Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1860-03-29
Another Probable Sloop Tragedy--A Chi
naman Suspected of Murder.

Closo uron tho Il. A. johnson tragedy, below
tho hnrhor Of New York. comes another mysicry.
connected with tho oyster sloop Spray, which ut
present appears likely to equal it in mystery and
horror. The New York papers have tho follow
ing particulars
Cant. Webb, of tho schooner. Thos Il. French,
which arrived ut this port on Saturday, from Suf'
folk, Va, reports that on tho 23d inst four miles
north of Barnegat. hc picked up boat contain
I'M, Chinaman, who stated that ho hnd escaped
from the sloop Spray, of Gullford, Conn. which
hal TINT day been in collision with tho slmp Lu-
cinda. Of Kockdway that the spray sunk in IT.
teen minutes after coliding. carrying down with
her the captain. named lccte, aud his brother.
who were tho only persons on board besides him
seI. The Chnaman was supplied with hatchet
compass and provisions. aud so lar rs regards tho
collision, is statement was correct. as IL was
subsequently, ascn. tnincd that tho Lucinda put
into littlo Egg Ilarhir in n damaged condition.
1t * suspected however. that the Chinnman mnr-
dercI the cnptsn and his brother. md then dc.
.crtrd the vessel. His name il John Lowe and
when picked up had on coat belonging to Capt.
Icctr. with whom he sailed for several years.
Ills stories concerning the mannerof The captains
death nro very conflicting lie first said that tho
captain wna thrown overheard by being struck by
the main sheet; hen he said that Mt tho time OF
The cullisio. the captain was standing on the bow
sprii, and was knocked oG by tho conclusion; and
finally that he sick in the ,abin and unable
eily the suspected murd, rer disappeared. Tho
enptain oi the l.ueinda states that Lowe was tho
only person seen on board tho Spray at the mo-
meat cr tho disaster which appeared to result
from gross neglect on his part. Tho Lucinda al
ter the collision had to keep of FOR her own safcy,
but her captain h.crycd tho deck nf the Spray
wa, literally covered with bedding, flags and 9TH
er articles showing probably that she had been
ransackci for the purpose of robbery. Tho Spray
bound to Virginia for cargo of oysters, IN :
Capt Leee had in his possession funds for tho
purchase Of his cargo. The police have the affair
in hand, and day or two mny cleai up tho mys'
tory that now surrounds II.
This last tragedy is believed TO have occurred nt
about the same time, in very nearly the same lat
itulc and probably with the same beet as promp-
ted tho murders on board the Il. A. johnson. Al
bert W Hicks nlias William johnson, tho alleged
murderer Of Captain Bnrr and his two townsmcn
on board tho slooop Il. A. johnson, was arrested
at Providence, Il. J.. on Saur lay, and brought
t. New York, is native of Foster. X. J.. is 81
years OF ago, can neither read nor write, and hns
iuowed the sen for several years. On Sunday he
was visited by his wife, When taken down to the
cell in which her husband is locked up, she broke
ont upon him in the most vituperatiye language,
charging him with being u bloody villain. Sbc
held her child up in front of tho cell door aud ca
claimed, "Look at your offspring. you rascal. and
think what yuu have brought on us. If / could
get in at you would pull your bloody heart out
Ih prisoner ookel at her very coolly, andquiet-
~ replied. why, my dear wife, I've done moth
ius--it will all be "u, in dsy or two" Til"
poor woman was SO overcome that she had to ba
taken away.
Tn, pr sonor was ulsa visited by matchmaker.
who recognized the watch found in hi POSSESSION
As having belonged to Capt. Burr Johnson NAM
tnins the utmost cooness aud indifference, nnd
has engaged Connecticut lawyer to defend
him.