Volume One - Into the Victorian Age - Some newspaper reports from the 1870's

It was a short, sharp, terrible struggle. The captain's voice rang out through the quiet early morning air, and the confusion and bustle of the deck, the groans of the wounded man, and the hubbub of the capture of the would-be murderer made up an appalling and exciting scene. The men had to proceed cautiously for the Greek was armed and desperate. He gave them no time for reflection, for before they could grip him fairly, he had drawn the knife with terrific force across his own throat, severing the windpipe. Before the men brought him on to the deck he was a corpse.

Meanwhile it was found Tracy had been stabbed clean through the right breast, and was bleeding profusely. He was taken down into the cabin and tended by the captain as best he could, but the life-blood was ebbing fast. The captain ordered the first tug boat to be hailed and the poor fellow was conveyed on shore during the day and taken down to the Hamadryad Hospital ship.

Information having been conveyed to the police, on Thursday afternoon Mr E. B. Reece, the coroner, held an inquest at the hospital ship, as to the cause of the death of Peter Dovboch. Tracey was with difficulty able to give evidence, and as it was thought he had not long the inquiry was held at once, that he might, if possible, tell the story while consciousness remained. The evidence of the captain and the second mate, which in effect added nothing to what is stated above, was also taken. The coroner having summed up, pointed out the law to the jury, and explained the different courses open to them. The jury found that the deceased, Peter Dovboch, came to his death at his own hands, during a supposed fit of temporary insanity, but for motivation there was no direct evidence to show.

The only light thus far thrown on the atrocious double crime is that afforded by the statement of one of the sailors, that the Greek had quarreled with him, not with Tracey, on the journey from Liverpool to Cardiff, and that he had vowed to be revenged on him. This sailor, immediately he knew Tracey was stabbed, said "That was meant for me." The Greek mistook Tracey for the man against whom he had a grudge, and unconsciously wreaked his vengeance on the man, with whom he had no quarrel. Whether he knew of his mistake or died under the impression that he had at any rate had his revenge remains and will remain a mystery, for the deed was done so rapidly that he could not have taken time to assure himself that he had stabbed the object of his vengeance. On Friday Tracey was a little better, and there appears to be some hope, though it is slight, of his recovery. He is unmarried. His parents have been communicated with, It appears they live at Tully Church, county Fermanagh, Ireland." Cardiff Times [019] 20th April 1878.