Volume II Part 35 (2/2)

MAHONY--Are you certain that I was in the cabin when you heard the groans?

BUCHANAN--I am positive you were there in the purser's cabin when I heard the murder cried out.

_Daniel Weller, sworn._

VERNON--I think you are the carpenter belonging to the _Ruby_ man-of-war?

WELLER--Yes, Sir, I am.

VERNON--Give an account to Mr. Recorder and the jury of what you know relating to this business.

WELLER--The 18th of January last, about seven o'clock in the evening, the captain came on board in the barge; as I attended him, I observed he seemed in a pleasant humour, he came upon the deck at once, and said he had brought a poor crazy man on board, who had been the ruin of himself and family, and that he had now brought him on board to take care of him: he took him down to the c.o.c.k-pit, and having been there a little while, one of my people came and asked for some bolts; I asked, What for?

He told me it was to put on the outside of the purser's cabin-door, to bolt the crazy gentleman in. I gave him a bolt; after he had nailed it on, he came and wanted another: I had another, gave it to him, and went down to see the bolts put on.

Sir John cried out, What are you doing, nailing the door up? I answered, No. I ordered the door to be opened, to turn the points of the nails. The door being opened, sir John asked whether the carpenter was there? I told him I was the man. The centinel told me no-body must go in there; however, I went in, while they turned the points of the nails. Sir John bid me sit down, and asked me, What does my brother mean by bringing me on board in this manner, to murder me? No, Sir, says I, I hope not, but to take care of you. He asked me, if his brother told me that he was mad? I saw no more of him till next morning.

VERNON--And what did you see then?

WELLER--Next morning the lieutenant sent me down to see if sir John was dead. I went down and asked the centinel for the key; he told me the captain had been there in the night, and had taken away the key in his pocket. I broke open the cabin-door, and sir John was lying on one side dead, with his right leg half up bent, his hat was over his face, with blood bespattered about his mouth and nose. I went directly up, and told the lieutenant of it.

THE RECORDER--By whose orders did you put the bolts on the door?

WELLER--One of my people came to me for bolts, and told me he was ordered by the captain to put the bolts on; and none of them ever came for any thing to be done, without an order of an officer.

_Edward Jones, sworn._

VERNON--Mr. Jones, I think you are the cooper of the s.h.i.+p _Ruby_?

JONES--Yes, Sir.

VERNON--Were you on board upon Sunday the 18th of January last?

JONES--Yes, Sir, I was.

VERNON--In what cabin did you lie that night?

JONES--I had no cabin, but I made bold to lie in the slop-room that night, having my wife on board.

VERNON--Pray what is that you call the slop-room?

JONES--It is like a cabin.

VERNON--How near is the slop-room to the purser's cabin?

JONES--Nothing but a thin deal-part.i.tion parts it from the purser's cabin.

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