The Virginia Gazette

By letters from the Bay of Honduras, dated the 18th of Dec. 1768, we are informed that on the 28th ult. at night, Captain William Harrop, of the Bacchus, hearing a noise among his men in the steerage, went to order them to their hammocks, which they all obeyed, except Matthew Turner, whom the Captain struck at for using abusive language. The man immediately seized the Captain's scimitar with one hand, and with the other gave him three stabs in the left breast with a long knife, of which wounds he expired instantly upon the quarter deck. By assistance from the ships in the harbour the murderer was secured. The next morning the coroner's jury brought in their verdict wilful murder, and the man himself has since confessed the fact. As they have no authority to try for life there, the fellow is confined on board the ship to take his trial on her arrival.