Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-08
PAUL BLANCHARD ON TRIAL
Alleged MURDERER Of Eir.t Mate Christian
ns et B.tk 1.ser.al
Proceedings PESO Ia 'As u"s'e'
States Court Today at Alexandria
-Histo5S 81 the Crime.
Special Dispatch t8 The Evening Star.

Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.
ALEXANDRIA, Va. July s.-The trial
of Paul Blanchard, a seaman, charged with
the murder of First Officer John Chris
Hansen of the American bark Justin H.
1ngersol. began in the United States cir
cult court for the eastern district Of vir-
gfn1a, Judge r. w. Hughes presiding, this
morning at 10 O'Clock. The United States
was represented by District Attorney
White, while P. J. Morris of Norfolk was
Blanchard's attorney
The entire morning was taken up in get
ting a jury together. Many of those who
had been summoned on the jury were OBJ
1ected to because they had conscientious
scruples against the inf1ction of capital
punishment in murder cases.
At noon jury composed of gentlemen
from Fauquier aud Prince William counties
and the city of Alexandria was irnpaneled.
Ehe prisoner, having been arraigned, plead
not guilty.
The Case Detailed
PROSECUTOR White, in receiving the case.
said briefly. that the government expected
to show that December II the Ingersol sail
ed for Montevideo with deck cargo Every
thing proceeded orderly until December %.
at night, between Bermuda and Madeira
islands While mates watch was on duty
Larson was at the wheel Nicholso amid
ships and Blanchard was lookout Mate
Jehn christensen was in charge. About l
or 2 o'clock Blanchard told the mate that
something was wrong forward. The off,
Ger vent forward with accused and told
Nicholson to go forward and fix the broken
tackle, ana while engaged in making re-
pairs he heard sounds of violence.
ne looked up and saw blanchard stand
ing with Delaying pin. and he at once
Struck the mate and kDccl,aH i'm,
After this. Nicholson says he was made
to assist in throwing the body overheard
and then spread the alarm that the mate
Capt: Jas. NJ. Miller, late commander of
the o. $. 8. Yantic, testified that the
United States consul at Montevideo had
turned blanchard over to him to be ia-
ltVered to the United States authorities,
ana re did so at Norfolk. Va. Paul
Blanchard was most excellent in his con-
Duct during the voyage" he said Capt
Miller knew nothing of the other than
hearsay.
Mr.. Swan of Brooklyn. owner and shin
broker, was the next witness. He stated
that the 1ngersol sailed under the Ameri-
can nag. Mr.. Swan identified the official
log book'of the 1ngersoI. He stated that
Capt. Peterson of the In;yersol died within
one week from the time the ship arrived in
port.
Thomas Nicholson, the sailor. who it is
alleged, saw the murder committe ell was
next put OF the stand. Nicholson could
not speak English plainly, and 1t was with
difficulty that he told OF the murder He
said he saw Blarcaar1 go aft and tell the
mate something had been carried away
forward. Nicholson was sent 70 repair it
and while at work heard disturbance and
saw blanchard strike Christensen. He told
tory of the case. Nicholson was put
through a severe oross-eyamination by
counsel for the defense
ThenParSiculnrs.
The history of the crime for which
Blanchard Is being tried for his life Is about
as follows: Defender 2s last, about j
o'clock in the morning Thomas Nicholson,
a sailor on the bark, swent forward to the
forechains under the bowsprit to adjust
some tackle. While In this position, 1t is
alleged, he saw Blanc hard and First Officer
deal the blow that CAUSED the death of the
first officer. Nicholson was caught by
Blanchard as he was leaving the. fore
chains and at the point of dirk made to
promise that he would say nothing of the
affair, and Nicholson claims that Blanchard
made him assist in throwing Christiansens
body overheard, and then spread the story
that the first officer had been drowned.
Tie next day the captain discovered blood
On the deck, ana began his inv estigation.
It was then that Thomas Nicholson
pointed out Paul Blanchard as the man
who did the deed. For some unknown
cusation, and Blanchard instead of being
arrested. was again that morning sent to
the wheel Meantime, the stern old ma
riner who commanded the ship issued or
ders to the second mate to keep an eye on
the men and to shoot down the first mem
Der of the crew who acted in a suspicious
manner.
A Second OGense.
Shortly afterward Blanchard, having
been relieved of his watch at the wheel,
came forward to the door Of Second Mate
Ammon's cabin, in the door of which Am
mon sat. In his hand Blanchard carried
a sheath knife. the same with which he
had extorted from Nicholson a few hours
before the promise of secrecy. Ammon Or
dered the sailor forward. He neither an
swered nor obeyed, but stood glazing at the
second mate as though he would like to
end his existence as he had that of his
half-brother in the earlier hours Of that
morning. Drawing a pistol, the second
mate fired six shots at his brothers muir
derer. That Blanchard did mot then pay
for his crime with his life was not due to
took effect. The weapon, however, being OF
emily % caliber Blanchard was only slightly
Inconvenience.
Blanchard is a spare-built man. about 5
feet or s inches tall, and weighs about
140 pounds. He does not look able to ham
die such a man as Christensen is said to
have been. christensen was a large man,
weighing about $50 pounds. Blanchard ap-
peared very nervous during the trial.
will of Clarinda Snyder.