Democratic Sentinel, Volume 20, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 September 1896 — The Murder on the Brig Mariner. [ARTICLE]

The Murder on the Brig Mariner.

Almost the only case known where an officer was killed by a member of the crew and the murderer escaped punishment is that recorded of the little brig Mariner, which was on a sugar voyage from St. Thomas to this port in the same year that the Thayer mutiny occurred. J. C. Lewis, the first mate, and Frank Jakileta. a Russian seaman, had a quarrel which developed into a fight in which the sailor had the better part until the mate promised to let him alone. As soon as he was released from the grip of the Russiar, Lewis grabbed a belaying pin a:id rushed at the sailor, who made a motion as if to draw a knife. Bang came the belaying pin over Jakileta’s head. Then out came the knife. There was a swish and a slash, and Lewis, with his jugular vein severed, fell to the deck, dead. The struggle was over before the rest of the men could interefere. Jakileta was disarmed, but, as the vessel was short-handed, he was compelled to keep at work. Mrs. Wharton, the wife of the captain, John Wharton, of Portland, read the burial service, and the body of the mate was buried at sea. On the arrival of the brig in port, Jakileta was at once taken before ’Commissioner Shields, and, as the Grand Jury was in session, the case was quickly disposed of. The prisoners stray was corroborated; the plea that he acted in self-defence was accepted, and he was set at liberty.— New York Tribune