Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-03-01

money got on her, and took the
bow up behind him and rode oil. In a
few minutes afterwards Desha's horse
ran up to the same house, ,oithouf bri-
die, and another son of Balls put on a
bride and rode off 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; a pocket-book
was in Desha's pantaloons' which one
of the boys had a good opportunity OF
observing, for it dropped out OF his
pocket, and he dismounted and handed,
it up to him. The pocket-book was
afterwards found in the woods cut to
pieces, and in evidence it appeared to
be the same with which the deceased
left Dogget's 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 observed if he had, for he was clad
in a roundabout jacket, with shallow
pockets. 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 pair of saddle-bags on his arm,
peeped in at the door, but went off with
out entering, and returned in two or
three hours without the saddle-bags.
He had been married not quite year
to very respectable woman. who was
so terrified at his manner and appear
ance, that she insisted upon going to
her fathers next morning, and actually
| left his house.
The day after the murder glove
was found, which produced no alarm ;
but the following day the saddle-bags
were found in the woods, empty, land the
ends cut open. This excited suspi-
cions of some foul deed, and led to q
further 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, a
yes, 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 committed
was identified from the appearance
of the ground; but the body was not
found until the 9Th, six days after the
deed had been committed, when it was
discovered in a gully, where it, had
been dragged about 100 yards down a
hill. The scull was fractured by re-
peated blows of heavy loaded whip
or bludgeon, one stab in the breast,
two bruises on the shoulder, and the
throat cut from ear to ear, a shocking
spectacle Of human barbarity, There
was deep cut on the left thumb, from
which it would appear that there was
an endeavour made to ward off the fatal
knife, and that the helpless sufferer
was still conscious of his dreadful situa-
ton. The body was stripped of every
thing but the shirt, which was marked
"Francis Baker," with durable ink, a
vest, stockings, and one glove on the
right hand. The next day the panta-
looms were found, very bloody, and in
the watch fob $40 in the United States
Bank notes, wrapped round a silver
dollar, which had escaped the eye OF
the murderer the watch gone and at
the distance Of 200 yards the coat and
hat were found, the latter much broken
by the blows on the head; and at short
distance, Desha's loaded whip, the butt
end shattered to pieces.
The discovery Of the horse Of the
deceased in the possession OF Desha,
led to his apprehension at the house OF
his father in law, who is said to be a
man of great responsibility, and who,
indignant at the injured honour of his
family, declared that he should never
enter his house again, whether ne was
condemned or acquitted. So satisfied
was he of his guilt, that he abandoned
! him to his fate. Indeed, it is but too
probable that this is not the first MUIR
der he has committed. Mr.. D. mem
, Der of the bar, recently from Louis
: vile, and now residing at Natchez, de-
clares that Desha attempted to murder
him in the same manner about year
ago. They were riding together on
horseback, when Desha made some ex-
cuse for falling behind. A short time
afterwards he looked round, and saw
Desha with club uplifted in the act
) of falling him from his horse The claPt
spurs to his horse and escaped. he
was silent from prudential conslders-
tons, he was a young man unwilling
TO provoke the resentment or family
50 powerful and influential, he was a.
bout to leave Kentucky.
SCIENTIFIC.
BENT CREEK, FEE. 18th, 1879.