The Portland daily press., 1899-11-14
Maxwell Vas Brought on Board
Schooner Drunk.
Refused to Work or
Sign Articles
Kicked His Victim Overheard
After Killing Him.

st. John, N. b., November 18-Ths
schooner J. b. Van Dusen, whioh was
the scene Of . tragedy Saturday evening.
came into port tonight with crew
shipped from Beaver Harpor. Tbs tug
Dirfgo brought up the captains body.
the mate, Alder Campbsn, and sailor
John Mcintyre, and cook Frank l..
Snowden.
Elmer Maxwell, the murderer, to on
the way, In sleigh. with three officers.
The mate says Maxwell came on board
drunk and turned In. Ths captain
awAksued min at $50, of Musquash, but
he refused to 60 to work or to sign ar
ito les. Blows were the result, but the
mate did not sss the beginning Of the
row. He was summoned to the scene by
the captain crying outi Hes got q
knife, helpr' He separated the men
aud neld Maxwell. Capt. Baisley ran out
and climbed down to the rail Of the
schooner. This brought his head on
about q level with the big deckload OF
lumber. He was olinging to the mizzen
rigging and trying to staunch blood How
ing from q wound.
Maxwell threatened the mate, who ran
to get a capstan bar for a weapon. Before
be got 1t. he heard the sailor at the wheel
sing out: "Ihe captains overheard r.
Mcintyre, who was ut the wheel, says
when the mate left, Maxwell rushed TO
where the captain was holding to the
shrouds and kicked him In the head.
Then he leaned over the edge Of the deck
load and struck the captain three or four
times In the side 1t WAS too dark to
sse the knife. but Mt every blow the cap
and fell into the sea. Maxwell said then:
"Thsre, he's gone; to hell with him |;
he wns no good anyway"
Campbell and Mcintyre lowered a
boat and picked the captain MP, but he
died tsn minutes sfssr they got him into
the boat. without having spoken.
The schooner sailed away from them
They had Just beAohsd their boat In Dip
per Hareor when 10 began 10 snow ana
q bowling gale followed. Had they been
half an hour later they would never have
reached shore,
Cook Frank L. Snowden says:
"Aftsr MAXWELL had supper he came 90
the galley. On captains orders told. Max
well to 20 forward and sign articles.
He refused. slying there was plenty OF
time. The captsin came to the galley
and asked him to sign. he said: 'I'li
sign tomorrow He refused when asked
again and also refused to turn to. The
captain went out and came back and Or
dsred MAXWELL to the forecastls where he
belonged. He said the galley was no
place for him. Maxwell said he wouldn't
20. The captain grapplsd him and put
him out with soma difficulty and got
him into the forecastle, locking MIN In.
Max veil cursed from the inside"
Snowden saw only the last Of the fight
on DICK 1hen be trisd to quiet Max
we'll. who answered with oaths His
story Of the row corroboratss the othsss.
AFTER the boat was lowered" he faid.
III hove the vessel to and waited an hour
and three quarters. Then signs OF q
storm appearins,I headed for Beaver Har-
Dor. Maxwell talked little and said moth
log discriminating. We just spsculated ~
to why the beat had not shown mp. After
the boat was lowered MAXWELL stayed on
deck awhile, then went to the galley and
washed his hands. He came out again
and wont back for his coat. I slept on
the lounge In this cabin and Maxwell
in the mates hunk. saw Max we'll buy
his knife In Portsmouth, last voyage
IL was q big jackknife. the blade three
Inches long. Maxwell told tho chief OF
rolice he hovs 1t over"
The osse will probably be tried In the
United States. as the boat has an Ameri-
can register and the crime was commit.
ted on the high stas Out, side the three
mile limit.