Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-12-24
A DESPERATE.

BALTIMORE, December is.
On Friday last, a soldier deserted from Fort
M'1cnry, under circumstances which induced
a belief that he had stolen forty dollars from one
OF the officers. As soon as it was known that
he had gone, Major Bolton despatched a Ser
geant, and "a file of men in search of him, who,
having spent Severa! hours i'm useless search.
fortunately met Mr.. North, a vigilant watchman
on the Point, and after giving him a descrip-
ton Of him, he recognized in the person describ-
ed a man whom he had noticed through the
evening, as having changed his dress. and was
induced, from that circumstance, to trace him
to his den, among the frail sisterliood on the
Canseway, and to which place he piloted the
Sergeant and his comrades, and by making a
rapid movement upon the gentleman's bed
chamber, surprised him in the arms of his
''dearee."' He made no resistance, but after
dressing himself, accompanied the Waterman
and the guard of soldiers very quietly to the
Watch House, where he was deposited for safe
keeping, until morning. After the prisoner had
been locked up in one of the prison rooms, the
Sergeant stated to Capt. Evans that he had
better take care, as he was a bad fellow, and
had a dirk, upon which the the captain con-
cludcd it would be best to take it from HIM be-
fore the guard retired, and for that purpose
called him out into the guard room, and de-
manded of the prisoner whether he bad not Il
dirk, TO which he very civilly replied he had.
the captain then approached nearer to him, aud
~ ~ sfttIS oAe Z " VIII re-
quest he as civilly replied that he would, and
putting his hand into the side pocket of his coat
drew out the dirk and stabbed both Captain
Evans and the Sergeant almost at the same iu-
slant. Capt. Evans was stabbed on the breast,
and the Sergeant on the breast below tue .to-
mach. AT the moment of stabbing. he took to
his neels, and succeeded in making his escape.
the Sergeant attempted ~ follow him but fell at
the door from loss 0 G4lood, he was however
pursued by a file of soldiers and several watch
men up MarlSet-street, and was overtaken by
one of the soldiers opposite TO Ramsay's Rope
Walk, who III order 10 stop him, pricked him in
the back with his bayonet, which had the eff
feet To arrest his progress, but he no sooner
stopped than he welded his dirk with such
dreadful certainty, that the soldier received
seven slabs IN therenContrc,a and the william sue.
ceeded in getting off, and eluded all search for
the remainder of the night. He was, however.
pursued by order of Major Bolton, in the MORN
ing, on the Philadelphia road, whittier it was
conJectured he had bent his course; and was ar
rested and brought back. But such was the
determined spirit Of the william, that he brand
isled his steel in defiance of the guard when
they came up with him, and it was not until a
pistol had been snapt at him that he gave him
self up. He is now safely lodged in our Jail,
where he will remain until the Court sits, when
he will have justice measured out to him. Il
appears, that when undergoing an examination
before the Justice, he behaved with great rude
ness, and manifested a total Indifference as TO
the fate that awaited him.-[Chronicte,