Hannah Cunliffe - Historical Researcher & Maritime Consultant

Tuesday 15 April 2008: the hanging of Valeri Giovanni

The latest query from 'Making History' involved the hanging of Valeri Giovanni, an Italian, who signed on as a British merchant seaman onboard the Lorton and stabbed a fellow seaman to death.  Using Lloyd's List, I was able to find out more about the voyage of the Lorton which left Hamburg in April 1899 and sailed to Oregon, Port Natal, New South Wales, Valparaiso, Caleta Buena and thence to Falmouth, arriving April 1901, carrying nitrates.  The Merchant Shipping Acts told me more about the role of the Master, enforcing the law during a voyage of this kind.  Upon discovering the murder, he ordered that Giovanni be put under arrest until he could be delivered to the constables in a British port.  A description of the incident was written in the ship's official log book and signed by Giovanni.  This was then used as evidence in the subsequent trial.