The central gazette. [volume] (Charlottesville, Va.) 1820-1827, 1825-01-01
A DESPERATE.

On Friday last says a Baltimore paper OF
the 18th. 4 soldier deserted from Fort NJ Hen
ry, under circumstances which induced be,
lief 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
Seant, aud file OF men in search OF him, who
having spent several hours in useless search,
| fortunately met Mr.. North, vigilant watch
| man ON the Point, and after giving him des-
cI'ption of him, he recognized IN the person
| described man whom he had noticed through
the evening, as having changed mis- dVess, and
was induced, from that circumstance to trace
him to his den, among the frail sisteFhosl on
| the Causeway, and to which place he piioted
| the Sergeant and his comrades, and by max.
| ing rapid movement upon the gentleman IS
bed chamber, surprised him in the arms OF his
"dearce lie made no resistance, but after
| dressing himself, accompanied the waite Imam
and the guard OF soldiers very quietly to the
Watc'. Rouse, where he was deposited for
safe keeping, until morning After the prison
| er had been locked up in ono oil the prison
| rooms, the Sergeant stated to Capt. Evans
| that he had better take care, he bad
| fellow, and had dirk, upon which the captain
| concluded II would be best 10 take it from him
| beforethe guard retired, and for that purpose
| called him eat into the guard room, and de-
| manded OF the prisoner whether lie had not a
| dirk, to which he very civily replied he had ::
| the captain then approached nearer to him,
and asked him to give it to him, and to which
| request he as civilly replied that he would, aud
putting his hand into the side pocket of his
coat drew out the dirk and stabbed both Cap
tain Evans and the Sergeant almost at the
same instant. Captain Evans was stabbed On
the breast below the stomach. 1.-THE moment
Of stabbng, he took to his heels, and succeed
Ell IN making his escape, the Sergeant attemp
tss TO follow him but fell at the door from loss
OF blood, he was however pursued by file OF
soldiers and several watchmcn up Market
street, and was ovcrtaken by one of the sol
diers opposite to Ramsay's Rope Walk. who
in order to stop him, p'icked him in the back
with his bayonet, which had the effect TO ar
rest his progress, but he no sooner stopped
than he welded his dirk with such dreadful
certainty, that the soldier receive ed seven stabs
in the renee ntrc, and the villain succeeded in
sctt NJ off, and eluded all search for the re.
Irainder OF the night. lie was, however pur
sued by order OF Major Bolton, in the morn
ing, OH the Philadelphia road, whittier i, was
conjcctured he had bent his course; and was
arrested and brought back But such was the
determined spmit of the villain, that he brand
ished his steel in defiance Of the guard when
they cam 81, with him, and it was not until a
pistol hSh been snapt at him that he gave him.
self up. tie j. now safely lodged in our Jail
where he will remain uniilthe G curt sits when
he will have justice measured ont To him IL
appears, that when undergoing eXaninat ion
before the justice, he behaved with great rude
ness, and manifested total indifference as to
the fate that awaited him.