Litchfield to the commissioner of police, Calcutta, May 13, 1879

Mr. Litchfield to the commissioner of police, Calcutta.

Sir: Late yesterday afternoon, I received the following telegram from the captain of the American bark C. O. Whitmore, sent from the Diamond Harbor, at 3.45 o’clock p.m.: “Murder has been committed on board. Please make the necessary arrangements.”

Because of the lateness of the hour at which I received the dispatch, the nature of which indicated that prompt measures might be necessary, I took the liberty to communicate with the superintendent of police, requesting him to arrest and imprison the accused upon arrival of the ship.

I am now in receipt of the annexed from the officiating port officer, containing an extract from the report of Captain Shillaber, master of the Whitmore, from which it appears the murder was committed in the high seas by an ordinary seaman, named John Anderson. I therefore have the honor respectfully to request that you will please cause the said named seaman to be arrested, brought on shore, and imprisoned until I can find it expedient to send him to the United States for trial. I shall proceed on board the vessel early to-morrow morning, and take the depositions of the officers and crew.

I am, &c.,