Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1897-07-08

fair Friday continued nlBn temperature !,
northeasterly winds shifting to southeasterly.
MURDER TRIAL-The trial of Paul
Blanchard, charged with the murder on
the high seas of John Christianson, first
officer of the American bark Justin 81.
Ineersoll, began in the U. S. Circuit
Court in this city to-day. Thirty seven
iurymen were summoned, twenty of
whom were stricken oil by the defense
and five for the prosecution. The Jury
was finally empanneled rs follows ::
Messrs. J. B. Manuel, G. w. Briggs,
Wallace Tiffany. j. W. Taylor, Lee
Pierson, ]. E Doran, G. E. Price, w.
d. Wood. J. L. Smith, ]. K. Maddox,
Fairfax Gaines and A. w. Skinner
Several OF the gentlemen who had been
summoned were excused from service
on the jury on religious scruples.
The case was opened for the prosecu.
ton by District Attorney White, who
gave history of the alleged murder,
the details OF which were published at
the time Blanchard reached Norfolk in
irons on board the U. :. steamer Yantic.
The indictment found by the grand
Jury was subsequently, read, and
Blanchard plead not guilty to the charge
of murder.
Lieutenant Commander ]. NJ. Miller,
of the Yantic, was the first witness put
on the stand. His testimony was not
material, but was merely as to Blsnch-
ards conduct on the voyage from
Montevideo TO Hampton Roads. Wit
ness said the prisoner was exemplary in
his conduct.
MIR. John Swan, of Brooklyn, follow
ed. His testimony showed the bark was
an American vessel and had proper
register.
Thomas Nicholson, a native of Alas
ka, the only witness to the alleged
murder, followed. He can barely speak
English, and it was with no little diff
Guilty that the lawyers obtained q con-
nected story from him. Nicholson tes.
tilted in substance that one night in
Dscembe last while he was in the
rigging OF the bowsprit he saw
Blanchard and the first mate fighting;
that Blanchard struck Christianson on
the head with some heavy substance
and felled him to the deck: witness
started to run aft and was pursued by
Blanchard, who had knife in his hand;
witness jumped on top of the galley in
order TO escape him; Blanchard follow
ed and threatened to kill him if he did
not say the mate fell overboard; he fol-
lowed Blanchard to the spot where the
body lay and helped Blanchard to
throw it overheard.
Witness later helped to wash up the
blood on the deck. The captain was
then told that the made had fallen
overheard and the ship was put about
but the mate could not be seen, and
later the vessel proceeded on her course.
Nicholson further said that the next
morning, when the captain saw blood
on the deck, Blanchard said it came
from his (Blanchnrd's) gums, and that
the mate had struck him with Delaying
pin. Upon being cross examined it was
shown that Nicholson's testimony be,
fore the U. S. commissioner was the
opposite of what he avered to-day. he
having on the first occasion said he did
not hear Blanchard make the state
ment. The counsel for the defense also
brought out the fact that witness was
ruptured by kick he received from
the dead mate while employed on an
other ship.
Albert Ammon, of the bark Ingersoll,
was subsequently examined. He testi-
fed to shooting at Blanchard when the
latter appeared at his cabin door in
menacing attitude. He said the pris-
oner looked dangerous. He also testi-
fed to hearing the steward say Blanch-
ard had asserted that he had fixed the
mate.
Court then took recess until 8
o'clock.
The court was slow in resssembling.
When the examination of witnesses
was resumed Ed. Skies, steward, and
Alex. Siemondson, seaman, were ex-
amined. Their testimony brought out
no new facts.
The case will continued throughout
the evening.