Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1886-09-09
MURDER MOST FOUL.
An Old Man, 66 Years Of Age, the Victim.
One OF the Criminals Jailed and COnfesses
HIS CoNrAxrox still At LAnen.

of The Sloop, Mary j., of Baltimore, having
been found drifting wherever the winds
and tide listed" with her cabin, deck and
rail blood stained and other evidences that
she had been made the theatre Of IA murder.
The proper Officials, ably seconded by citi-
gems, took the matlrr in hand and Wednes-
night, Deputy sheriff Fcnwick arrested
and lodged in Jail benjamin biscoc, color
Ell, charged with d. murder of Captain
Robert r. Dickson When arrested, Bis
zoe was lying on II bench asleep waiting
for the Steamer Thompson a. leave Leon
ardtown Wharf What was the charge
against him he never asked? A search of
his effect disclosed re- eipt and other pa
pcrs belonging h. Captain Dickson, and
contradictory account he gave of himself
helped Ia strengthen the conviction that he
was one of The men wanted. Witnesses
were found To swear that Sunday they had
seen yawl leave the ~loop and land at
higgins Point, That day, Il stranger had
had been seen in George Combs water
melon patch, near where the boat had
landed thence, the same man was traced
to Abell's Wharf, thence, To II tenant house
on Society Hill farm, in Brittan's Neck.
Here he displayed IL roll Of bills, From
the Neck, he last Wednesday evening
started for Lconardtown intending to take
the Steamer for Washington. He reached
the boat, and so certain Of escape was he,
went to sleeps little thinking that he had
been Swallowed or where his contemplated
trip would end. At 1920 O'Clock, p. m, he
was peacefully sleeping. shortly after, his
repose was broken by Sheriff Fenwick and
his interrupted nap was finished in the
county Jail. Thursday morning, when
told Of the finding Of the Captains papers
in his valise, the prisoner, without any
promises, confessed the crime.
TIE PRELIMINARY HEARING.
On Friday morning, at 1915, o'clock, the
prisoner was given hearing before JUS
tice JOS. +. Morgan States Attorney Dan
lei G. IIammett, conducting States case.
Capt. Edward Harden was the first witness
called. lie testified TO the finding of the
Sloop Mary j., deserted and adriit and
produced papers belonging to Captain
Dickson found on board. The papers were
read. Witness did not know Captain or
vessel. Thursday, six or seven gentlemen
came over from Virginia in search of the
Sloop. Told who they were, one saying
that he was Il brother Of Captain Dickson;
said the Captain body was found on Coles
Point, Machodoc Creek, Va. Had iloatcd
ashore. An examination showed evidence
of ii heavy blow on the head and the throat
was cut-only Il small piece of the skin re-
manning uncut. Did not hear it stated
whether or not the Captain had money
with him. The Captains nephew had
parted with him the Saturday previous to
sailing
While waiting for the arrival of an inn
portant witness, the Justice read the con-
LESSONS which he stated the prisoner had
made in the presence of four witnesses.
TnE CONFESSION.
Don't know the name of the vessel.
The killing occurred on the east side OF
MaChOdoc Creek There was another man
on board that did not know name of
He was muatto, about . feet, inches
high: long, straight hair, black mOustachc,
scar under left eye, Wore black coat, light
pants and black SLOUGH hat. He killed
Captain Dickson with stick of oak cord
wood. AS the Captain came out of the
cabin, he knocked him back into it, follow
ing him in. Pulled him out of cabin and
threw him overheard. Put no weights on
him. Saw Captain working his hands rs
we threw him over. The vest found in my
yalisc must have been put in by the man
as | knew nothing about it, Vest CON
tanned receipts belonging to Captain Dick
son Brought SloUp to It, Mary's side;
tried to reach Brittan's Bay; tide was run
ming down and couldn't do it. Put the
vessel opposite Meals Creek and stopped
there. The other man put me ashore at
higgins and went back aboard. On Fri
day night, when wind was blowing right
hard, Captain Dickson told this man TO
haul down mainsail Man hauled main
sail down and let 20 peak and let II run.
Captain cursed at him. Man told Captain
he did not allow anybody to curse at HIM.
The man told Captain on Sunday about
1880 o'clock either to whip him or put him
ashore. On Sunday | was pumping and
heard man call Captain a sonot-a-h--,
and run out of cabin. Got stick of wood
lying on trunk struck the Captain rs he
was coming out of cabin. Captain was I'M
conscious when thrown over
On the evening of September ,, the pris-
oner made the following additional confes-
sion:
THE man tied a rope around Captains
neck and drew him out Of the cabin. lie
was thrown overheard. went aboard on
Wednesday; the other man shipped on
Thursday from Alexandria. Three on
boat. Captain started TO put this man
ashore, but he promised to do better. The
stick of oak cordwood had been used to
prop mainsal off and had been tied with
rope TO keep from falling overheard. At
light, Sunday, man united stick and laid it
on trunk near cabin door wish to correct
my first confession as to vest. The vest,
two shirts, two coats, found in my valise
belonged to Captain Dickson and were Civ
en- me by the man for promising to say moth
ing of the murder. had $l0in Washington
in my pocket that was paid me by Mr.,
Frieund, who keeps confectionery and
ice-cream store ON 9th street. between G
& II SITS, Washington, on or about August
Goth, last $l0was in paper; was changed
by me in Washington making purchases.
| received in change $3.50 silver, Never
had paper money on my person after this.
The States Attorney here asked prisoner
if he desired to make any statement The
prisoner answered that confession was