Seeking Justice for the Murdered Schooner Crews
Authorities in Victoria and Washington Territory coordinate to track down those responsible for the brutal killing of crews on the Blue Wing and Ellen Marie.
We published last week a statement from the Port Townsend Register, giving a clue to the murdered schooner crews and the schooners Blue Wing and Ellen Marie. We now learn that Acting Gov. McGill, with an energy highly commendable, dispatched the steamer Eliza Anderson to Victoria. Prosecuting Attorney Anderson is to proceed to Victoria to gather such information as will enable him to issue a requisition in proper form for the Indian perpetrators. The authorities of Victoria have been diligently at work to ferret out the murderers, and one of them, a Hydah Indian named 'Jim,' was arrested and examined before Judge Pemberton, but was discharged, as the Court held no jurisdiction in the case. We hope the authorities here will not be remiss in their connection, and take the measure by which a requisition can at once be obtained from the Governor for the arrest of the offenders under the Extradition Treaty.
“We hope the authorities here will not be remiss in their connection, and take the measure by which a requisition can at once be obtained.”
This report documents a violent episode in the maritime history of the Puget Sound, illustrating the complex jurisdictional challenges between British Columbia and the Washington Territory in the mid-19th century.
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