The Wheeling Daily Intelligencer

THE STOLEN SCHOONER

The Captain of Which was Murdered and Part of the Cargo Sold.

PHILADELPHIA, August 2.—Warner Merritt, owner of the fruit schooner Julia Baker, is more convinced than ever that Captain John Lewis has been murdered by the crew, and that the man in command of her at Key West, who alleges he is Captain Lewis, is an impostor. Last evening the firm forwarded to Key West by telegraph a full description of Captain Lewis, and a series of interrogations to be answered by the person in command of the vessel which brought such answers, through Raymon Alvarez, Deputy Collector, that at midnight the firm sent that officer the following dispatch:

The man claiming to be Lewis is an impostor and unquestionably a murderer. He and all the crew should be prevented from leaving Key West. The United States Attorney should devise means to hold them. The impostor does not answer a single question correctly.

In speaking of the matter, Mr. Merritt says: 'I haven't the least doubt but the man is an impostor, and have already sent a man to Key West to take charge of the vessel. If Captain Lewis were alive and in charge of the schooner he could very readily answer all the questions I propounded, and the fact of the man not making correct replies convinces me that Lewis has been foully dealt with by the crew.'

Warner Merritt this afternoon received the following dispatch:

Key West, August 2.—The situation remains unchanged. The master and crew cannot be held on the evidence you have furnished. The master desires to discharge her cargo immediately, but we will try to do so until the arrival of your representative here. The vessel is apparently not leaking sufficiently to necessitate hasty discharge.

Key West, Fla., August 2.—The crew of the schooner Julia Baker state that the master was attended by Gomez, the steward, and Walker, the mate, for seven days after leaving New York. When the crisis came they gave him something from a bottle, and he died in three minutes afterward. Walker was arrested this afternoon. Gomez left the schooner at Fortune Island. He said he owned half the cargo. Walker told the crew, after the schooner left the Bimini Islands, that Gomez had stolen money which had been realized from the sale of rum. The acting master of the schooner has been exhibiting considerable gold, and trying to buy silence.