Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-09-26
CAPTURED IN BALTIMORE
Benjamin johnson Confesses to Killing
Captain Revella
His Plea is self-Defense-Story to the
Po1ice-Feeling Runs High
The Dead Man.

BENJAMIN johnson, the young colored
man, mate on the schooner John A. II.
Dixon, who murdered Capt. Revelle on the
schooner while off Cedar Point Sunday
night, is under arrest in Baltimore. He has
admitted his identity and confessed the
killing but says he did it in self-defense.
His arrest was the result Of the quick
work Of Sheriff Albrittain, who went to
Baltimore as soon as he had learned Of the
movements of johnson.
AS printed in yesterdays Star, the murder
vas committed Sunday evening after sun
down, and Johnson escaped from the
schooner in the yawlboat, leaving the two
inexperienced men to drift about the river
for nearly twenty-four hours before Capt.
Geoghegan Of the Sue picked them up and
lowed them ashore.
johnson, 1t Is said, reached the shore
near Pope's creek, and then made his way
as far as Cox's station. When he appear
ed at the station he wanted to express his
satchel to Mamie Wilson ut Woodbury., q
suburb Of Baltimore. Tho express agent
told him there was no delivery at Wood
bury, and SO he then had it shipped to
Baltimore to be called for.
When asked about the value of the sat
chel he said 1t was worth $40, but when
the agent questioned the truth Of the val
uation he dropped to $12.
AS soon as Sheriff Albrittain learned Of
these movements he telegraphed to the
Baltimore authorities and also went to
Baltimore.
His Statement.
Detectives Ward and Hussey were de-
tailed IN Baltimore to look after the case
and they found johnson on Baltimore
street, in company with another colored
man, named Green. Capt. Freeburger Of
the detective corps questioned the prisoner
when he reached police headquarters, and
to him he made the following statement:
Il shipped on the Dixon at Norfolk, Va,
a week ago last Thursday. and the boat,
loaded with lumber, sailed the same night.
The crew consisted of Capt. Revelle, two
colored boys and myself. Last Sunday
night, when the schooner was about to
anchor, the captain ordered me to hoist or
lower the jib. supposed he meant for mo
to lower the jb, but he said he meant for
me to hoist it. We got into a quarrel and
the captain threa tened to shoot me and
advanced On me with pistol. I grabbed
a handspike and struck him over the head.
He fell to the deck.
THE schooner, was then about q quarter
or a half mile from the Maryland shore.
The colored boys told me 1 had better
leave, as they said that when the captain
recovered he would kill me. l took the
yawlboat, rowed ashore, went to Cox's
station and sent my bundle of clothes and
satchel to Baltimore by express. I then
shipped aboard tho schooner Metamora,
which reached Baltimore Tuesday morn
ing
Sher1r Albr1tta1n went with the prisoner
and officers when the alleged murderer was
taken before Justice Murray and arraigned
for the killing. When the case had been
finished and the prisoner held, the sheriff
asked that he be held in the Baltimore jail
for few days, and it is said, intimated
that the jail at Port Tobacco may not hold
him if he is returned just now. The feel
ing against the prisoner in Charles county,
especially about the river front, is very bit
ter. although it is not thought that any at
tempt to lynch him would be made II he
were taken there at this time.
The Murdered 3ian.
Yesterday afternoon the body of the muir
dered captain was brought here from Riv-
erside by Undertaken Fry and Mr.. Horace
Johnson, and was then taken to Baltimore
for interment.
Mr.. Benjamin Miller of the firm of Libbey
& Miller. who went down the river to look
after the cargo of lumber, made the neces-
sary arrangements for its shipment here.
In conversation with a Star reporter Mr..
Miller spoke in highest terms of the muir
dered man. He WIS trustworthy man,
and was o general favorite among the
shippers. he said, and he could hardly real
ize that he had figured in such row as
was described by the two witnesses.
The funeral of TIE murdered man took
place today from his late residence, No.
2G08 Fairmcunt avenue.