LIFE ON A CATTLE SHIP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10347, 23 January 1897, Page 2 (Supplement)

LIFE ON A CATTLE SHIP.

ALLEGED MURDER ON THE HIGH SEAS. Pedo Onellam, 32, a Chilian seaman, was brought up on remand, at the Greenwich Police Court, on the charge of wilfully causing the doath of Evan Evans, seaman, of Llanelly, oil October 18, on the high seas. When the prisoner was brought before the conrt lie behaved liko one insane, and, lying prone on the floor of tho

doclc, continually repeated tho words: "Misericordia; Santa Dios, Virg6n Santissiina, mlsorioovdia." The scene was painful to witness, and tho accused, who had to bo carried or drugged into and out of court, continued in a condition of ahject terror up to the time of hie removal to Holloway Gaol. Tho prisoner was now in a much quieter frame of mind, and was offered a eeat in the dock, but declined to take it. James Pluyre, of Yewbree Road, Liverpool, second cattle foreman on the steamer Queensland, sail that on October 18 the shin was on tho high seas from Argentina to Deptforcl; and the prisoner, who was a cattleman on board, was shipped at Biieno3 Ayres on October S. He slept with other cattlemen in a seven or eight berthed cabin on the port side of the ship. The decoased man Evans was cattle night watchman, and went off duty at six a.m. On October 18 Evans complained to him clo?e to the cabin where the prisoner slept. Witness wont into tho cabin and turned tho cattlemen out to work. Evans pointed out tho prisoner to him. Onellam left the cabin last, and as lie came out Evans, who was standing by, said to witness, "I've a good mind to go for him now," and made a rush or charge at the prisoner, who could not nndoratanrt what ho had said. Hβ noticed nothing in the prisoner's hand at the time. Prisoner always carried a sheath knife in his sash. The next witness saw was the men tussling together; and Evans nulled out, "Oh, 1 oh, oh." He saw no blow struck. It was dark at the time. The prisoner then went away. He saw no knifo in his hand. He was told Evans was bleeding vary much, and went to call the officer on the watch and the captain. He helped to carry Evans to his own cabin. There was a good doal of blood' on tho deck at the placo where the struggle took pluco. The wound was on the side of tho deceased's left hip. Evans died between 10 and 10.30 the same evening. About an hour after the " accident" happened the captain fetched tho prisoner, presented a revolver at his head, and asked lim for his knife. The prisoner pulled out lift knife and threw it overboard. Cross-examined : It was not Kvaos , duty to call the gentlemen on tho day in question ; up to that time he had done so, but was told on the previous night not to, as there had been some bother the morning before. Notwithstanding thoso orders he find called the men. He did not know his method of calling the prisoner was to strike him on the jaw with a thick stick. The deceased was a thick-set man, nor, so tall as tho prisoner, and was about 21 years of age. Ho would not consider Evans so strong us the prisoner.

Andrew Makesy, of Wexford, able seaman on the Queensland, said Evans went to him about 4.30, and took him to the cabin on the port side. Evans had a broom handle, which he used to carry to gob tho cattle on their feet if necessary. Evans called tho cattlemen, and all got up except tho prisoner, who gob up in his bunk. Evans come running out of the cabin, and an iron sheave was thrown after him through the door. Evans awoke the men by tapping the bunks with the broom handle. Witness picked up the sheave, and wont into the room, where tho prisoner was sitting in his bunk with an iron band in his hand. He took the band from fcho prisoner, who mumbled something. Subsequently he saw Evans at the cabin door; and when the prisoner came out Evans went up to him, bub he could not say if ha struck him. Someone called out, " He's going to knife you;" and witness soon afterwards saw Evans throw up his hands and call out, "Oh!" He saw a knife in the prisoner's hand as he nab in hi 3 bunk, and when Evans pointed the stick at him. After .'Cviins had been stabbed he also saw tho knifo in Onollam's hand. Blood, was flowing , from tho wound in Evans' loft thigh in jurlts.

Cross-examined : Hβ Went with "Evans to the cattlemen's room becauso Evana said he was afraid to go there alone. Deceased did not strike the occupants of the bunks with ii stick, but merely the edge of the bunk. He did not see Evans strike the prisoner on the jaw, but would nob swear that ha did not do so. At this point the prisoner was remanded.