Source: Raleigh Minerva Written: 1814 Friday, May 8, 1814 The Superior Court for Craven County has been held here this week, his Hon. JUDGE HENDERSON, presiding. On Thursday, JOHN B. BURNHAM was tried on an indictment for the murder of OLNEY GOODRICH. BURNHAM was Gunner, GOODRICH, Cockswain of Gun boat No. 116, as appeared by the muster roll - but GOODRICH was acting as Master's Mate. On the 22nd of March, 1813, while the Gun-Boat was in the harbor of Washington, the Master (WOLFINGTON) on shore, GOODRICH being about to go on shore, at night, appointed a person who did not belong to the boat, but was on board as pilot, to take command of the watch; some of the crew expressed dissatisfaction at this appointment, as irregular. BURNHAM, who was below, in the forecastle, was heard to use the term "rascal," GOODRICH demanded, whom do you call, "rascal." BURNHAM replied, "you! You are a damned rascal." GOODRICH said he would see who was the rascal, went aft, got a lantern and candle, went into the cabin, came out with a pair of handcuffs, and went into the forecastle where BURNHAM was, the witnesses said, evidently with an intention to put BURNHAM in irons - a scuffle was heard, GOODRICH was stabbed twice and died instantly. In behalf of BURNHAM, it was urged that whether the deceased was Cockswain as by the muster roll, or Master's Mate, as the witnesses thought him, the Gunner was his superior officer. The Gunner being a warrant officer, appointed by the President, the Cockswain and Master's mate, only petty officers, appointed by the Master. And consequently the deceased was admitted to have been the superior officer, he could not have rightfully exercised his authority by putting the Gunner in irons. The proper course being to report his conduct to the Master for trial by a Court Martial. The jury retired for a few minutes and returned a verdict, "not guilty of murder, but guilty of manslaughter." - Newbern paper
Back to Craven County Court Records