Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1886-11-25
Guilty Of Murder In the First Degree, I"
10 The Jury Eai !sAn Beaania Bite.

u The 10! flsd !sAn Beajania Blste.
The case Of the State vs. John Benjamin
Biscoe, indicted by the Grand Jury Of 50.
Mary county for the murder Of Capt Robt.
Dixon and removed TO Charles county for
trial. began in Pors Tobacco Friday last.
A full bench was in attendance. The
charge was read by Deputy Clerk Davis
and in answer. the prisoner, through his
counsel, pleaded Not Guilty"
The prosecution answered NO." % the
Courts question. are you ready for trial ;"
giving a. their reason the absence off Charles
]. Clements, jailer al Leonardtown, too
sick 10 travel This witness would testify
TO the finding Of Capt Dixon's papers ID
Biscoe's valise. This fact the defence adj
mitted but asked for postponement until
set day because OF the absence of several
Of their witnesses. BY the absent witnesses
the defence expected TO prove that on the
sloop Mary J. there were three men, includ-
ing Capt Dixon. The State refused % adj
NIT that If present the witnesses would tes-
tify to the facts alleged and postponement
was only obviated by the prisoners
counsel agreeing to proceed provided, if
the witnesses arrived in time their evidence
should be admitted.
After 90 challenges, mostly by defence,
the following jury was obtained, three be-
ing colored and all but one from the regu-
lar panel: Leigh VI. Switzerland, foreman,
Charles Martin, Joseph Stone, John Hun
gerford, Benjamin L. Wheeler, Alexander
I. Lloyd, Juba Barber, colored, Oswald
Chesley, colored, John |. Jenkins. James
Miles, Richard Hawkins, colored, B. L.
Higdon.
The indictment was then read. IL con-
tains four counts, one charging murder by
a blow with q club on the head; the sec
ond with knife: third, by choking and
drowning; fourth, by assault in some way
and means unknown.
Mr.. EIammctt made the opening state
ment for the State and Judge Magruder for
the defence.
THE EVIDENCE
The first witness called was + ii. ULruh,
Of Wcstmoreland, Va. lie testified that he
lives on Machodac creek, opposite ST Mays
county. Md; he saw the body of Capt.
Dixon on the shore Tuesday, Aug. 30, 1886:
there were no wounds in the back, but
IL
the sand off. the throat was found 10 he
cut, the head being almost severed from
the body and the jugular vein and wind
pipe cut; at the inquest the following Sun
day, the body having been exhumed, the
skull was found To be- fractured on the left
side from the crown of the head Ia the ear;
the body was lying when first found on the
shore of Machodac creek, 300 yards from
Grapevine Point, the mouth Of the creek;
it was little below the high-water mark.
a if it had driftcd ashore nj highwater
witness knew Capt. Dixon by sight; the
body lay parallel with the line of the shore
of the Potomac and the feet towards Macho-
dac creek
VIM. f. Allen testified that he lives in
Westmorcland county, Va. and knew Capt
Dixon. and identified the body.
Nathan u. Evans of Somerset county,
Md. testified he knew Capt. Dixon: saw
him in his slonp below Matthias Point,
Thursday, August %. and saw a thck-set
colored man on the boat about the size of
prisoner, but could not recognize his com
pleXion.
George w. Morgan. of ST. Mary's county,
testified he watched Capt. DiXon'S boat in
the Potomac for three hours on August 80.
coming from the direction of Machodac
creek towards the Maryland shore: the jib
was run down, and \ single man left her in
a yawl-bnat, going shoreward.
Robert Crismond testified he lives in II.
Marv'S county; he saw sloop early Mon
day, August ~. and went aboard her
There were three other men who had gone
on board whom he knew In the cabin he
found several papers belonging 10 Captain
Dixon on the floor. Blood had run down
the locker. showing red streakS. and there
were drops Of blood on the floor. ON the
steps. the whecl-rope and the waist-r
Clothing and other things were thrown
about the cabin So that he could scarcely
step without trcading ON something
Captain Edward Harden testified he lives
i'll -. Mary's county, near the Potomac
river. lie saw the sloop in Brittan'S hay
drifting Sunday, August y. He went
aboard Monday, and was there when Girls
mond came aboard. They got an officer
and opened the cabin door, which had been
fastened. They found an old pair of pants,
with pockets turned inside out Blood was
on the deck and all about the boat.
Harry F. Graves testified he lives in
Leonaritown: is haliff. and arrested the
prisoner. BiScoe. a he lay asleep ON set
tee ON the steamer. John W Thompson.
He seemed Ia he asleep. with coat over
his face. He answered Witness inquiries,
giving his name rs John BisCoe. and asked
for his valiSe. but BiScoc said nothing
more. In the vali>e when afterward
opened, witness found blue vest and an
slapaca coat, with two papers. One is
bill for 50 cents for repairs on the Shop
Mary j., and the other i for 81 for freight
on pine woNi. paid 10 Robert II. Dixon bv
}. f.. Carter. These articles Were Offered
in evidence with the written admission If
council for the defense Jailcr Clements,
IL present would testify that th.NS, articles