The times., 1897-07-09
Verdict Of the Jury in the Case
of Paul Blanchard.
CIRCUMSTANCES OF HIS CRIME
He Was Sailor on the Bark j. III.
IngersoII and Killed the First
Mate-He Frightened Into Silence
the One Witness of His Crime.
His Counsel's Eloquent Appeal.


States circuit court under an Indictment
for the murder OF John Christ.anson, the
mate OF the American bark Justin Ii. lnger-
soil on the high seas, returned verdict
case was given to the jury at 1850 O'Clock
tonight, and fifteen minutes later Fore
man J. Il. Manuel handed to the clerk Of
the court their verdict that I'VE, the
jury, lind the prisoner not guilty OF muir
der, as charged in the indictment, but
guilty of maIslaughter." The jury was
Immediately excused until tomorrow morn
ing at 10 O'Clock, at which hour, the court
announced sentence would be passed on
blanchard.
Under the United States laws the PEN
atty Is fixed by the court, and for the
crime of mansaughter cannot exceed ten
years imprisonment III the penitentiary
and fine OF not more than 81 900,
The finding OF the jury was willingly
accepted by both the prisoner and his
attorney and was entirely satisfactory
TO the prosecution.
The crime for which blanchard will be
stiiNtuIGu ny JuuEC luSUCS bIilofIoW
morning was the killing of John Christian
son, the mate of the American bark
Justin II. Ingersoil, on the high seas, on
December %, 1896.
When the case was called this morning,
Judge r. w Hughes occupied the bench.
District Attorney White appeared for the
prosecution and Mr.. Z. j. Morris, of Nor
folk, appeared to defend the prisoner.
The folio wing jurors We're selected:
j. P. Manuel, c. W. Priggs, Wallace Tif-
fany, j. ". Taylor, Lee Pierson, O. B.
Dorau, George E. Price, w u. Wood, j.
l. Smith, James K. Maddox, Fairfax
Gaines and T.. w Skinner. Tho indict-
meut as returned by the grand jury was
read, and the prisoner entered plea OF
not guilty. demurrer to the indict-
ment was overruled by the court, and
Prosecuting Attorney White proceeded
with his opening argument 10 the my.
Capt. J. NJ. Miller. of the United States
cruiser Yantic, testified to having brought
the prisoner from Montevideo to Nor
fork. and turning him over To the Federal
| authorities
john Swan. OF Brooklyn, n. Y, testified
that the bark Justin II Ingersoll was
owned by Americans and sailed under the
American flag He stated that the master
Of the vessel, Capt. Peterson, died sud-
denly few days after his return from
the voyage on which the murder was COM
miUted-
Thomas Nicholson, the only member of
the crew OF the Ingersoll who witnessed
the killing of the mate, gave a detailed
account OF the crime. He, with Louis
Larson anG Blanchard. composed the mates
crew, and went on watch Mt midnight IN
Decetnber27- Shortly afterward Blanchard,
who was on watch, came aft and re-
portcdto tie mate that something had been
carried away forward
Mate Christianson ordered the witness
TO go forward with him to repaIr the
damage, which be did after procuring
| the necessary material While he was
engaged in fixing the ropes on the bow
spirit he heard an unusual noise, and
raising up he saw Sam Blanchard deal
| the mate a blow over tie head with a
Delaying pin; which knocked him To the
| deck. Nicholson attempted TO reach the
| port side of the vessel und make his tay
aft TO report the matter, but was inter
cepted by blanchard, who, with large
knife. compelled him to swear that he
HOb ICldlt tbt tlTCU.llSlAECSS the
| crime He also compelled Nicholson to
help him cast the body into the sea and
| draw water with which 10 wash away
| The blood Of his victim. TIN. witness later
reported to the second mate. Albert Am
mon. that Mate Chrstaasan nad fallen
overheard, and when the captain was
| advised OF the occurrence the vessel was
| put about.
|
Being unable to locate the body the
| vessel was put un her course 10 Monte
| video- On the morning Of December 2s
| an examination Of the scene of diff.
Guilty was made b. the captain. anu, on an
| explanation OF the appearance ,f the blood
spots being demanded Blanchard stated
that he had been assaulted Ivy the mate
and that the blood came from his nose
| and gums, tut an examiDa.io f,y the can
tain proved that Blanchard had rot boen
assaulted. The captain Thought IL strange
| and asked how the mate fell overheard
| when Nicholson confessed that lie had
been thrown over by Blanchard he
| captain told the crow 10 ~ abour rteir
work, and the following day i,a,I Siaacb ard
| pia'ed IN Irons and on:ine,I Until Mon
t'Video was reached, w hen the prisoner was
turned over TO the IlmtcI States c1,ns,,l
Albert Ammon, halfbrother of tho
murdered man, testified to the good hp
haVlor OF the prisoner prior to the tragedy.
Shortly after the occurrence his susnic.oo
was aroused from remarks made by the
| steward. and he became convinced tba,
Blanchard had murdered his brother Wit
ness also stated that, when Blanchard an
| preached him on the following day with
sheath knife in his hand, he fired five
shots at him, three of which took ef-
feet.
At 2:15 court recessed until $50 O'Clock,
when the four other members of the crew
We're examined.
Edward Skies heard conversation on
the night prior to the murder, and heard
the mate speak to Blanchard about
smoking on deck The prisoners rotor
was that ..he would fix him. or ''fi1
it."
Alexander Simondson was in the cap
ta;n's watch, but was not material wit
ness.
Louis Larsenhad heard Blanchard threatel
the mate. On one occasion, when ordered
by the mate to perform a duty, blanchard
remarked: "That s. b has got to lool
out for me- He had also heard the mate
swear at Blanchard when the latter hat
hesitated about performing duty. OF
the morning when all hands were called
on deck by the captain to investigate tn,
| disappearance OF the mate, the captain
asked If anyone knew how Christianson ha(
disappeared. The witness pointed IL
Nicholson and the latter pointed to Pau