The Statesman.
London, England, 1809-08-29 00:00:00

FutiTAL CATA.STROPHE.

The American Papers contain the following
tragic occurreuce :•-•••
66 RALEIGH (NORTH CAROLINA), JOLT 18.—
It has never fallen to our lot to record a more
tragical occurrence than the following, which
took place in Halifax county on the sth inst.
66 A young inais in that county, of the name of
Wm. Parker, had fur two or three years paid his
addresses to a Miss Dolly Griffin, and the marriage
of the parties war. expected; recently, however,
Miss G. had discarded him. On the sth they,
with, some other company, dined at Mrs. Harris's,
minNis Parker behaved towards Miss G. with some
mitoses. Ills conduct, and some expressions
which MI from him, excited her suspicions that
he intended Some serious mischief ; and she invited
two of her female friends to accompany her
home. When they hail nearly reached her mo.
ther's, Parker came out suddenly from an angle
of the fence, and presenting a gun at Miss G.
shot her through the arm, and lodged the contents
in her side. She fell instantly ; and the horses
rude by the other young ladies being frightened,
they were also thrown. Parker then began very
deliberately to re-load his gun ; the young ladies,
bereft by their fears of the power either of
flight or resistance, entreated him nut to kill them.
lie told them he had no such intention; that he
was then loading fur himself, and asked nu of
them fur a corner of her shawl fur wadding, which
he tore off. When Ins had finished loading, he
placed the muzzle to his breast, and sprung the
trigger with his foot; it inissel fire; he deco
pecked the flint, and on the second attempt the
load entered his breast—he tottered to the fence,
against which he leaned iu much agony, and de.
sired the young lodic., to pray for him. He then
walked towards the dying Dims Griffin, and fell
beside her. Both expired in a few mouseuts.
" Miss Griffin was a young woman of merit,
and the only child of a widowed mother, who
heard the cries and firing, and came to the place
inst in time to see her daughter expire. Parker
was notorious for possessing a violent and ungw
vcruable temper."

Yesterday a pugilistic contest took place in
Midis-street, between two hackney coachmen, to
the delight of a great number of spectators. One
of the ehanspioes, in isedeavouring to get the start
of his esstagoeist, in turning the corner of the
street, droco the pale of his coach through the
panne! of the oar's earriage; and after a few
genteel complieseets had ,passed between them,
they agreed to decide which was the best Rum ; a
ring was immediately fossed, cud they set to in
style; daring seven bard rounds the aggressor had
the best of it, but la the two succeeding rounds,
the blows of his oppeeent were thrown in with
such effect, that he was obliged to resign the con-
test ; to 'parties then shook hands, and agreed to
adjourn to an adjoining public,honse, and drown
Nl animosity in a glees of gnu., .
On Thursday last a Soldier, belonging to the
Tower Hamlets Militia, who had bete sentenced
to bt ti ;tied for an offence he had committed,
dress, a
~eaknite fro c his pocket, ae he was about
tip be tied vp at the Whets, is the London-holds,
Hackett?, to recelsellis peolsitme?t,. cud stabbed
himself in the side.. las taken Nel jhobospital.
I and his recovery is doubtful.