CO129-008 - Foreign Office - 1844 — Page 189

to the duties of the vessel. The deceased Hopkins was then 2nd mate. He was also on deck. The Prisoner at the Bar was asked by someone who came forward why he had only scrubbed two gratings. The 2nd mate then struck the Prisoner with the palm of his hand, and called him a lazy fellow. He soon after struck him a second time. This was about three minutes after the first blow. I heard the Prisoner say nothing. The 2nd mate struck with the palm of his hand, a good blow. I was about eight feet from him. I heard the sound of the blow. The Prisoner was on his knees, scrubbing a grating. The blow did not knock him down. The 2nd mate stood a little looking at the Prisoner. I was at this time occupied with my duties on my own forecastle. My attention was attracted to what passed. I saw both blows. The second one was like the first. The Prisoner went on scrubbing the grating after the first blow. The second blow did not knock the Prisoner on the deck. I positively saw that. I heard the sound of the second blow, as I had done that of the first. I only saw two blows. The 2nd mate did not kick the Prisoner. If he had done so, I must have seen it. The Prisoner kept scrubbing. I was looking at him and the 2nd mate. I cannot say how often the Prisoner moved his hand back and forward in scrubbing after he was struck. From the 2nd mate standing over the Prisoner looking at him, the 2nd mate turned round to walk away. He had got about six feet away when the Prisoner jumped up.