Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-11-17
The Chicago Butchers May Strike Again
PHASES OF THE IRISH PROBLEM
Socialists and the Right of Free Speech.
ATTEMPT TO POISON PHIL. ARMOUR
A Stage Coach Carried Over a PreCipios.
BriscOe's Trial to Begin Tomorrow
No Doubt Of His Conviction.

Special Dispatch to THE EVENING STAR.
PORT TOBACCO, Nd, Nov. 17.-John Benjamin
BrIscoe will be tried by the circuit court of
Charles county tomorrow for the murder of
Capt Robert b. Dixon on the 29th Of August
last, on the Potomac river. Yesterday the case
was called and to-day the demurrer will be
heard. II is understood that the ground of the
demurrer is the question of jurisdiction OF the
court, the defense claiming that the murder
was committed in Virginia. 1t is scarcely prob
able, however, that the demurrer will be sus-
ta1ned and from present indications the trialwill
proceed tomorrow. Briscoe has able counsel,
consisting OF ex-Judge Magruder. State Senator
Edelin, and Benjamin II. Camalier They will
make good fight, hut his fate is considered a
be acquitted it is generally conceded that he
will be lynched.
HISTORY OF THE CASE.
The case is one of the most famous and inter-
esting in the history of Southern Maryland. In
the last weeks OF last August Captain Dixon left
colored boy, who will be eighteen years of age
next March, and whose name was Brscoe.
Captain Dixon stopped at Alexandria for a few
hours, out from all accounts he took on his boat
no more help. He then proceeded down tine
river. On the last day of August colored man
found a dead body hear Coles Point. Wes;more-
land county, Va, and towed it ashore. The
skin was Knocked of a portion OF the skull, and
the head had two deep cuts in it. The throat
the large blood vessels were completely severed.
There was tremendous cash in one OF the legs.
The pockets were turned Inside out. The body
was that of Captain Dixon. He was All esIim-
able man, and the announcement of the crime
created an intense sensation.
In the meanwhile the cOIored boy Briscoe had
taken the SlOOp over to st. Patrick's creek st.
Marys county. George Morgan, fisherman,
saw yawl leave the sloop. There was only
turned. When the sloop was aiterward entered
the cabin was found to be horribly stained with
blood.
Briscoe went to Leonardtown to see his sweet
heart. That night he offered to change some
big bills tor some men who were playing cards.
On the 1st OF September, accompanied by his
for Washington on board the steamer john ".
Thompson. Just before the steamer sailed he
was arrested. He at first denied having ever
animation showed that he had in his possession
vest, two shirts and two coats belonging to
Captain Dixon, and various articles belonging to
he said, been paid to him by Mr.. Freund, Of
ashlngton. Mr.. Freund denied it.
BRISC0E's CONFESSION.
Then Briscoe made the following confession:
II don't know the name of the man vino was
on the boat with me. The murder occurred on
man who did the murder is a bright mulatto,
black mustache, a few side whiskers about live
feet seven or eight inches high had IL scar
under his left eye. He had on q black coat
light pants and black souch hat. This man
Killed the captain with stick OF oak cordwuod
as he Came out OF the cabin and knocked him
back in the cabin. He then followed the cap
tail. into the cabin, pulled him out and threw
him overheard. He put no weights on the cap
talns body. The captain came up once after he
was thrown overheard, moved his hands and
then sank out OF sight. The vest and receipts OF
Capt. Dixon found in my vallse must have been
put there by this mulatto man. We brought
the vessel over on this Side OF the river and tried
TO strike Breton's bay, but the tide was making
down and we could not do it, We stopped
the vessel opposite Neale's creek. The Inu-
iatto man put me ashore on Huggin's Point,
on the farm OF j. Frank Ford, aud then went
back on board the Mary j. l shipped i'm Wash
lngtOn and the muIattO man i'll Alexandria.
The captain cursed the mulatto man Saturday
night about delay in lowering the mainsuIi
On Sunday morning the muiattO lOosed the
cordwood stick With which he killed the cap
tain from It's pOSit Oh where it was used as u
prop TO the nainsail. and laid it alongside OF
the CABIN door. AS soon as the captain came
up sunday morning from the cabin, between Z
and O'Clock, the mulatto man told the cap
tain ne must either whip him or put him
ashore. The captain returned to the cabin and
the mulattO followed him. In a few seconds l
heard the mulattO man curse the captain. He
came out OF the cabin and grabbed the stick OF
cordwood. The captain followed, and as he
came out Of the cabin the mulattO man struck
him and knocked him back
BriscOe said that tire two divided the money
ana articles. He made further CONCESSIONS, and
each confession Was a contradiction. So great
was the fear oil iynching that iorty OF the Leon
ardtoWn militia company guarded the Jail day
and night. There was a question OF Jurisdiction
involved at LeOnardtOwn, but it was finally de-
cided that the crime was committed in Mary
land territory. The case was removed from ST.
Mary to this county. BrlscOe has been very
sick, and il was thought for while that he
would die natural death before the courts
could pass upon his crime. Briscoes claim that
there was another man on the boat is not be-
lleved, and he has destroyed his own testimony
by his many contradictions. 1t is almost Ger.
tain tnat he Will hang.