Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-07-01
From the National htelGgencef
SHOCKING OUTRAGE.

ly and without provocation snatched from
family which he sustained by his toll, and a So
cietv which he benefited by his example, by the
hand of fellow creature, who has thus drawn
down on his own head the double wrath OF pub
lie indignation and public justice. The causes
which have led to this fatal event will be found
detailed in the evidence given before {. II.
Wharton, B. Chalmers, and D. Bussard, Esqs.
Of which we subjoin sketch.
Deuaughn, who thus stands charged with the
murder of fcllow-being, and who has thus in
CURED the most awful of all human response
bilites to society as well as to his God, has not
vet been taken, although such means have been
adopted as TO render his escape impossible
We know Of no circumstance, for many years,
which has produced a deeper or more general
feeling among our citizens; who have 10 mourn,
as they do with all sincerity, the untimely de-
struc,ion not merely of a fellow-creature, but of
fellow citizen whose genius and application
promised to add to the fame of the city as well
as TO his own-one who had purchased the es-
TEEN of all, by his peaceful demeanor, and In
dustrv i'll his profession. His remains we're at
tended 10 the grave, yesterday afternoon, by his
brother masors, and the company OF Y1gers, as
well as large concourse of his fellow citizens,
who followed the corpse to see the grave close
in forever on the richest promise that rational
hope ever held forth TO human industry.
The following is the substance Of the depo-
sitions taken by the board OF magistrates
G.. ". DashieN stated that he was lying in bed
between the hours of seven and eight on We'd
nesday evening, (his house being about one
hundred and twenty yards from the residence OF
Devaughn,) when he heard the report Of a gun,
which was Immediately succeeded By shrieks,
supposed 10 be those OF female-rhat he sprang
out of bed, and directed servant to go out and
endeavor to ascertain the cause--that he fol-
lowed soon after, and took the direction to De-
vaughn's house, and being arrived atthc fence
within six Yards Of the house, he saw Devaugn
standing in the yard with his gun IN his hand,
and his wife al the door. He asked Devaughn
what was the matter? Who replied that he had
fired on two persons who had threatened him,
one Of whom he supposed to be a man in wo-
mans clothes. He, Devaushn, then walked to-
wards the meadow, and deponcnt went up 10
Mrs Devaughn, and made inquiry as TO the tenn
per and disposition of her husband, who repre-
sented it to be brutal and violent in the OK
IRENE, and that she was afraid to open her
mouth before him. She stated that she was
frequently treated lll--her chIdren's lives were
often threatened, and that he more than once
regretted he had not killed them-Ihat her SON.
in-law, Mr.. Jones, had been there the night
before, and was expected this evening with his
wife, TO protect her and her children from MS
tyranny. When Intercepted if she had heard
what passed between the deceased and her hus
band, and if the deceased's language vas res
pectful-answered that she had, and that it was
gentlsmanly, and not such as to cause offence.
Deponent then left the house.
Re5ecca, the wife Of Jonathan Devaughn, stat
ed that she resided with her husband on place
belonging to Mr.. Moore, adjoining the city;
that on Sunday evening last, between and 6
o'clock her husband discovered boys in the or
chard; that he left the house, taking with him
a small switch, and returned about sun down,
saying that he had chased the boys from the or.
chard, one of whom, in his fright, had left a
hat and basket. She said, she heard nothing
more about it until Wednesday evening, when
decreased and his wife came up to the fence by
the House, and inquired Of little girl, her
daughter, if Mr.. Devaughn lived there9 Her
husband, who was seated a, table eating his
supper, Jumped up, and answered ycs--what of
if he was not the gentleman that had his sons
hat and basket; her husband said he was, and
if he wanted il, he must so and satisfy Mr.
Moore for damages, and he would get it, De-
ceased's wife asked what damage her son had
done; upon which her husband told them to
begone off the lot, and not BLACKBOARD him, and
if they did not, he would put a load into them;
deceased turned hastily to leave the place, and
her husband came into the house, took up his
gun, and went ont--that in short time she
heard the report Of gun, and Immediately al
ter, a woman scream and moan; that she was
afraid to go out, and continued in the house;
her husband then came 10 the door, il being
dark about this time, asked for his powder and
shot, and reloaded. Her husband then went
out, she fearing nothing bad, put her chill
dren TO bed: and in half an hour her husband
returned, put his gun behind the door, lit his
pipe, and seated himself on the sill, he occa-
sionally mattering to himself; that for some
time she was afraid to ask him any questions,
but at last said, you have shot that woman; he
replied, how do you know that? answered,
heard her scream and moan. He then said he
had shot the man in the leg. After while, lie
rose and put stick Of wood against the door,
pulled oil his clothes, and went to bed She
not having candle, threw some light wood
on The fire, continued to sit up until overpower-
cd with fatigue and apprehension; when she
laid down on the bed.
She had not been there long before she heard
shouts, and looking out. perceived lights NOV