The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-06-23
rn,l,lmore American yesterday.l


Frank, Of tae schooner Nignonette. and
the cook, William Gage. in the James river
On Nav Slst last has at last been apprc-
hendcd, and under very peculiar circum.
stances. The details OF the murder are
doubtless still fresh in the public mind. The
schooner Miguonette had left Baltimore
two weeks before the date OF the tragedy,
hound for Richmond and ihc James river
ria Georgetown. with Captain Milton Il.
Frank; William w. Selby, mate; William
Gage. cook; and colored man. who
shipped from Baltimore under the name OF
George Thomas, deck.hand. On the night
of Nav Slsi the captain was steering, and
the mate was also aft, when the man Thomas
came aft with lamp, saving that II had
gone out for want Of oil. The mate offered
TO iill IL, aud the captain told Thomas to
take IL 10 the cook. as he was the man
for that business. Mr. Selby, the mate, took
the lamp, however, and went down In the
cabin 10 Tx il, and was coming up the CON-
panion-way, when Thomas struck the cap.
tain heavy blow with pump-DTake, FELL
inr him TO the deck. Then, whirling
around, he fetched the mate terrific blow
over the head, knocking him senscless down
the companion-way. When the mate came
10 be found himself beside the rail and his
assailant trying TO throw him overheard.
His legs were already over, but, coming TO
his senses. he held on TO cleat, aud. draw
inr his knife. scared the negro of. The lat
ter then went back TO the captain. who was
living grooming on the steeragc, and Selby
came after him 10 the captains assistance,
when Thomas, tuning, made for the mate
with double pump-brake, and forced him
10 lump down the hstchway, blow
aimed at him just missing him and
smashing the hatch. The negro, fear
ing 10 attack him in the cabin, then
finished the murder Of the captain by throw
ing him overheard. After that he ran the
vessel aground and escaped on the "White
Shore The peXt morning the young mate
found the dead body OF the cook In his
bunk, and the decks OF the schooner beda0-
bled with the gore OF the murdered captain.
lie constructed raft from the boOby-hatch
and set out after the boat in which the me-
gro had escaped, and which was drifting
about mile off. Later In the day he was
picked no anu taken TO Norfolk, and in
spite Of his STRAIGHTFORWARD story was him
self suspected Of having committed lbe das-
tardly deed, and OF having buried the body
OF the negro Thomas on shore so as 10 fas-
ten the suspicion on him. The detectives
and police OF Norfolk tried 10 swear that he
was a notorious character, who had been
arrested before. and the mate OF another
vessel swore he saw him engaged in quar-
rel with Captain Frank; but he finally
cleared himself by his strict adherence to
the story and 10 the truth. A colcred man
in Norfolk swOre that he knew Thomas
well. and had seen him in that city short
time after the murder, but up to Saturday
morning last nothing more bad been heard
Of him.
CAUGHT N wOMAN's CLOTHES.
On Saturday morning Conductor Slater,
OF the Philadelphia, Wilmington aud Balti-
more railroad train. which left President
Street station at 9:15 A. NJ, noticed the bg-
ure OF a woman dressed rather peculiarly
and CLOSELY yelled board the train at Middle
River station, about fifteen miles from Bal
timore. The supposed woman approached
one OF the train hands and inquired when
the next train for New York would leave
Philadelphia. The people whose attentions
were drawn to the alleged female noticed
that she had very broad shoulders. large
snlay feet. and that the dress was so incon-
gruous that no real woman would have
donned il. IL consisted OF flimsy,
dirty calico skirt, very unevenly gathered
I'D: linen basque, white linen cuff'
which came far over large, rough, scanned
hands, encssed in dirty white cotton gloves,
and grape veil, which was tied around her
| head in lieu OF hat. and eDcascd the flea.
tures. This il-assorted and uDgainly figure
1 took n seat in the ear, and was approached by
/ Captsin Slater for her ticket. Hesaid he felt
1 sa,i.fjed that il was n man in disguise,
/ and when she lifted her veil he exclaimed,
"Wby, YOU are not woman; you are Il
mani" The party appeared greatly con-
| fused, but managed TO stammer forth,
"What makes YOU say dat!" In decidedly
| masculine voice. The conductor heid very
lille further conversation with her. but at
the next station telegraphed to Havre de
Grace for constable TO meet the train and
arrest the person. He also had strong sus.
pIcions, though be bad no positive grounds
4 for them, that the man was the murderer OF
C,n,ain Frank. and when Constable John
/ Honkins. of Hayre de Grace, cane aboard
/ al that place, he communicated them to him.
The constable walked over 10 where the
4 supposed woman was sitting and said, 81
want you," and, as the person made no re-
sistsoce, he was taken and carried into
,owc before Justice Hopkins, where ii was
i discovered that IL was really man in dis.
ouise. for underneath the skirts he had on q
mans parb. In the constable's words, " Ht
was a oueer-lookin' genus" and attracted
no little attention as he was marched
through the streets up to the 'Squlre's OF
ice. On being questioned by the Justice
he affected TO be idiolic, smiled namely. ant
nothing sensible could be gotten from
bin. lie gave different name ever,
lime the question was put, ana when asKeo
where he was from, said. "Oyer there
pointius back in what he supposed was the
direction OF Baltimore, and to where he was
-. ,o-,Uad .yphy oue- wonder q little
pece.v lie said be was going from Middei
liver TO visit his sister. His sister was
named Sarah Adeline and his mother was
named AGetine Sarah. Tbejustice and con
Stable kuew 10y the shrewd. uneasy looks
which he east around that he was only
,hamming, and piled him questions. to al
81 which be replied in all inane manner
lie stontly asserted, however, when
Questioned, tSat he had never been or
he water in bis life. la short time hf
iropped the '.eimple business and asked
there he could get lawyer. One was fur
lished in the person OF Dir. Yandiver, oil
Hsyre de Grace, sho at once head CONVEX.
Eahon with him and advised him TO keep
bis noutb shut; and the man was accord.
ngIy locked up N little house on the
cbarge OF disguisiag himself IN female at
ire. Constable Hopkins searched him and
Found on him about go and smla& pistol.
An ATTEMPT TO ESCAPE.
The Tmpstbies OF che colored people OF
fse fown were aroused In bis favor. ana
vote 10 tie little place scrOwbsr was poked
through window, and Constable Hop
Ins, on visiting the prison later, found that
had been digging 10 get out. He WAS
Promptly hsndcuned. In the mean time.
- A. Il. - UnIf