John Sullivan

John Sullivan was convicted of the murder of Dennis Lowthian 17 and sentenced to death.

He battered him to death on board the SS Waiwera on the high seas on 18 May 1904 whilst the ship was between Montevideo and Teneriffe.

The SS Waiwera had been a trading vessel trading between London and New Zealand. Dennis Lowthian had been a deck boy and John Sullivan had been an able seaman.

After the ship had left for New Zealand John Sullivan and Dennis Lowthian had been on the most friendly terms but during the voyage Dennis Lowthian made accusations against John Sullivan and from then on they were less friendly. Later John Sullivan assaulted Dennis Lowthian and was imprisoned in New Zealand for it. After he was released there were constant quarrels and John Sullivan threatened Dennis Lowthian and later said that there would be murder.

On 18 May 1904 he struck Dennis Lowthian over the head with a hatchet killing him whilst Dennis Lowthian had been talking to the Quartermaster on the deck. As Dennis Lowthian was attended to John Sullivan stood by and said 'You don’t want a doctor, he's dead enough. I knocked his brains out, what ought to have been done to him long ago'.

After killing him John Sullivan threw the hatchet over board.

After killing Dennis Lowthian, John Sullivan was put in irons. When he was searched they found a letter in his pocket which read 'This is my last declaration in this world, as I am about to take the life of Lowthian, and should give some reason for it. I have been better than a father or mother to him. In return he called me names, and gave me no peace'. It also contained allegations against Dennis Lowthian, calling him a thief and a liar.

It was found that John Sullivan and Dennis Lowthian had formed a close friendship early on the outward voyage but that after a time they had frequent quarrels that were then followed by reconciliations.

Their friendship had involved John Sullivan washing Dennis Lowthian’s clothes, darning his socks, buying him tobacco, giving him his food and getting his boots mended twice.

However, accusations that he later levelled against him included claims that Dennis Lowthian had been stealing from the cargo, had stolen fruit from a ginger beer shop, stolen money off a counter at a shop and had boasted of breaking the church clock at home. He described him as a viper and one of the lowest forms of humanity he had ever met.

It was found that John Sullivan did a good deal for Dennis Lowthian in the way of washing his clothes etc, which was not part of his duty, describing himself as more of a father or mother to him, and that he would become jealous if Dennis Lowthian was in the company of other members of the crew. However, it was also found that Dennis Lowthian had behaved in a very aggravating way towards John Sullivan at times, taunting him and calling him foul names, which it was said had  upset John Sullivan very much and greatly affected his temper.

It was found that on the night of 17 May 1904 that they had had a quarrel and that Dennis Lowthian had wilfully soiled his bedding by dancing on it on the deck after John Sullivan had washed it, with the idea of putting it aside as not being required. That was said to have affected John Sullivan very much and he wrote bitterly about it in the letter that was found on him at the time of the murder. It was thought that the letter had been written after that event and might have been brought about by it.

However, it was noted that John Sullivan said that he had no recollection of having written the letter.

The ships log that detailed the incident read:

18th May 1904

Latitude & Longitude of occurrence:

Lat. 10° 30' South

Long. 25° 05' West

Entry made 20 May 1904.

About 5 or 10 minutes to 9pm heard cry for help on deck. On going to the place found Quarter Master holding John Sullivan, AB. Others of crew coming up immediately. Quarter Master said Sullivan had knocked a boy down with a belaying pin or something. A few feet away found the deck boy Dennis Lowthian lying on deck bleeding from two terrible wounds on the head one just behind the right ear and another on the right cheek bone. Doctor examined the boy and said he could not live and after a few quivers he died. When I called for the doctor Sullivan said 'You don't want the doctor, he is dead enough. I knocked his brains out, what ought to have been done to him long ago'. Sullivan was put in irons and placed under guard. The body was laid on the No 5 hatch covered over and a watch set over it.

When the SS Waiwera returned to England on 2 June 1904 John Sullivan was arrested at 3am and taken to Wapping Police Station.

After he was arrested he said, 'I am sorry I did it'.

After he was sentenced to death and asked if there was anything he wanted to say he said, 'Yes, I consider my lord the judge summed up this case as though he had a personal spite against me, and went to sleep while my advocate was pleading for my life'.