove them into a cabin at the pistol point and forced his wife to take turns with the revolver in keeping them penned there. “Running short of food and petrol, dismasted, and sailing crazily in heavy seas, the Aafje travelled 500 miles out into the Pacific, 77 Mr Hanson went on. “Then hunger and fear of being wrecked made the imprisoned men desperate.

“One of them crept out from the cabin door and killed Morgan with a marlinspike. “Morgan’s plan had evidently been to seize the boat and force the crew to sail her as a pirate in the Southern Pacific. 77 The two members of the crew, Horne and Sprank, were later charged with killino- Moraan.