The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-04-13
BY TELEGRAPH.
Murder and suicide,


PoRTsAouTH, Va, April 11.-Thursday
night the freightbarge Neuse, loaded with
fish and shingles, under the command Ct
Captain David Crocker, and belonging to
the Pioneer Transportation Company, of this
city, left Edenton, N. c., for Norfolk, In tow
OF the s:eam-tug Ludlow, q hawser of about
seventy yards connecting the two vessels.
Ihe night was dark aud very rough, and the
progress across the Albemarle sound was
slow and difficult. Previous to sailing, Cap
tain Crocker had had some difficulty with
one of his negro hands, named Andrew
Whitehurst, and the negro at once began 10
nurse such dreadful animosity towards the
Captain that he went to Mrs. Croker, who
sailed with her husband, and was on deck
at the time, while the Captain was below,
ana, aecosting her, angrily remarked,
Madam, your husband showed his fist
under by nose." Mrs. Crocser replied,
Well, Andrew, you shouldn't mind him !;
you know how high-:empered and passion.
ate he is at times" and began to entreat him
to cherish no ill.feeliDg in the matter. The
negro was not disposed to reconciliation.
however, and he ended the conversation
with the lady with the sullen threat, swell,
never mind, what's between US will be made
all right in day or two" During the first
watch Whitehurst vas called upon by Cap
tain Crocker to take his place at the wheel.
lie refused to do so, and when the second
watch came around he also refused to obey
the captain and 60 to the wheel. at the third
watch, which vas between and O'Clock,
he obeyed the captain, and took his station
! steering the barge. The wind was blowing
gale at the time, and a portion OF
the deck-load Of the barge was swept
overheard. Captain Oocker could no,
sleep, and merely reciined in his berth. Per
ceiying that the barge steered badly, be went
on deck to see what was the matter. Shortly
| afterwards Mrs. Crocker heard her HUSBAND
at words with Whiteburst, and heard hi
| voice singing out very loud several times, a
she thought to those on board the tug Lud
low. A short time after this, while Mrs
Crocker was listening and patiently waiting
the return Of ber husband, she heard White
hurst tell one Of the negro crew who came
aft that the Captain had just fallen over
board. She Immediately few up the cabin.
ladder and on deck, and charged Whitehurst
with having thrown Captain Crockel
overheard. Whitehurst stoutly denied
having committed the murder, an(
insisted that the Captain fell over
board. Mrs. Crocker became very viz.
lently affected and alarmed, and screamed
for help to the people on the tug; but the
winds were roaring and shrieking to such IN
extent that her cries could not be heard the
length of the barge. Frightened at the pro
. liability of personal violence from White
, hurst, she appealed to the negro standing
| near for protection. He promptly pledged
her that she should receive his protection
She continued to charge Whitehurst will
numbering her husband, and he would o.
persistently deny the accusation. SuddeDl.
Whitehurst let so the wheel, and going for
ward stripped of his coat, and was seen b.
all the hands ON deck to suddenly plung
; overheard into the seething waters of Abc
marie sound. Remorse had evidently over
come the murderous negro, and he sought i
the grave of a suicide to wipe out the mise
that overwhelmed him. The whole transa'
tion happened just of the mouth Of PEI
quimons river, where the sound is eight
| nine miles wide