From Confederate Navy Trivia by Terry Foenander.
*** At least one murder is known to have been committed on an officer of the Confederate Navy by a fellow officer. On October 15, 1862, Acting Master's Mate Joseph Goodwin Hester fired three shots at his commanding officer, Master's Mate (Acting Midshipman) William Andrews of Georgia, with a pistol, aboard the CSS Sumter, while that vessel was anchored off Gibraltar.
Andrews died almost instantly, and, after an inquest was held, his remains were laid to rest on October 17, at Gibraltar, attended by members of the Sumter as well as several officers of the One Hundredth Canada Regiment, stationed at the rock.
Hester was under suspicion by Andrews of pilfering articles from the vessel, but after arrest for the murder, Hester tried to vindicate his crime by claiming that Andrews had intended to commit treason by delivering the vessel into the hands of the US authorities.
However, the crew of the Sumter in a letter to the Confederate commissioner in London, James M. Mason, noted that the claim was without foundation, and that Andrews was beloved and respected by all who knew him, especially his crew.
Hester was held by British authorities at Gibraltar, and, after some correspondence with the Confederate authorities, the British sent him aboard the Shannon, to Bermuda, where it was hoped he would be brought through the blockade, for trial in the Confederate States.
However, permission was denied, and he was permitted to go free in Bermuda.
So, That's the Story. --Old B-Runner
No comments:
Post a Comment