The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1825-03-08

rPfireu, Tue country InHbuDtdiHouS anu
covered with wood. leading from the main
road Ia Desha's, lives a man Of the name OF
Ball about two miles from Desha's. To
this mans house the horse of the deceased
ran up, and one III his sons got on him aud
rode of in search of the owner. lie had
not proceeded far when he met Desha on
the path very much agltated, his hands
nd clothes stained with blood. and carry
ing par Of soddtsbogS on his ann, which
were afierN ards found Ia the woods with
the ends cut open, and proved 10 be the
same with WHICH the deceased left Dog
GETS, and the same that Desha was seen
io carry on his arm. Desha clalmed the
mare liz was white mare OF remarkable
appearance the deceased rode) as his pro
perry, and said that he had just bought
her ola man who owed him and could not
pay the money ; got on her, and took the
boy mp behind him aud rode of In a few
minutes afterwards Desla'S horse ran up
10 the same house, WithOut VI bfidle, aud
another son of Balls put TN bride
and rode off in pun suit of Desha, VINO he
knew To be the owner He had not gone
far when he met Desila and his brother on
the mare: pocket book was in Desha's
pantaloons pocket, which one of the boys
had good opportunity Of observing, for it
dropped nut of his pocket, aud he dsmoun
ted aud handed it up 10 him. The pocket
WAS afterwards found in the woods cut to
pieces, aud III evidence it appeared to be
the same with which the deceased left Dog
gets, aud the same that MAS seen in De.
sha's pocket. When Dcsha left Doggett's
he had neither saddlebags nor pocket hook;
il would have been obser, ed If he had, for
he WIS clad in round about Jacket, with
shallow pockets. 1t also appeared in evil
dencc, by man residing at Dfsha's that he
then walked round about the house with
pair of saddle bags on his arms, peeped in
al tue door, but.went of without entering,
and returned ~ two or three hours without
the saddle bags. He had been married not
quite year 10 Il very respectable woman,
who was so terrified al his manner and APP
pearance, that she insisted upon going to
her fither's next morning, and actually left
his house.
found, which produced no alarm but the
following day the saddle bags were found
in the woods, empty, and the end cut open
This excited suspicion of some foul
deed, aud led to further search of the
woods when the pocket book was found cut
to pieces, and in a hollow tree not far dis
tant eight shirts, with the mark cut out. a
vest, handkerchief, and four pair ofstock-
ings, and Deshu's bride tied to tree here
lis horse had slipped it. The search was
prosecuted, and thu spot where the muir
der was committed was identified from the
appearance Of the ground but the body
was not found until the 8th-six DAYS af
ter the deed had been committed, when il
was discovered in a gully, where it had
been dragged about 1870 yards down a Hill.
The scull was fractured by repeated blows
of heavy loaded whip Or bludgpon, one
stab in the breast, two bruises on the shout
der, aud the throat cut from ear to ear, a
shocking spectacle of human barbarity.-
There was deep cut on the left thumb, from
which itwould appear that there wasanen
deavol made to ward off the fatal knife, and
that tn helpless sufferer was Aill Conscious
ofhis dreadful situation. The body was strip
ped OF every thing but the shirt, which was
marked " Francis Baker, with durable ink,
vest, stockings, aud one glove on the
right hand. The next day the pantaloons
were found, very bloody, and in the watch
fob $40 in the u. States bank notes, wrap
ped round silver dollar, which had esca-
ped the eye of the murderer the watch
gone and at the distance of200 yards the
coat and hat were found, the latter much
broken by the blows on the head; at a short
distance, Desha's loaded whip, the butt end
shattered to pieces.
The discovery Of the horse ofthe deceas
ed in possession Of De7ha led to his appre
sion at the house of his father in law, who
is said 10 be man of great responsibility,
and who, indignant at the Injured honor of
his family, declared that he should never
enter his house again, whether he was con
demned or acquitted. So satisfied was he
| of his guilt, that he and his terrified wife
! at once abandoned him to his fate Indeed
| II is but too probable that this is moi the first
murder he has committed. Mr.. ID. a
member of the Bar, recently from Louis
vile, and now residing at Natchez, declares
that Desila attempted to murder him in
the same manner about year ago. They
were riding together on horseback, when
Desha made some excuse for falling behind.
short time afterwards he looked, aud
saw Desha with a club uplifted in the
act of telling him from his horse he Giant
spurs TO ms horse and escaped. He was
silent from prudential considerations, he
was a young man unwilling to provoke
the resentment of family so powerful
and influential, he was about to leave Ken.
lucky.
The remaining facts of this case, are not
very honorable to the father of this mon
ster in human shape, who is the present
Governor of the State of Kentucky. 1t
may not be generally known that the State
is much divided by party, on subjects
wholly local, that the parties are known by