Massachusetts spy and Worcester advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1823-1825, 1825-03-02

raj Woodruff, and removed to Natchez
about nine years ago, where he became
the proprietor and conductor of pub
lie journal.
lnSeptember last he set ont on
journey to his native State ,on horseback,
and had necessarily to pass through the
state OF Kentucky. An attack of fever
on the road compelled him TO remain
some days at Lexington to recover sufii-
Gent strength to pursue his journey. In
this enteebled state he left Lexington on
the. lst Move mber, and rode to place
called the Blue Licks, where he lodged.
The next morning he rode to Dogget's
tavern, where he fell in with Isaac B.
Desha, the son of the Governor of Ken
lucky, and breakfasted in company with
him and large party of Desha's ac-
qualniances. In this vicinity resided
the murderer, his father and father-in-
law.
The deceased was an entire stranger
here, but he knew that Captain Buckley,
with whom he had become acquainted
1t Natchez lived in this neighborhood,
and feeling still too weak to continue his
journey, he inquired the way 10 his
house, with the intention of remaining
there day or two. Desha protested to
be we'll acquainted with Captain Bick-
ley, said that be lived off the main road.
that ne was going to ride that way
himself, and offered TO show him the
house. This fatal offer was accepted,
and after breakfast they rode off togeth-
er from DoggePs, each on horseb ack, in
the presence of number of persons
who witnessed their departure; Desha
with nothing about him but horse
whip, heavily loaded with lead, and
dressed in roundabout jacket, with no
coat or over coat. In two or three
hours afterwards, OF between 10 and II
o'clock, Desha was seen in possession of
the horse, saddle-bags, and pocket-book
OF the deceased, under the following cir
cumstances. On bye road OF bridge
path, gloomy and retired, the country
mountainous and covered with wood,
leading from the main road to Desha's,
lives man of the name of Ball, about
two miles from Desha's. To this mans
house the horse of the deceased ran I'D.
and one of his sons got en- him and rode
OFT IN search OF the owner. He had not
proceeded far when he met Desha on
the path very much agrated, his hands
and clothes stained with blood, and car
rylng Pdar Of s1ddle-bags on his arm,
which were afterwards found in the
woods with the ends cut open, and
proves TO be the same with which the
deceased left Dogget's, and the same
that Desha was seen TO carry on his arm.
Desha claimed the mare Git was white
mare OF remarkable appearance the
deceased rode) in his property, and
said he had just bought her of a man
who owed him and could not pay the
money; got on her, and took the boy
up behind him and rode off Ia a few
minutes afterwards Desha's horse ran IN
to the same house, 7Uithout a birdie, and
another son of Ball's put on birdie and
rode Oft in pursuit Of Desha, who he
knew to be the owner. He had not
gone far, when he met Desha and his
brother on the mare ; pocket-book was
IN Desha'S pantaloons pocket, which one
OF the boys had a good opportunity of
observing, for it dropped out of his pock-
ct, and he dismounted and handed it up
to him. The pocket-book vas after
wards found in the woods cut to pieces.
and In evidence it appeared to be the
same with which the deceased left Dog
gets, and the same that was seen in
Desha's pocket. When Desha left
Dogget's he had neither saddle bags nor
pocket-book; it would have been OBJ
served if he had, for he was clad in a
roundabout jacket, with shallow pock-
els. 1t also appeared in evidence, by
man residing at Desha's, that he never
came home until evening, that he then
walked round about the house with "a
pair of saddle-bags on his arm,peeped in
at the door, but went off without enter
ing, and returned in two or three hours
without the saddle-bags. He had been
married not quite a year to very res
pectable woman, who was so terrified at
his manner and appearance, that she in
sisted upon going to her fathers next
morning, and actually lefthis house.
The day after the murder glove
was found, which produced no alarm !;
but the following day the sadde-bags
were found in the woods, empty, and
the ends cut open. This excited suspic-
ions Of some tonl deed, and led to fur
Their search of the woods, when the
Pocket-book was found cut to pieces,
and in hollow tree not far distant eight
shirts, with the mark cut out, vest, q
handkerchief, and four pair of stockings,
and Desha's bride tied to a tree where
his horse had slipped it. The search
was prosecuted, and the spot where the
murder WAS cnnmiti.ad ,uns idonIiEnd