Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1888-04-27
Execution of Biscoe.

;-EONARDTOWN, Md, April Z|.-Jonn D.
acoe, coiored, was executed here to day
for the murder of Capt. r. P. Dixon on the
Potomac river at the close of August, 1856
Tbs execution was private, as under the
law only twenty persons are permitted to
bs present. The murder of which Biscoe
Vas twice convicted, alter two trials, was
commit!ed on the Potomac river near the
mouth Of Machodoo creek, August 80, 1886.
Capt. Dixon was sailing the a!oop Mary J..
with Biscoe as baud and they were The
only people on the boat. The sloop left
Washington on the morning OF August 81
and nothing was heard of her until Sunday,
Aug 80, when gentleman discovered the
boat sailing from the Virginia shore to near
tho mouth Of Bretons Bay, St Mary county.
Later in the day some gentlemen boarded
the hoat and found from the quantities Of
blood about the decks and in the cabin evil
dences OF murder. On the Tuesday follow
ing, Aug. %, the body of Capt. Dixon was
found on the Virginia shore of the Potomac
river Just outside of the mouth of Machodoc
creek. Biscoe was arrested on the steamer
J. w. Thompson at Lsonardtogn wharf on
the Wednesday night after the murder.
The following is Biscoe's confession, made
on the Goth of February last and now made
public ~ boarded Capt. Dixon's sloop at
Biscoe's wharf, Washington, D. c., in the
year 1856, August 26.h. On Thurs
day morning about Eve o'clock we
drifted down about Alexandra, Va
Thursday night I had supper very late.
The captain said l was the LATEST boy he
ever saw. said, Captain, you do not ex
pect me to have supper and attend to the
sails all the same?' He said, No don't
expect that of you, but you have got to do
it sou stay aboard Of this vessel, or be
knocked in the head or thrown overheard
[ said, Captain, you eau set me ashore right
here aud he said, he would do no such
thing, bat would carry me down the river
| and throw me overheard or knock me in The
head. We anchored on the same night be-
tween Craney Island and the Virginia shore
about 8 o'clock, and got under way next
morning about sunrise.
Sunday morning we got under way about
o'clock. After We had sailed half an
hour he sent me 10 hoist the anchor out.
could not hoist it, and he threw the
Ratchet at me. 1t did not strike NE, but
struck the mast and fell overheard. After
this he said he could pump the boat out in
half the time had been at it. said I was
doing the best could. H. said 1 was a
- - aud he would show me whether
1 was doing the best could. He ran down
in the cabin aud started back with draw.
ing knife. When I saw him coming with
the drawing knife struck him with q stick
of oak wood which was lying on the cabin
trunk and knocked him back in the cabin.
Then I went down ia the cabin and took
him and threw him overheard. About half
an hour after sunrise we were about three
miles out in the Potomac 1 Stacked the
mainsail on her and gave her all ofshset for
Briton's Bay. did not kill him with The
intention of getting his money but merely
for to defend myself. I did get the money
that was aboard of her. which was IS 81, and
go. two shirts and two coats and waist.
coat and the clock. This is true confas
sion.''
Biscoe was attended to The last by Fathers
Jenkins and Wallace, ofthe Catholic Church.