Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1836-08-30
From The Near York Ga.eHs
THE WHITAkERS,

The tragedy winch happened last Spring IN New
Orleans ls probably flesh IN he minds OF
ders, but the particulars attending on it, which
give below, have never been published, probably
for the substantial reason that the lives Of the ed
'tors OF that city, bad they published them, would
have been the forfeit.
The WhliHsef family noted dcspersdoee, reside
at considerable distance from New Orleans, on
the Mississippi and are the terror Of that part of
he country. Young Whitaker, the convict and
suicide. Is said to have been obnoxious to the
sure OF his brothers, account of his finidty al
though he had committed at least one murder pre-
yluus TO that winch be had been convicted The
ater was perpet raied IN II bar room, the person
OF the keeper. because be did no, wait him quick
enough. Whitaker drew knife and stabbed him
10 the heart.
He was arrested. tried, convicted and sentenced
to death. The family, consisting of the father mo.
ther, two brothers and u sister, repaired to New
Orleans with the defermDa,.on of affecting his res
cue or putting him to death with their own hands.
Dor informant states that the elder brother told
him thot he had paid the keeper Of the prison six
thousand dollars 20 be instrumental in his hbera
ton. II is true that he sawed off the bars Of his
prison window, and was in tbe ect of running of,
when he vas retaken and carried back TO jail
where he was more closely confined than before.
The day ofexecution drawing near and little chance
being ef that he would gain bis freedom, the fam
lily determined that the glbbet should lose It's VIC
tim. They therefore furnished him with luudanum
which either not taken by him. or failed OF its
intended effect. He was afterward visited by one
of the family, who put into his hands knife, Of
peculiar construction, Ia pattern Of which We have
seen) such carried by the assassins Of that
portion of the country, with INJUNCTION to use 1t
Ian hi nspif andt hp hale fam hay hppn
on their knees at prayers, invoking God that he
might not die n coward.
A short time previous to the day on which he
vas ordered TO be hanged. he made two attempts
on his left breast with the instrument given him,
: but his courage failed. He was goaded On to the
fatal deed by his brother and he plunged /, between
his ribs inches in depth, perora,ing his heart
The knife. covered with blood, is now held by his
family as q trophy of honor. The body was dei'
cred up to the family, taken home aud buried with
military honors.
e To show the utter reckessnees Of this horrible
crew, they have sworn that the Governor, who re-
fused to pardon him, the jsiler who confined, and
s the Judge who sentenced him, shall die by thei'
hands-and even If these deeds are delayed sht
will train her little boys up for the purpose Of put
e ting them to DEATH This 6endish woman had arm
ed herself for the purpose Of her broth
! ct on Tue why 10 tAtCuliOu, ne "''"sS'
/ to perform the deed.
Bot the whole of the story i. not told. The IAN
e ily, immediately on hearing Of the death Of 'h'
r young man, employed q gentleman OF this city Il
{ take cast OF hs face Ia cement and procure bhs
10 be made from IL. The cost wac taken while IN
body was yet warm, and young man who accom-
= panied him executed the bust, which was consider
cd al admirable likeness for which they sgretd Il
pay him hundred and ten dollars After repeate
applications for the money, which was not paid
, the family having returned home, he leh the city
repaired TO their residence and demanded he amour
, promised him The elder brother babe him be of
q or he would XII him aud drew his knife, but hi
T. purpose wss prevented by the interposilnn Of ~
II mother. The young man mounted hls horse, IN
e vas reforming 10 New Orleans, bni Sss l0tefcePir
e next evening 90 the road BY Two Of the WhsAer'
J. painted and disguised. They hTs. insuiIed hin b
ID asking tim who he ~ss, whence he cane, Sc; b.
b he, knowing their object, de" psto! and shot on
Of them dead % the spot. lie fed, after
d bsndoned hi- horse and took 10 the woods, "hsr
he secreied himself during the day, and travelled
night An hour or two before he srri,sl al Ne'
l. Orleans he had been preceded b! the reIsinin
y Whi,aker and another Person. "ho inquired IL
IF him At his lodgings lis landlord kindly iniorII
- cd him Of the fact and placed bitn on board slh
ie bound cor Mobile. a. Nhieh place he arrived !
10 safety.