The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-03-27
From the Sunday Herald
THE OYSTER SI,O0p TRAGET


William johnson, alias Alfred w. Hicks, the
suspected murderer of Captain Burr and crew OF
the oyster boat E. A. johnson, was arrested YES.
terday morning at Providence R. l., and arrived
here in custody OF detectives Nivens and Smith
by the hatpast four o'clock train yesterday after
moon.
During the day, Capt. Weed, of the Second pre-
clnct police, received telegraphic despatch from
officer Nivens, to the effect that johnson was un-
der arrest, and would soon be on his way to New
lork The prisoner, it appears took the Fall
River boat, and not the Stonington one, as was at
first supposed, and Immediately after reaching Fall
River he took the cars for Providence r. L.
where he was arrested early Yesterday morning
He was found in the outskirts of the CITY, in an
| out-ot-the-way place, where he had engaged pr.
| vate lodgings for himself and family The officers
watched the house for several hours before they
deemed it prudent to arrest him, and then had to
resort to ingenious ruse in order to secure their
man.
ARRIVAL AT TWENTY SEVENTH STREET
Immediately on the arrival of the baggage car
at the depot Of the New Haven Railroad at Twen-
ty-Seventh street. the prisoner was transferred to
one OF Studley d Co.'S coaches, and before the
crowd, who had assembled in large numbers were
aware of the presence Of the accused, the convey
ance had started for the Second precinct station
house.
THE SCENE AT THE sTATION-HoUsE.
The carriage drew up in front of the Second
district stationhouse, in Beekman street about five
O'Clock, and the same good luck attended the
transfer in this case as that which took place at
the depot. The prisoner was brought into one of
the inner rooms and told to be seated while. the
police went in search of the witnesses who were to
identity him. johnson remained perfectly calm
during the whole of this time, and cooly smoked
cigar, as If nothing in the world had occurred to
disturb his equilibrium Soon one of the wit
nesses, named Burke, came in, and on being con-
ronted with the prisoner at once identified him as
the man who had left No. l29 Cedar street on
Wednesday, and went on board the Fall River
boat in company with his wife and child Daniel
Simmons can opd
prisoner as one Of the hands who sailed in the
oyster sloop, and asked johnson il he did not know
Captain Burr. To this question the prisoner re-
piled in the negative and said he never sailed in
the vessel of which Captain Burr was commander.
To numerous other questions put to him by Mr.. |
Simmons the prisoner answered in a manner so
cool and unmoyed that even the detectives were
taken aback.
IDENTIFICATION OF THE CAPTAINS WATCH
After the prisoner had undergone a critical ex-
animation at the hands of all the policemen and
spectators who happened to be in the station bouse
detective Nivens produced small box in which he
said was slowed the prisoners money, ieweIrv &c
A silver watch, which the prisoner claimed had
been in his possession three years. was first
brought from the box. Upon being handed to
Henry Seaman, an old friend of Captain Burr's it
was identified as the property of the latter by seve
raj unmistakeabe marks. Two canvass bags, which
the prisoner said he made with his own hands |
were also identified by both Mr.. Seaman and Sim
mons as being the property of Captain Burr The |
Identification of these articles produced profound
sensation in the room, and all doubts as to the pri-
soner's guilt were dispeleG as unworthy of a mo
ment's consideration. Besides two pocket-books
the box contained two knives, a couple of pocket |
handkerchiefs, some keys and pipe. There were
no marks of violence upon the person of the prisO-
ner, with the exception of very slight bruise on
his right arm. In personal appearance johnson is
a Misunderstanding fellow, about six feet high,
and well built in proportion.
During the entire time occupied in bringing him
to this city he has shown no disposition to be un-
ruy, and quietly followed the officers everywhere
he bade. After being exhibited to a LARGE |
number of persons the prisoner was taken down
stairs and locked up in one of the cells, where he
now remains, under close surveillance.
The luggage of the prisoner consists of an ord-
nary sailors trunk, bed, and two coarse baos
which probably contain his clothing They are
now in charge of the police at the Second precinct
,tation-house, and will probably be opened to-day
for an examination of their contents
The following is account of scene witnessed
IN board thesloop L. A. johnson on. Sunday last,
rs recorded in the journal of the Second precinct
police:
March 24.-Isaac Sprgg, of Tottenville, Staten
sland came to the station to-day and stated that ,
IN Sunday, the 18th, while the soop E. A. John
on was lying on the beach at Wards Point, oppo- ;
lite Perth Amboy, man known to have been one
# the hands of said soOp, was seen grinding an
xe and edging a drawing knife and plane iron. | |
lie was seen by Mr.. lie Meoin, Mr.. Speight Mr. {
Butler and Mr.. Romer, who are the owners of |
he'd near which the sloop was lying. He described
i'm as being an ordlnary-slZed man with black |
'hiskers.
THE CHAIN OF CIRCUMSTANCES,
The movements of the prisoner are so thorouohlv
nked with this shocking crime that they form = |
Dmplete chain of circumstantial evidence; and this
hahn, which is riveted with iron strength. we
ace, link by link, follows:
The landing of the yaw boat on Staten Island
each.
The conversations and transactions at the Van
srbilt landing on Staten Island.
The counting of the money on the Staten Island
rry-boat.
The coffee and cake transaction at La Coste's t
and at South Ferry. "~ )
The boy carries the bag to Cedar street. s
John Burke sees him from Cedar street tn the
al River steamboat. y
The hackman who carried the prisoner from the | a
eanboat Bradford Duriee, which plies between n
Ill River and Providence, to the house where he
As found, and in which he was arrested ,
Then there are the various articles identified be- u
nd all doubt. a
Ana, py no means an unmportant circumstance, "
e ldentlhcation OF the prisoner himself as the .
an who actually left New York in the sloop. tn
THE EXAMINATION. tn
The accused win be taken before United States
for examination upon the charge of hs
tracy" ! oh