The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1882-01-14
A CAPTAINS FATE.
A Sad and Horrible Tragedy for Havre &c
Grace.
IIAvRE DE GRACE. Jan. 8, 1882.


noon. at ) 20 o'clock. the diSiigured form
was brou -sht to his home and was met at
the depot by Il Large crowd OF friends.
AS the remains were taken to the hum
bile home Of the stricken widow and or
phanS. the crowd grew in proportions and
the most intense curiosity was evinced
When the dead body was brought to this
place it was laid out SO that the terrible
bruises in the head were hidden. The
funeral took place to-day. at the Metho-
dist Episcopal Church. Rev. JOHN w.
Cornelius made an appropriate address
The large building was filled by citizens
who, despite the rain, had gathered there
to testify their respect felt for the dead
man. The coffin was wrapped with an
american flag in respect of his good sol
dierly record,
The remains were deposited by the side
of his two dead children in the old grave
ward. The pall-bearers were William
II. Dobson, Theodore Reynolds. L. w.
Murphy. c. A. Conner. Herman OSmond.
and \. a. Fletcher Mrs. Smith is said
to be completely Frustrated by the horr-
bile death of her husband. and as she is
afflicted with heart disease, her friends
fear her death.
There is no sympathy felt here for
Moore, whom the people here regard as
the murderer of Smith. Ms. Smith said
| hat I,a f,ali al
killed her husband, and Moore told one
of her children on Tuesday that "he
(the child) would never see his father
again, as 4 Dutchman had killed him
and thrown him overheard" Smiths
family have been left in almost destitute
circumstances. but their immediate wants
have been fully provided for through the
kindness of the citizens. The bloody
shirt found in the cabin of the boat is
identified as belonging to Moore.
The details of the crime as they have
come to liz Int. are as follows: On Deem
Der 24th he left this town with load of
gnano, shipped by H. II. & w. E. Kline
letter. consigned to firm in Baltimore
The Seil8rahe. of which he was captain.
arrived in Baltimore the same day and
discharged her cargo, and by December
2Sth hal reloaded with guano material
for the return office. He collected So
from klinrfetter for fret rht. and left TO
start for home. The schooner left, but
its subsequent doingS are in doubt.
About Saturday last, Captain John :.
Wilson, of FIavre de Grace. the owner of
the Shclldrake, began to be surprised at
the non-appearance of his vessel. While
at loss to understand the cause Of her
protracted voyage. he gave himself no
concern about the matter. until, on last
| Monday. he was astonShed to learn that
| Richard Moore. the deck hand on the
boat. and Captain Smiths sole assistant,
had returned to his home in Havre de
Grace. Capt. Wilson called at the house
where Moore resided with his mother.
Mrs. Elizabeth Moore. rhe door being
opened for him by the latter. He states
that Mrs. Moore seemed alarmed and
uneasy al his appearance. and when the
object of his visit was announced she be-
came even more confused. In obedience
to his wish Mrs. Moore turned and call
ed out. Dick. here is a gentleman to
see You Moore, who was lying down |
on Settee, rose and came to the door. |
exhibiting. rs Capt. Wilson says. much |
confusion. Ii was understood that he |
was making contradictory statements
about the vessel.
On Thursday, Capt. Wilson quietly left |
liavre de Grace, and went to Baltimore
in search of his vessel. On Friday morn
ing. he heard that she vas moored at a |
d 'ck in Baltimore. and proceeding there. |
found her as stated. On descending the |
compani"n-way partial explanation Of |
| the my sterious delay in the schooners |
movements was explained by the dis
covery of Capt. Smiths corpse in bunk |
to the right of the door. Without stop |
ping to investigate further. Capt. Wilson |
at once notified the police. A minute
examination of the cabin. it's CHASTITY oc-
cupant. and the surroundings was then |
made. The body was l,ing face down.
wards in the bunk. with holes in the |
temple and when viewed in that posi-. |
ton it was seen that the back and the |
rear part of the head were covered with |
blood. The hands of the murdered man |
were clasped tightly over the breast the
ends Of the fingers being purple with
blood forced into them by the tension Of
the grip. The long black beard was
frozen stiff and hard with the blood and
water while two blood covered handkcr-
chiefs were crammed into the mouth ard |
half way down the throat as a gag. At |
the foot Of the corpse two small kegs of !
gunpowdcr We're found. leading some to
| suppose that an attempt had been made |
to blow up the schooner by slow fuse.
The cabin was about ten feet square
and six feet high with hunks and lockers |
on each side of the comptnion way. I'm |
mediately in front of the door was a small |
cook stove, in front of which stood a |
bucket half full OF ice. On examination |
it was found that the water was thick |
with clots o! blood, as was also the heavy |
cloth frozen fast in the centre of the |
luuid. The edges of the bunk. the floor
and sides of the cabin We're covered in |
places with thin c"atingS Of ice, only par
TALLY hiding blood stains. showing con-
clu>vely that the murderer had endeav-
ored to wash away the sigrs of his |
crime. \ pair of bloody drawers. which
will be an important clue, as they are be
lieved tn belong to Moore, were found in |
Il locker. while hidden awlv in corners
and cuphnardS were found the .oat and |
pantalnnns of Captain Smith, both stiff
with frozen blood
From the surroundings and the fact of
the blood being scattered around the
cabin, the police became convinced that
the fatal blows had not been struck while
the murdered man was in the cabin where
he was found. The generally accepted
| theory is that Smith was attacked while
in the centre of the cabin. the weapon
used being Il heavy iron marIinspike. In
the scuftle the blood flew in every direc-
ton, but n second blow with the spike
probably telled the victim. That he COM
menced to cry for mercy and help, and
thus alarmed his murderer, is shown by