Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1886-11-26

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tian.
Circuit Court.
Our report Of the court proceedings last
week closed at o'clock on Thursday, Will,
Judge Magrudrr was making the opening
statement for defense before the jury in the cast
of John Benz Biscoe for the murder of Capt
R bert Dixon. Court held until six o clock
that afternoon when some testimony IA the
case was taken.
full bench in attendance. The case against
Biscoe was Continued aud testimony resumed
This case was continued throughout Friday and
Saturday, and was given to the jury at o clock
Saturday evening, aud at 5 minutes before
O'Clock the same evening the jury returned
to court with verdict Of guilty Of murder in
the first degree The testimony in the case was
important and many Witnesses were examined
both for prosecution ald defense. For the
prosecution the iestinony Of Capt. Geoahegsu
and of Justice 10. F. Morgan of Leonardtown,
was the most important, and we give their
testimony in full for the benefit Of our readers.
Mr.. Morgan's testimony was chiefly the decla-
rations or confessions made to him by the pri-
soner while cos6ned 10 the Leouardtown jail
Captain William C. Gsog hogan testified he is
tween Washington and Baltimore. He knew
Capt. Dixon we'll. he saw Biscoe 10 Jail a
few days after his arrest. Biscoe then Stated
that the sloop Mary ]. anchored in Machodae
creek Saturday night, August 81. and left a,
sunrise. One or two hours after getting under
way, while OF the yellow banks, outside Of
Machodac creek, the other maa. supposed to
have been med Bradshaw, struck the ca ptain
with stick Of wood, dragged him OF deck with
a rope around his neck and threw him over
board Biscoe said he was so frightened he
dared not interfere to prevent the murder, aud
could only halloo to the nearest vessel, but they
did not hear him. The vessrl was heading for
Piney Point, and after the murder they started
fer the Maryland shore, With light br--z-
from the Virginia side. The other man set him
ashore at Hudgins Point. St. Mary's county,
end returned 10 the vessel.
Joe F. Morgan testified be is Il Justice of the
peace of St. Mary's county and member of the
bar. He was the examining magistrate before
whom Biscoe was brought September /. He
gave his name as John Bsnjamin Biscos, and
postponed for witnesses, and the next day wit.
ness went to the Jail and tod Biscoe ths, the
clothes in the valise were very suspicious. Bis
coe replied that the vest was given to him by
4 msn named Briscoe on the wharf at W ashinx-
ton. Witness told Bi.coe the general impress
sion was that the murder was committed by Il
man named Bradshaw, a very bright mulatto.
who had shipped on the boat with him. Biscoe
replied, THAT is so.'' He said Can't Dixon
cursed the man and proposed 10 put him ashore
but the man promised to do better. They
quarreled again inside Of Machodac creek. and
the captain was murdered, as described 10 the
confession TO Capt. Geoghegsn. Biscoe insisted
he got no money from the vessel but said he
was paid $40 BY Frederick Freund, Of Wash.
ton. for whom be worked. He spent 81 80,
aving the IS so be had whea arrested Mr.
Morgan wrote to Freund, who replied it Was q
year ago Biscos work ID for him and was p6id
At another visit Mr. Morgan told Biscoe he had
read in the Baltimore Ssn . statement Of Capt.
Evans, of Wiconico county. who knew Capt
Dixon, and sailed down the Potomsc 10 bis
e al D. L..
and Capt. Evans stated that Biscoe WAS the
only man besides the captain on that boat. He
asked Capt. Dixon Why he bad not tive hands,
u he needed two, and Capt. Dixon answered
that be wanted two, but had not been able to get
another man. Morgan said: 81 told Biscse
would make him no promises. bu. he had bet
ter tell the truth and haze no more trouble |
about it," Biscoe, after being told Of Capt. |
Evans's statement, said: "As / was pulling |
up the halyaros the anchor slipped. making
hole IN the bow, when the captain struck me
back of the neck With . piece Of iroa and threw
a Ratchet at me. The captain said he had XIII |
pected to kill me. He snapped his gun at me, ,
and vent to the cabin to get another cap. As
he came up the cabin steps struck him and
knocked him back. hauled him out With a
rope around his neck and threw him oserboard.
| then sailed to the St. Mary's shore and landed
in the yswl at Hudgins Peint. tock bis
clothes and got So 81 out of the cabin cupboard.
took the clothes because thought might as
we'll have them ~ any one else, and put it on
the other man because l did not know what
rise TO do"
The testimony for the defense tended prin;i,
pally to show that there was third man on
the sloop at the time or JUS, before the murder,
AID TO the previou. character Of the prisoner
In the 6rst Of these the testimony was by no
means conclusive. and the last statement of the
witness to Mr.. Morgan tendsd strongly Of dis.
prove this fact. The testimony closed late Fri
day evening. On Saturday the argument in
the Case was begun. 1t was opened BY Slats's
Attorney Hammett, o. St. Nary's, for the pros
ecution. He was followed in succ. ssion by B.
H. Camalier, Judge Nagruier aad R. Il E ieen
for defense and the argument was closed by
States Attorney Wilmer. The arguments of
all these gentlemen vas strong and forcible.
that of Senator Elelen and Mr.. Wilmer being
80, each Of these gen,lemsn speak
ing more than tive hours ia The case. AZ be.
fore stated the case was given 10 the jury at
o eIe OK who returned With yer lie: Of guilty
shortly before 8 o'clock. As the jury entered
their box the prisoner SIT uamoyed, ia crouch
ing position, and looked 1T the jury only with
one stolel glance, but he soon became ner, Gus,
and wiped his face often with handkerchief.
N, one addressed . word TO him. Th. 6rst
order of the coart was for the CLERK (, call
the jury. All b wing answered TO cir
names and said their foreman should speat for
them, that gentleman. Leigh NJ Switzerland,
said: "Guilty Of murder in the first degree"
and the eleven other jurymen, including three
colored men. said the same. Ex Judge Magru-
del ,ckly said, POLL the jury" ,ha, ia, for
the clerk to ask each on. separately wha. his
vsrd Ct was, recording the questions and An.
swers Alter the foreman 9 ,ii "Mur Ter in Il e
,. Oh tker