Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1836-08-25
From the New York Gazette.

|
happened last spring in New Orleans, is
PROBABLY fresh 10 the minds of our readers
out The particulars attendant upon it, 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 despera.
| does, reside at considerable distance a
/ Dove New Orleans, on the Mississippi, and
are the terror Of that part of the country
Young Whitaker, the convict aud suicide,
4 Is said TO have been obnoxious to the cen.
/ sure of his brothers on account of bis IT,
nudity, although he had committed at
least one murder previous 10 the one for
! which he was convicted. The latter wa.
perpetrated IN bar room on the person of
the keeper, because he did not wait on
HIM quick enough. Whitaker drew his
knife and stabbed him TO the heart.
He was arrested, tried, convicted, and
sentenced TO death. The family, consist.
ing OF a father, mother, two brothers and
, sister, repaired to New Orleans with the
determination of effeeting his rescue, or
putting him 10 death with their own hands.
Our informant states that the elder bro
ther told him that he paid the keeper of
the prison six thousand dollars TO be in
strumental in his liberation. IL is true
that he sawed off the bars of his prison
window, aud was in the act of running off
when he was retaken and carried back 10
jail, where he was more closely watched
than before. The day of execution draw
ing near, and little chance being left that
he would gain his freedom. his family de.
termlned that the gibbet should lose lis
victim. They therefore furnished him
with laudanum, which was either not Ia.
ken by him, or failed in its intended effect.
lie was afterwards visited by one of the
family, who put into his hands knife of
peculiar construction. IA pattern of which
we have seem such as are carried by as.
sassns IN that part OF the country, with
an Injunction TO use it on himself--and
the whole family have been seen on their
knees at prayers, invoking God that he
might not die coward.
A short time previous 10 the day on
which he was 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
his brother, and he plunged il between his
ribs seven inches 10 depth, periorating his
heart. This knife covered with blood is
now held by his family as trophy of ho
! nor, The body was delivered up 10 The
| family, taken home and buried with mill
tary boaors.
10 show the utter recklessness of ths
horrible crew, they have sworn that the
Governor, who refused to pardon him, the
jai!er who confined, and the judge who
sentenced him, shall die by their hands
and even the sister declares that if these
deeds are delayed, she viii train her little
boys up for the purpose Of putting them
20 death. This iiendIsh woman had arm.
ed herself for the purpose OF assassina
ting her brother on the way TO execution,
had he failed himself 10 pei form the deed,
! But the whole Of the story is not told
The family, Immediately on hearing of
the death oil the young man, employed
gentle Of this city TO take cast Of his
face in cement, and procure bust to be
made from il. The cast was taken while
the body was yet warm, and young man
who accompanied him executed the bust,
which was considered an excellent like
ness, for which they agreed TO pay him
hundred and ten dollars, After repeated
applications for the money. which was not
paid, the family having returned home, he
left the city, repaired TO their residence,
and demanded the amount promised him.
i he elder brother babe him be off or he
would kill him, and drew his knife, but his
purpose was prevented by the interposi.
lion of his mother. The young man noun.
ted his horse, and was returning TO New
Orleans, 0ut was intercepted the next eve
ming on the road by two of the Whitakers
painted and disguised. They first insult
ed him by asking him who he was, whence
he came, &c but be, knowing their OBJ
jject, drew pistol, and shot one Of them
dead on the spot. He fled, soon after a
banGoned his horse aud took to the woods,
where he secreted himself during the day
& travelled by night. An hour or so after
his arrival in New Orleans. where he had
been preceded by the remaining Whita.
ker and another person, he was enquired
for by them at his lodgings. His land
lord kindly informed him of the fact. and
placed him on board a ship bound for Mo
bile, at which place he arrived in safety.