Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-11-20
The Trial Of BiScOe.
CNEAvELING THE MYSTERY OF THE TRAGEDY
ON THE MARY T.


ON THE MARY ].
In the trial of John Biscoe, the colored boy.
indicted for the murder of Capt. Dixon on the
slOop Mary j., which began at Port Tobacco
Md, Thursday, as stated in yesterdays STAR
the first witness was I. H. Unruhe. who lives
at Machodoc Creek, Va. He testified that on
August Goth he saw from his roof two vessels
Il two boys coming up the wharf
watched the boats, which shortly after 6e
parted. and saw them sail out into the POto-
mae. / saw dead body found on the river
shore on Wednesday morning. went down
over, ana the he;id lei back AS though 1T was
going TO fall from the body. had no ide;, I he
throat was cut, but saw a cut on the left side. 1
walked down to the river, took my hat and
filled 1t with water, went back, washed
the neck, and found the throat cut. The cash
each side OF the throat an inch deem
noticed that the jugular vein was cut as clean
as reaper would cut wheat straw / no
ticed other wounds on tine back and top of the
head, as If done with a blunt Instrument ~
Here tine witness drew from his pocket piece
of bone, which he said handed to him by
the doctor. who told him 1t was piece of the
skull. The witness named some persons
VINO were with him When the body was
found. and described the locality, and
said IL found about three hundred wards
outside of the mouth OF NachodOc creek from
Grapevine Point, between that and Stoney
Point. The Tide was low, and the body was
lying a little below Ligh-water mark. He did
not know Capt. Dixon personally by sight
VIM. b. Alien, residing at MachOdoc Va, tes-
tified that he Identified it the body OF Capt
Dixon
Capt. Nathan w. Evans living in Somerset
county, Md, testified that he never knew Capt
Dixon until he met him in Washington on the
Z4th or 25th of August last. His vessel and
mine land alongside OF one another II lett
Washington on Thursday. the 26th, in my
sloop down the Potomac river. then saw him
again ON the 18th about one and a half miles
below Matthias Poir,; aboard OF a sloop. was
hailed him and talked with him. He was at
the wheel. 1 saw colored man forward; he
was the only man l saw besides Capt Dixon
He was thick->et. did not pay much AL tention
to him." Here the prisoner called upon to
stand up, and the witness said: II think he was
about that size" He saw no one but the cap
tain and the one man.
George w. Morgan, living on Medley's Neck
ST. Marys county, Md, testified to seeing IA
Maryland shore, and yawl leave the sloop
with a man in II.
Robert Crisrnond. living in st. Mary's county,
destined: Il went ABOARD of the sioop She was
a very Old boat. got into the cabin and found
Two papers, which were Capt. DiXOn's receipts
There was "a pool OF blood on the rioOr OF the
cabin locker and spatters OF blood around the
cabin. also found some human hair cliuging
To the side OF HE locker and matted with blood
and drops OF blood ON the steps,"
Yesterday Edward Harden, of ST. Mary's
county, testified To seeing the slOop drifting on
August 29th. I'VE concluded" said the wit
ness, that something was wrong, and we went
on board. We found axe on the deck
Every timing appeared To be in order, and the
cabin was locked. We STAYED aboard about AN
hour and a-I.tif Next day we went ;,boarI
again. Young Crismond came aboard and
went INTO The cabin through the window. We
saw blood on the locker about 3 or 10 incbe,
from the bulkhead. Some hair was in II: some
blood was on the floor of the cabin and on the
steps leading down into the cabin"
Harry Graves. of Leonardiown testified that
ne arrested biscoe at night about hs,lf-past ten
on board Oh the steamer John w. Thompson
lie was lying down In the colored saloon on one
Oh The settees, with his head covered up, III ex.
ainined his valise, and found clothing in ii, IL
oIue vest ana biach alpaca coat; also some papers
Were receipts for wood"
Miss Isabel Dixon, the daughter of the muir
cered man. was here put ON the stand She
tesilned: Il saw my father last ON August s. at
our residence, No. 123 William street BaIti-
more. He had been away nine months. He
was sixty-five years and one month DID, When
ne Went away from home he took a basket OF
tools and "A Bible. lie was in command OF the
Mary j. He had on pair of mixed pants, a
D!ue vest and an alpaca coat She recognized
lue vest by two buttons which she had sewed
Oh, anu also recognized the coat. "At the Jail
al Leoharutown Bi>cUe said To her. Il have "A
shir1 In mere belonging 10 the captain" Capt
fled.