Evening star., 1886-11-22
B1SCOE CONVICTED OF MURDER.
The Jury Hold Him Accountable fOE
the Death Of Capt. Dixon.

| land county, Va, in the waters of st. Marys
county, Nd, was concluded and given to the
jury in the circuit court of Charles county, at
Port Tobacco, Nd, Saturday evening. A ver-
dict OF murder In the first degree was rendered.
At Saturdays session OF the court Capt. VIM.
{. Geogbegan, OF the steamer Sue, testified that
Biscoe, while in jail few days alter his arrest,
stated that the sloop Mary ]. anchored in Ma
chodac creek Saturday night. August 2.th, and
left NJ sunrise. One or two hours after getting
| under way. while off the yellow banks, outside
of MachOdac creek, the other man, supposed to
have been named Bradshaw, struck the captain
with stick of wood, dragged him on deck with
| IL rope around his neck and threw him over
board. Biscoe said he was SO frightened he
dared not interfere TO prevent the murder, and
could only haIIoo To the nearest vessel, but
they did not hear him. The vessel was heading
Tor Piney Point. and after the murder they
started TOR the Maryland shore, with a light
set tf him % ashore RE at Hndsins Point, st. MarS's
county, and returned TO The vessel.
BISCOE'S CONFESSION.
Joseph +. Morgan, the examining magistrate,
who committed Biscoe to Jail, testified that
Biscoe told him that the vest found in his
v;,lise was given to him by a man named Bris-
cOe on the wharf at Washington. Witness told
Biscoe the general impression was that the
murder was committed by man named Brad
| shaw. very bright muIatto, who had shipped
on The boat with him. Biscoe replied, THAT Is
So" He said Capt. Dixon cursed the man and
proposed TO put him ashore, but the man prom
ised to do better. They quarreled again inside
OF Machodac creek, and the captain was MUIR
dercd. as described in the confession of Capt
Geoshegan. Biscoe insisted he got no money
from the vessel, but said he was paid $40 by
Frederick Freund, of Washington, for whom he
worked. He spent $1.5O leaving the $3.50 he
had when arrested. Mr.. Morgan wrote to
Frerfhd. who replied it was a year ago Biscoe
Mr. Morgan told BiscOe he mad read in the Ball
timore Sim a statement OF Capt. Evans, OF
ans MisomfH as,s eounty who kReW P% Capt Dixon
own boat part OF the way near DixOn's
boat, and Capt. Evans stated that Bis
coe was the only man beside the captain
ON that boat. He asked Capt. Dixon why ne
had not two hands, aS he needed two, and Capt.
Dixon answered that he wanted two, but had
not been able to get another man. Morgan
said: II told BScoe 1 would make him no PROM
ises, but he had better tell the truth and have
no more trouble about it, BiScoe, after being
told OF Capt. Evans statement, said: LAS was
pulling up the halyard the anchor slipped,
making hole i'm the bow, when the captain
struck me back OF the neck with piece OF iron
and threw Il hatchet at me. The captain said
he had killed one negro dude fOm " ashngtOn
and expected 10 kill me. lie snapped his gun
ut me, and went To the cabin To- get another
cap. AS he came up the cabin steps / struck
him and knocked him back. hauled him out
with II rope around his neck and threw him
overheard. i then sailed 10 the ST. Marys
shore and landed in the yawl at Hudgins' Point.
i took his clothes and got SS54 out Ut the cabin
cupboard. took the clothes because thought
i might as well have them us any one else, and
l put it ON the other man because did not
know what else to do
yess Isabel Dixon, the daughter of the muir
defed captain, testified that she saw Biscoe in
Jail at LeOnardtown, and as she was leaving,
B1ScOe said to her: II have got vest in here
OF Capt. DixOn's, and you can have 1t If you
want it,
THE DEFENSE.
For the defense, testimony was given that
Biscoe's reputation for peace and quietness was
good.
Fenwick Forrest testified that he saw another
coiored man on Dixon's slOop as it was about
leaving w WashingtOn. He was, he said, u lighter
cOlOred and taller man than BscOe.
samuel +. West, wheelman of tue steamer w.
w. CorcOran, testified that he saw two men be-
sides the man at the wheel, on board a slOop,
he supposed, from the descriptions given, to be
capt. DixonS slOOp.
Harry Graves, vino saw Biscoe in Jail, testified
that BiscOe always denied killing the man
when witness was present Biscoe was i'm a
great state of trepidatiOn from rumOrs OF lynch
ing that reached him. One morning, when
there had been great firing of pistols around
the Jail the night before BiscOe said he thought
the Iynchcrs had come alter him..
James Gordon, colored. testified that he was
at the jail, and Biscoe's statements were gener-
ally ill answer 10 questions.
Alter some testimony i'll rebuttal the argu-
ments were begun. The case WAS given to the
jury at . p. IN. and at $40 O'Clock the jury
came To agreement. Judge Crane summoned
the jury into court, where about seventy-five
persons were assembled.
ANNOUNCING THE VERDICT
The prisoner sat unmOved, in a crouching
position, and looked at the jury only with one
stolen glance, but he soon became nervous and
wiped his face often with a handkerchief. No
one addressed a word to him. The prisoners
mother had gone home, some miles away.
about sundOwn. The first order of the court
was for the clerk 10 call the jury. All having
answered TO their names and said their fore
man should speak for them, that gentleman,
Leigh NJ. Southerland, an ex-sherif OF the
gree, and the eleven other jurymen
said the same. Ex-Judge Magruder quickly
,ad: SO ask Poll at the jury that is, tor the clerk
verdict was, recording the questions and
answers. Alter the foreman said Murder in
the first degree" each OF the other jurors was
dict:" They answered, Yes, SIR or "Yes.''
The next question was, us your foremans YER
and others cit Is When each had answered
Judge Crane said, "GenIlemen OF the Jury YOU
have not given a unanimous verdict. You
must return to your chamber and agree upon
your verdict. You must eacn respond in the
same words If you are agreed to tine first ques-
ton II have TO the second question "It is"
The jury soon returned and answered as in
structed. A motion in arrest OF Judgment will
be made on various legal grounds, and the SEN
tence will be suspended uQtil the court of ap-
peals decides the question OF law. The jury
when they first retired, il is stated, stOod one
eight for second degree and three for man
slaughter. BscOe, after the verdict, said Il
never aid IT,, to a man who asked him il he
was guilty. He was very dOwn-hearted after
being taken back TO Jail. and sobbed when one
OF his counsel, % Judge Magruder, talked with
him. His right name, IL Is said, is BriscOe
though he was indicted as Biscoe.
MARRIAGE LICENSES Marriage licenses
have been issued by the clerk OF the court 10
Daniel W. Jones and Maria Johnson: James H.
hensley and Adeiia +. Gates, OF North Wilbr,a-
nam, Mass; W. j. McDerInott and Minnie
Mades; John J. BOOz, OF Albemarle county, Va,
and Carrie W. Wheeler, of Nelson county, a.
HE BLAMED HIS MOTHER-IN-LAW But Ir
DIDN'T SAVE HIM.-Wiiliam Dugan, Il young
married man, living in south Washington, was
III the dock in the Police Court to-day Charged
with profanity and assaulting hts wife, who had
u black eye. She told the Judge that he came
home drunk, assaulted her and threatened to
Kill her and smash the babys brains out Other
witnesses gave similar testimony. The defend
ant denied the charge of assault and said his
nother-in-iaw Was the Cause of his trouble He
the assault and required to give $500 bonds to
Keep the peace or SIX months. A fine OF So was
imposed ior the profanity.
PREPARING To WELCOME GEN. BoOrH-The
ol1cers and members OF the salvation Army
here are making prepar ations for tine rece ption
oi Gen. Booth and other officers SATURDAY.
evening next The general is expected in the
tram arriving at 9th and Il streets at 7:lO
clock, ana a procession " i'll form and escort
hin 10 the barracks, 9th and T. streets, where u
meeting will be held. 1t Is expected that there
will be about 500 officers in attendance On
sunday meetings will he held at the National
Rines hall, Il street. at 1 3 and o'clock. On
Monday evening from . 10 O'Clock there will
be u welcome banquet at the barracks and a
meeting at theRifies' hall.
SAID He WOULD ARREST A WOMAN REArrR
ANY IIME.-Io-o,ay in the Police Court Tnos
smith, colorec, Was tried on charge Of beating
/ his wife and the court took his personal bonds
smith was then arraig9ed tor an alleged assault
4