Washington sentinel., 1853-12-09
6entral SnteIIigente.
Conviction of Clergyman of Murder-His
Suicide.

Lie NOrtn Sldte HHtg, puDHsneu AT w dSningtOn,
North Carolina, furnishes condensed report Of
the trial of the Rev. George W. Caravan for the
murder of Mr.. G. III. Lassiter. a school teacher,
in Hyds county. The whole case is remarkable,
on account of the status of the accused, the de-
pravity developed, and the tragcal issue of the
trial. Eminent counsel We're arrayed for both the
prosecution and the defence, and much excitement
prevailed during the proceedings. The paper be-
fore us gives the following particulars
Caravan is Sc years old, and for many years
has been popular preacher in the Baptist church
Ia man of strong will, exercising powerful in
fuence over his friends, and feared much as
hated by his foes. Lassiter was a quiet young
man engaged in the business of teaching. Some
months before the murder Lasster boarded in the
house Of Caravan, and quarrel arose between
them, Caravan alleging that Lassiter was too fa-
miliar with his (C.,s) wife. Caravan talked very
freely among his neighbors on the subject-said
that l.. ought TO be shot-that shooting was too
good for him, and that he and l.. could not both
live in the same neighborhood, &C., and finally
tried TO get out peace warrant against L.. alleg-
ing that he had attempted TO take his life. He
went on this way for some time, when l.. sued
him for slander, laying the damages at $4,000 A
few hours after the writ was served on c., Lassi-
ter was killed.
Monday, the 18th Of November, 1852 started on
foot, with carpet bag in his hand TO go to the
lake, where he had engaged another school. About
o'clock p. M, he passed C.,s house, on his way
TO the lake. Shortly after he passed, G. left his
house and went across the field towards the woods
which lie between the house and the spot on the
road where L. was killed, his wife following with
gun wrapped up in her apron. She returned to
the house Immediately; Caravan not till sun
down. That night he was absent from home.
Tuesday he remained at home, but on Wednes-
day, rainy day, he took hoe and went into the
woods, and was gone several hours. On Thurs
day, before L. was missed, Uhe people on the lake
thinking he was at the bay, and the people. on the
bay thinking he was at the lake,) c. went to one
Of the neighbors and inquired if he had seen any
thing of L., stating that his (C.'s) family had
him pass his house on Monday with package of
clothes, and he was thinking he had run away.
On Friday evening" when told that the people were
searching for L., he expressed great surprise that
he should be missing-never had heard anything
of it. On Saturday morning, the search for L.
still going on, he wrote to friend TO come and
see him-that l.. was missing-supposed to be
killed-and added that he co. was at home all day
Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, and that he
could prove it by Caravan Sawyer, uhe main
witness on the trial for the State0 his nephew, a
boy who was living with him.
The body of l.. was found on Saturday evening
in the swanps behind C.'s house, in open lot,
which was surrounded with brers, underbrush,
&c, and covered with moss. The moss over the
grave had been carefully removed the grave dug,
just large enough TO hold the body, the body
pressed into il, the grave filed up with the
surrounding earth and pressed down, and the moss
carefully laid back upon il. The moss leaving no
trace of footprint, there was no sign that any
body had ever been there, except that the moss
over the grave had faded little about a hand
full of fresh dirt near il, and dead limb of
tree had apparently been recently disturbed the
bark, which had evidently just fallen from it, lying
in one spot, and the limb in another. The men
who were searching for the body had stopped in
this lonely spot to rest having given up the search
for the day. when these appearances attracted
their attention, and the body was found.
l.. was killed by gun-shot wounds. Several
shots were taken from the body, three from I'll,
heart. There were three sizes of shot found in
the body and in one of the barrels of C.'s gun,
found in his house, Just such shot, and of three
sizes, were found. That night G. left Hyde county,
telling his nephew tSawyer) that if he staid there
he should be hung-that he should send for his
family, and he (S) must go with them. On Sun
day morning he landed from canoe at Durham's
Creek Mills, in Beaufort county, about 80 miles
from his home, telling the man who rowed him
over that he was after piece Of land which an
other man was trying TO buy, and that was the
reason OF his hurry, and charging him 10 keep his
movements a secret.
From this time till his arrest at night in his
house. in January following, the State did not
show his whereabouts. But from letters received
by the sheriff of Hyde, from Tennessee, il seems
that he had been in that State preaching under
the assumed name Of John Forbes.
After his imprisonment in Hyde county Jail, he
tried 10 get friend TO hire the witness Sawyer TO
go away. He had offered this same witness, be-
fore the body of L. was found, negro if he
would swear that he (C) was at home all Mon
day, the day on which the murder was committed.
And while in Hyde Jail he wrote to friend nhe
letters were produced in COURT TO get Sawyer out
of the way. He had given he said, in one of the
letters, Mary (his wife) $500 to get Sawyer Off
that wouldn't do, give him Sl,000-and if that
wouldn't do, he (his friend must get rid of Saw
yer 'sby hook by crook" and not suffer his (C's)
neck TO be broke.
The defence set up for the prisoner was that
three of the witnesses (includng Sawyer) had
sworn falsely, committed wlful and deliberate per-
jury, and that il was impossible for Caravan to
have gone through tho woods after Lassiter passed
his house quick enough to have cut him of.
The jury, after protracted sitting, brought in a
verdict Of guilty" and the Judge ordereda recess
of the court for an hour. As the crowd was leav-
ing, he fired at Mr.. Warren, the counsel for the
State, and with the other shot himself through the
head, killing himself instantly. The ball of the
other struck Mr. Warren on the breast, just above
the heart but fortunately glanced of, and left only
slight wound The North Star Wig says:
Caravan maintained his self-control throughout
the trial. He was as fine looking man as one
would find among thousand-tal admirably
built, with massive head showing with enor-
nous animal passions, large intellect These pas
sions have destroyed him, he having given him
self all his life to their unbridled sway. His wife,
apparently about his own age, and his three chill.
dren having been with him during the trial, ac-
companying him to and from the courthouse and
Jail
The steamer Humboldt, ashore near Halifax
was a superior vessel of 2 450 tons, built by Mr..
Westervelt launched in 1850. She had donble
engines, with SO inch cylinders. She cost, when
ready for sea, S560,000, and was lately rated at
Si50,000, of which there is but very small
amount insured the company being their own
underwriters.
The Humboldt left Havre on the 23d ult with
90 passengers and 450 tons merchandise, and on
the morning of the 9th inst. while in charge of
pilot struck upon rock Ut being very hazy at the
time) off Lambro Light was got off, but had to run
ashore about ten miles below Halifax to prevent
her from sinking, in about three fathoms of water
The vessel at the time had some four or five feet
Of water in her hold. II was expected that she
would be got afoat after dscharging cargo Her
cargo, which is a valuable one, is well covered by
insura nee in this city, but TO what extent cannot
yet be scertaned.--N T. Courier 4 Enquirer
LATER.-BY TELEGRAPH.-There is forty thou
sand dollars insured in this city on the steamship
Humboldt,
The underwriters dispatched an agent to Hall
fax this IL M, in the steamer Canada.
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