Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1886-09-09
MURDER Most F0Ut.
IN 0ld Ian, SO Tsars Of Ase, ths Victim.
eas Il sAs Criminals jailed and Csaisssss-

been ioand drifting wherever the winds
and tile listed with her cabin. deck and
rail blxsl stained and ..ther evidences that
she had been made the theatre Of q murder.
The proPer officials, ably seconded by eiii-
zens, took the matter in hand and Wednes-
night, Deputy sheriff Fenwick arrested
and l,Slge.l in Jail Benjamin Biscoe, c'ilor-
Ell. charged with Ihr murder of Captain
Robert X Dickson. When arrested, Bis
ere was iying-nn = bench asleep waiting
for the Steamer Thompson Ia leave Leon
arisown Wharf What Was the charge
against him he never asked. 4 search Of
his effects disclosed 4 receipt and other pa
pers belonging 20 Captain Dickson, and
contradictory accounts he gave Of himself
helped "a strengthen the conviction that he
was one of the men wanted. Witnesses
were fonnd a. swear that sunday they had
seen yawl leave tine Sluop and land al
Higgins Point. That day, a 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- tenant house
ON Soriety Hill farm, in Brittan's Neck.
Here he displayed roll of bills. From
the Neck, he last Wednesday evening
started for Leonaritown intending To take
the Steamer for Washington. He reached
the boat, and So certain If escape was he.
that he stretched himself On settee and
went Ia sleeps little thinking that he had
been Swallowed or where his contemplated
trip would end At 1890 O'clock, p. H., 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.
THE PRELIMINARY HEARING.
On Friday morning, AT 1918, o'clock, the
prisoner was given hearing before jus
ticc jos. r. Morgan. States Attorney Dan
iel. c. Ilammett, conducting States case.
Capt Edward Harden was the first witness
called. lie testified 10 the finding of the
Sloop Mary j., deserted and adriit and
produced papers belonging 10 Captain
Dickson found on board. The papers Were
read. Witness did not know Captain ar
vessel. Thursday, six or seven gentlemen
came over from Virginia in. search of the
Sloop. Told who they We're. one saying
that he was brother Of Captain Dick>"n;
said the Captains body was found on Coles
Point, Machodoc Creek, Va. Had tloat,d
ashore An examination showed evidence
of Il heavy blow on the head and the throat
WAS cut-only u 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 l."
sailing
While waiting for the arrival al All I'M
portant witness, the Justice read the con
fessions which he stated the prisoner had
made in the presence Of four witnesses.
The CONFESSION.
Don't know the name of the vessel.
The killing occurred on the east side OF
Machodoc Greek There was another man
on board that did not know Maine "f
He was a mulatto, about feet. . inches
high: long. straight hair, black moustachr.
scar under lefl eye, wore black coat, light
pants AMI a black SLOUGH hat. He killed
Captain Dickson with "A stick of oak cord
wood As the Captain came out Of the
cabin, he knocked him back into il, follow
ing him in. Pulled him out Of cabin and
threw him overheard. Put no weights un
him. Saw Captain working his hands ~
we threw him over The vest found in my
velise must have been put in by the man
a. ! knew nothing about il. Vest con
tanned receipts belonging Ia Captain Dick
son. Brought sloop Ia 81 Mary's side:
tried 10 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 90 peak and let il run.
Captain cursed at him. Man told Captain
he did not allow anybody to curse at HIM.
nc t'lu Oh E"uuN1N ah''ht
go O'Clock, either Ia whip him or put him
ashore. On Sunday was pumping and
heard man call Captain a son-ofa-b-.
and run out Of cshin. Got stick Of w"od
lying on trunk: struck the Captain "a he
was coming out IF cabin. Captain was un-
conscious when thrown over"
On the evening of September ,, the pris-
oner made the following additional confes-
sion:
The man tied rope around Captains
neck and drew him Qua Of the cabin. He
was thrown overheard. ! went aboard on
Wednesday: the other man shipped on
Thursday from Alexandria. Three on
boat Captain started Ia put this man
ashore, but he promised to do better. The
stick If oak cordwood had been used 20
prop mainsail off and had been tied with
a rope 20 keep from falling overheard. At
light. Sunday, man united stick and laid il
ON trunk near cabin door. wish Ia correct
my first confession a. to vest. The vest,
two shirts, two coats, found in my valise
belonged 10 Captain Dickson and were Civ
en- me by the man for promising to say moth
ing of the murder. had SO in Washington
in my pocket that was paid me by Mr..
Frieund, who keeps confectionery aud
ice-cream store ON 9Th street, between G.
K ii Sts., Washington, on or about August
18th, last. $40 was ia 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 20 make any statement The
prisoner answered that confession was
correct The man never gave me q cent Of
money. spent quarter for breakfast