Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1886-11-25
"Guilty Of Murder In the First Degree, +"
50 The Jury Fnd John Benjamin Bitse

The case of the State VS. John Benjamin
Biscoe, indicted by the Grand Jury of st,
Mary's county for the murder of Capt Robt.
Dixon and removed to Charles county for
trial, began in Port 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" to the
Courts question" are you ready for trial ?"
giving as their reason the absence of Charles
J. Clements, jailer at Leonardtown, too
sick to travel. This witness would testify
to the finding of Capt Dixon's papers in
Biscoe's valise This fact the defence ad-
mitted but asked for postponement until
a 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 to 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 NJ Switzerland, foreman,
Charles Martin, Joseph Stone, John Hun
gerford, Benjamin l.. Wheeler, Alexander
T. Lloyd, Juba Barber, colored, Oswald
Chesley, colored, John |. Jenkins, james
Miles, Richard Hawkins, colored, b. L..
Higdon.
The indictment was then read. 1t con-
tains four counts, one charging murder by
a blow with club on the head; the Sec
ond with a knife; third, by choking and
drowning; fourth, by assault in some way
and means unknown.
Mr. Hammett made the opening state
ment for the State and Judge Magruder for
the defence.
THE EVIDENCE.
The first witness called was F. II. Unruh,
of Westmoreland, Va. He testified that he
lives on Machodac creek, opposite St. Mary's
county, Md he saw the body of Capt.
Dixon on the shore Tuesday, Aug. 30, 1886 :;
there were no wounds in the back, but
upon turning the body over and washing
the sand off, the throat was found to be
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 to 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 a little below the high-water mark,
as if it had drifted ashore at high-water
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. Z. Allen testified that he lives in
Westmoreland county, Va, and knew Capt.
Dixon, and identified the body.
Nathan ID. Evans, of Somerset county,
Md, testified he knew Capt. Dixon; saw
him in his sloop below Matthias Point,
Thursday, August 25, and saw thick-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 20,
coming from the direction of Machodac
creek towards the Maryland shore; the jib
was run down, and single man left her in
a yawl-boat, going shoreward.
Robert Crsmond testified he lives in st..
Mary's county; he saw sloop early Mon
day, August 30, and went aboard her.
There were three other men who had gone
on board whom he knc ". In the cabin he
found several papers belonging to 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 whee-rOpe and the waist-rail.
Clothing and other things were thrown
about the cabin so that he could scarcely
step without treading on something.
Captain Edward Harden testified he lives
in ST. Mary's county, near the Potomac
river. He saw the sloop in Brittan's bay
drifting Sunday, August 49, lie 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
f with pockets turned inside out. Blood was
on the deck and all about the boat.
! Harry L. Graves testified he lives in
Leonardtown; is baliff, and arrested the
, prisoner, Biscoe, as he lay asleep on set
tee ON the steamer John w. Thompson.
He seemed to be asleep, with coat over
his face. He answered Witness inquiries,
giving his name as John Biscoe, and asked
for his valise, but Biscoe said nothing
more. In the valise, when afterward
opened, witness found blue vest and an
ALPACA coat, with two papers. One is a
bill for so cents for repairs on the sloop
Mary j., and the other is for 81 for freight
on pine wood. paid to Robert r. Dixon by
j. E. Carter. These articles were offered
in evidence with the written admission Of
council for the defense Jailer Clements
if present. would testify that these articles
were in the valise when Biscoe was taken
to Jail. On cross-examination Graves tes-