Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1884-12-02
THE TRAGEDY IN NEW ORLEANS.


Orleans, on Saturday night by the Conway
sisters, Georgiana and Josephine, is natural
ly the sensation of the hour. The young
men were both we'll known, while the girls
are respectfully connected, very pretty,
having recently budded into womannood,
and arc about TO become mothers from their
intimacy with Logan and Devonshlre.
Logan and Devonshire were standing on
Canal stree: about halfpast eight o'clock
when the Two girls approached. 1t was
evident that they were looking for the men
who. they assert, had ruined and then
abandoned them. Assoon as they discovered
the objects of their search their cloaks were
thrown aside, two revolvers flashed in the
bright electric light and two explosions fol-
lowed. Each girl had selected her mark.
Georgiana, the elder sister, chose Logan
for q target, while Josephine selected Devon
shire. They had approached the young
men from the rear, and were close upon
them when they fired. The ball from
Georgiana's pistol struck Logan in the back,
near the spine, intlicting Il serious, If not
fatal, wound Josephine was less success
full in attaining her object, the bullet merel J
abraiding the skin on Devonshire's back.
He sought safety in flight, but as he ran he
received a ball in the neck which momen-
tarilv stunned him. He fell to the ground,
but Immediately recovered his feet and ran
into Seebold's book store.
Meanwhile Logan had turned upon his
assailant as she was preparing to shoot
second time. He grasped the pistol, but did
not succeed in wrenching it from the hands
of the determined woman. A desperate
struggle ensued for the weapon, during
which the two fell against the door of a con-
fectionery store, forcing it open and falling
against a marble table. Here Georgiana
succeeded in discbarging her pistol second
time. The bullet struck Logan on the chin,
shattering the bone. Georgiana then fell
TO the ground, and Logan, releasing his
bold on the pistol, walked into Seebold's,
where he Joined DepoGshire. The two men
then made their exit through Il rear door,
and LOGAN was taken to the hospital, ac-
companieCi by Devonshire. Their wounds
were examined, and it was found that the
latter had escaped almost uninjurcd by a
hairs breadth, the skin merely being turned
on his neck and back. Young Logan's in.
iuries were found to be very serious. His
iawbone was broken, and the bullet in the
back was thought to have reached vital
part.
markahly cool and collected and did not
lose their composure after ii had ended.
When Georgiana was assisted from the floor
where she had fallen in the final struggle
with Logan she said TO the proprietor of
the store, by way of explanation
Il did it - protect my honcr.n
josephine attempted 10 follow Devonshlre
as lie ran, but was seized by persons near
by. She struggled fiercely to get away, but
wns unable 10 release herself. When she
found her struggles uuavaiing she quieted
down and in response to the question as to
whom she had fired at said, without a trace
of eXcitement
II shot Joseph Devonshire, I know him;
he is the father Of my chi!d; he ruined me,
and won't hav" an opportunity TO ruin an
oiher girl
The girls were taken to the Central Po-
Ice station Here they We're soon joined
bv t!.@ir i,rothcr, James Conway, who was
arrested ~ ibc police as All accessory to
the shontips He claims to have heen on
:v. Charles street, several blocks away. AT
the time, but the arrest was made on the
statemen; of Devonshirc to the police that
the entire Conway family. mother, brothers
and sisters, had threatened the lives OF 10
gan and himself.
James Conway, in an interview, gave me
following explanation of the tragedy:
"Joseph Devonshire and John Logan are
the destroyers Of my sisters honor. They
made the acquaintance of the two girls some
months ago, and soon became quite intimate
with our family. They seemed to be well
meaning young men. Last summer they
sometimes escorted my sisters toSpanishFort,
hut I was always with them. On one occa-
sion. however, while | was not at home
they took the girls to West End with my
mothers permission, saying they were 60
iuo to see the fireworks. Knowing that
there were no fireworks that night imme-
dately went in search of my sisters and
brought them back to the house. In some
uuaccountab!e manner the two young men
persuaded my mother that l was in the
way. and prevailed upon her to remove to
n house on Dumaine street. The family re-
| manned at that place but few days l
succeeded in having mother move into a
house on Bienyile street. The girls re-
fused to follow us, and went to live with
the young men. My poor sisters were
| ruined"
A few DAYS ago Conway applied to Judge
Ford for n warrant for the arrest of Devon
shire and Logan for the seduction of his
sisters. This not being police offence the
writ was refused.
The two sisters are brunettes with pretty
features and dark, flashing eyes. George
lana is twenty-five years of age and Jose
phine twenty. Their unfortunate condition
is apparent at glance. They are in cell
adjoining that of their brother, and appear
ed at the grated separating door during the
interview with him. Both were calm.
/ Josephine said that she would not mind suffer
ing forty years for it if she had succeeded in kill
ing Devonshire. She was surprised to learn thai
he was not seriously hurt and showed regret al
the miscarriage of her intention to kill him
Their brother both assert, had nothing to do with