Part 35 (1/2)

THE RECORDER--How long did the cry of murder continue?

BUCHANAN--About three or four minutes; soon after the captain had ordered me to keep back, he called for a candle, and I carried one down, and he gave me the sword, and bid me stand upon my post; and said he, if my brother makes any more noise, let him alone and send for me; and he locked the purser's cabin-door, and took the key away with him; and in the morning the doctor's mate, the cooper, and I consulted together about it; and I was willing to know, if sir John was dead or not: and when we peeped into the cabin, we saw him lying in a very odd sort of posture, with his hat over his face, and one of his legs lay crooked; upon which we concluded he was dead.

THE RECORDER--How long were you off your post from first to last?

BUCHANAN--I can't tell exactly.

THE RECORDER--Recollect as well as you can.

BUCHANAN--About three quarters of an hour.

THE RECORDER--And could you see who was at the purser's cabin-door all that time?

BUCHANAN--Yes, Sir; I saw the captain stand at the foot of the ladder at the door, with a drawn sword, from the time I went up to the time I came down again; he locked the door, and carried the key away with him.

VERNON--Pray, were there any bolts on the purser's cabin-door?

BUCHANAN--Yes, there were bolts on the door; they were put on soon after sir John came on board: sir John was in that cabin when they were put on.

VERNON--You say you heard a noise and outcry of murder; how far were you from the cabin-door when you heard that cry of murder?

BUCHANAN--I was walking to-and-fro the gun-room.

VERNON--How far is that from the purser's cabin-door?

BUCHANAN--As far as I am from you.

VERNON--Whom did you see go into the purser's cabin to sir John?

BUCHANAN--I saw Mahony go in there.

VERNON--Did you see any other person go in besides Mahony?

BUCHANAN--No, I did not; I saw Mahony go in just before the cry of murder, but no other person.

VERNON--Do you know any thing about securing the captain?

BUCHANAN--Yes, I will tell you what happened then. We went and secured him. As soon as he was laid hold of, he cried out, Hey!

hey! what have I done? We told him his brother was murdered, and that he had some concern in it. He said, What if the villains have murdered my brother, can I help it? I know nothing of it.

GOODERE--Did you see me in the cabin at all?

BUCHANAN--No, Sir, I don't say you were in the cabin.

THE RECORDER--Mr. Goodere, the witness does not say he saw you in the cabin, but at the door, and with a sword in your hand, and that you handed in a light after the cry of murder was over.

GOODERE--I could not have been in the cabin without Buchanan's seeing me go in, because he stood at the bulkhead of the gun-room.

THE RECORDER--Mahony, will you ask this witness any questions?