Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1825-10-20
DESPERATE AFFAIR.

sdIerdlldrtG, La. sept I'm lnufs-
day evening last, an unfortunate oc-
currence took place in our parish jail.
Two white men were confined, one as
vagrant and the other on charge OF
resisting public authority-an Indian
was also confined charged with larceny
he was of a large and robust stature, IN
the prime of life: as the weather was
warm and the charges were not OF that
grave character which required rigid
treatment, and the other room being oc-
cupied by other prisoners, the sherlii
Of the parish very humauely, allowed
them the benefit Of the debtors room as
tits more airy, s. guard was constant
ly kept up in an adjoining room. AZ
about o'clock an alarm was gwen by
the guard that some violence had COM
menced between the prisoners, the
Sheriff Immediately repaired there, had
the door opened and the survivor OF the
two others in desperate combat, the
Indian armed with knife and fork and
the other without arms, protecting him.
self in the best manner he could, his
presence separated them, the white man
barely escaped from the Jail with his lite
and the Indian withdrew into the corner
Of the room: efforts were then made
to capture him without injury, which
proved abortive, he set all authorities at
defiance and courted death, several per-
sons addressed him in bis own language
coniuring him to yield to the civi! au-
thority, to all of which peaceab'e soli-
citations he lent deaf ear and fortified
himself within the walls with broken
bottles and hrickbsts which he hurled
unfortunately at all who approached
the door and peremptorily refused to be
taken from the room alive. The Sheriff
was extremely anxious for his capture
and restrained the irritated feelings of
the citizens whohad promptly, assembled
on the occasion, every efolt was made
to induce him to surrender without IN
jury to his peron for near two hours,
which proved unavaiing, night was APP
preaching and at length i was thought
he might be taken if slightly wounded
pistols and guns were then charged
with shot and fred into the prison for
that purpose, which seemed to confirm
his determination, and finally about
dark one shot struck vital part, and
on examination he was found wounded
in many places.
The survivor of the three is named
Martin and says that himself and the
deceased white man Gormaa, were
sleeping when the Indian killed German
by giving him several stabs in the breast
with the knife and fork and then at
tackled him who had been alarmed and
was on the alert and placed himself in
defensive position where he was found
fighting VIXEN relieved by the Sheriff.
He is much injured, says that he is ig-
norant of any cause ofirritation having
been given by either himself or the de-
ceased German.
Before the arrival of the Sheriff the
jailor Mr.. johnson was very severely
wounded by piece of glass bottle hur-
led at him through the window by the
Indian when he was using every effort
to suppress his violence.
When the jail door was first opened
it was not known whether German was
dead or only severely wounded, and the
passage to the other room was through
this in which there was one prisoner,
and two others we're temporarily absent
under writ olhabeas corpus, and re-
turned that evening, those operated as
additional motives for the removal of
| the Indian Herald.
PORTSMOUTH, y. III. Oct. 7.-On
Tuesday morning most affective e.
vent occurred at Elliot, abou: miles
from this town. Mr.. Richard Neale
rose from his bed in pursuit of cat
as he said, to kill her. He went to the
barn and removed part ofthe flooring,
but did not find her. In the yard he
met his wife, whom he threw ON the
ground, and with an axe severed her
head from her body! About eight
years ago Mr.. Neal, it is said, was
affected with the hydrophobia, in con.
sequence of receiving on bis hands tue
saliva Of a rabid swine, and was for
several months after in a delirious
state. Since that time he has been,
till within few day IS, in good health.
For about week before the fatal
transaction, he was in melancholy