New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-11-17
SLAIN ABOARD HIS BOAT.
THE CAPTAIN OF THE LIGHTER AJAX
BRUTALLY MURDERED
,ouv MITCHELL NATE OF THE LIGHTER. AR
RESTED FOR THE cRIME-BLooD FOUND


RESTED FOR THE cRIME-BLooD FOUND
on HIS SHOES.
rohr MITCHELL mate OF the steam lighter AJAX
which lies at the pier at ne-hundred-ahd-ee' 'h-
:, and Harlem River is under arrest for the MUIR
der of John Knight, captain Of the hghter' IN 'he
,,rac,s,Ie about o'clock yesterday morning ABOUT
thar hour Mitchell knocked at the door OF the
shanty of George Custance. Waterman III "'il
stonevard in -hundred~and-siAth-st. near ths
Harlem River, and told custance that there haa
heen foul play on the lighter. and that the captain
had been murdered. He said that when ne went On
hoard If the lighter a short time before, having
hoen away for the most OF the night, he found the
CAPTAIN lying dead in pool OF blood on the i'oor OK
the forecastle Custance asked him II he had IN
formed the police and he replied that ne nad looked
for a polceman but had been unable 70 iind one.
Custance suggested that they go together Oh INC
lighter but Mitchell said that he would not % On
board again for a thousand dollars Mitchell was
much excited and trenble,d in every nerve lie ap-
Mitchell walked on IN the direction OF m ennesi
fo the East One-hundred-and fourth-st police sta
ton and told Sergeant Walsh wnst ne hd an lis
Matched 70 the lighter, AMI met Mitchell near the
vessel The latter was much excited ana sun re-
'o rSe policeman then went on board alone He
down into the Foot ed h by body the ea
tain face up and covered with plood' A'oI i NS
incS rope. which was tied with sailors double
hitch Thompson examined the body and found a
sad oox D and on the back Of head he found
severa smaller hoes of similar charac.e, wnen
The body was stll warm. showing that death must
have occurred only a short time before ,.,. g.,
The entire room, which Is about sNlo rect "ds III
disorder Near the two burks one above the otnsF,
which at the opposite cna OF tme room wa o gret
moo of blood. midway OF the room was aI9tn s
pool and there was still another al the loot Oh 's
'aaaG lighted lantern hung from the centre Of the
room and under 1T stood g9oa,fb% cS b5S been
twisted one SIDE as II ri ha 81 the Seei Stove had
bren thrown off and lay the floor There were
snat,ers of blood every SIDE, showing that tHe
murderer and his victim must nave engaged IN
'e,Ii0. Loon IN a. he had made his examination. ths
rorSr, and Sergeant Walsh at once detailed Ponce.
men Busby. Perkins and Cullen 10 arres, N',Snsa'
and make further investigation OF the Ease
palceman Thompson was sent TO take charge OF the
lighter - , ,ourd re,r tho boat. and was ar.
rested and taken to the station, where ne was
closely qus9nea BY ssrgsan mt Walsh ne ber ra
sion about midnight last night 70 go to the house OK
mis- aunt. Mrs sarah noble, VINO wv TteS 2S5 seven,n
ave We. re,urned 70 the lighter about 6 O'Clock When
ne r'ersbna The lighter and descended the COM
n,,onwav 10 the forecaste. he found the captains
P paw AZ the foot Of the ladder.
After Mitchell had made his statement ms ci9,n-
,,, vas closely examined by Sergeant WASH. his
shoes r nryt With dried blood near the soos While
the uppers the shoes had numerous sreNs o,
ami smashed with blood in many places, ana unlsr
his finger nails was dark-co,orei, suSHy SUP,
stance which seemed to be blood Ills SHOES ana
ovarais were taken from him. and the dark SUP,
stance under his finger nails was caretulS sctapea
ont and sealed in an envelope. 49,, .,
Mitchell had been drinking. but he had recoVsrea
his composure. He declared that he knew no,hits
Of the murder OF the captain. and siii that ne
yvouli be able 10 prove his innocence ,
The policemen who investigated the esse ,earm ar
rel Friday afternoon over the disappearance OF q
number OF bales OF hay. and that the clp'din ma
renorted the matter the owners OF the nEhte,;
In the course OF and after the quarrel Micheh
was heard to make threats against the captain
Policeman Perkins went 10 Mrs Mobiles house as
soon as Mitchell was arrested Mrs Nopie , to.t
Parkns that Mitchell reached her house al ciock
Yesterday morning and remained there uniil
O'clock She said that while there he changed his
underclothing and socks She was positive that
he had not been drinking. and that he was not In
any way excited ~ ,,,o,
Gaptain Knight was fifty -hve years Old lie lNed
somewhere In Douglass-st. Brooklyn with MS "'e
and three children.