Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1836-08-26
From he Boston Mercantile journal.

that family so depraved, SO reckless anu
hardened in iniquity exists. But the ac-
count which follows only corroboraies GER
tain circumstances, to which publicity was
given at the time when young Whitaker, by
the awful crime of suicide, saved himself
from the gallows:
The Whitakers-The tragedy which hap
pened last spring in New Orleans, is proba-
bly fresh in the minds of our readers, but
the particulars attendant on il which we give
below, have never been published, probably
for the substantial reason that the lives Of
the editors of that city had they published
them, might have been the forfeit
The Whitaker family, noted desperadoes,
reside at considerable distance from New
Orleans, on the Mississippi, and are the ter
ror Of that part Of the country. Young
Whitaker, the convict and suicide is said to
have been obnoxious TO the censure Of his
brothers, on account Of his Hmidity, although
he had committed at least one murder pre-
vious TO that Of which he had been convic-
ted.-The latter was perpetrated in bar
room, on the person of the keeper, because
he did not wait on him quick enough Whit
aker drew his knife. and stabbed him to the
heart
He was arrested, tried, convicted, and
sentenced to death The family consisting
of the father, mother, two brothers and a
sister, repaired TO New Orleans with the
determination of efiectDg his rescue, or put
ting him to death with their own hands.
Our informant states that the elder brother
told him that he paid the keeper Of the pris-
on $4,000 TO be instrumental in his liberia
ton II is true that he sawed off the bars
Of his prison window, and was in the act Of
running oil, when he was retaken and car
ried back to Jail, where he was more closely
confined than before. The day Of execution
drawing near. and little chance being left
that he would gain his freedom, his family
determined tba, the gibbet should lose It's
victim-They therefore furnished him with
laudanum. which was either not taken by
him or failed in its intended effect. He was
afterwards visited by one Of the family, who
put into his hands a knife Of peculiar con-
struetion. Ia pattern Of which we have SEEM
such as are carried by the assassins of that
portion OF the country, with an injunction TO
use it on himself-and the whole family
have been seen on their knees ut prayer. in
voking God that he might not die a cow
ard
4 short time previous to the day on which
he was ordered TO be hanged he made two
attempts on his left breast, with the instru-
ment given him but his courage failed He
was goaded on TO the fatal deed BY bis broth
or. and he plunged it between his ribs seven
inches in depth. perforating his heart This
knife. covered with blood, is now held by
his family as q trophy of honor The body
was delivered up to the family. taken home
and buried with military honors.
To show the utter recklessness of this
horrible crew they have sworn that the Gov
ernor, who refused to pardon him, the jailer
who confined, and the judge who sentenced
him. shall die by their hands-and even the
sister declares that If these deeds are delay
ed, she will train her little boys up for the
purpose Of putting them to death. This
hendish woman had armed herself for the
purpose of assassinating her brother on the
way TO execution. had he failed himself to
perform the deed
But the whole of the story is not told
The family Immediately on hearing of the
death of the young man, employed gentle
man OF this city to take cast Of his face in
cement, and procure bust to be made from
1t. The cast was taken while the body
was yet warm, and young man who ac-
companied him, executed the bust, which
was considered an admirable likeness for
which they agreed TO pay him hundred
and ten dollars. After repeated applications
for the money, which was not paid, the fam.
lily having returned home, he left the citv
repaired TO their residence and demanded
the amount promised him The elder broth.
er babe him be off. or he would kill him.
and drew bis knife, but his purpose was
prevented by the interposition of his mother
The young man mounted his horse, and
was returning to New Orleans, but was in.
tercepted next evening on the road by two
OF the Whitakers, painted and disguised
They first insuited him by asking him who
he was, whence he came, &C.; but he. know
ing. their object, drew pistol and shot one
OF them dead on the spot. He fed, soon az
ter, abandoned his horse, and took 10 the
woods. where he secreted himself during
the day, and travelled by night An hour
or two before his arrival at New Orleans.
ne had been preceded BY the remaining
Whitaker and another person, who inquired
Tor him at his lodgings His landlord kind.
~ informed him Of the fact placed him on
board ship bound to Mobile, at which
place he arrived in safety.
PAINFUL AccIDENT.-We are concern.
Cd to state. that severe accident befel our
ieilow-ciiizen Peter Fl. Schenck, ESQ. and