Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-12-03
SHOT DOWN IN THE STREET
now the Two New Orleans Sisters
Avenged Themselves on Their Be-
trayers.

| orleans Sisters
avenged Themselves on Their Be-
trayers.
The tragedy on Canal street last even
ing, at which two sisters simultaneously
shot two prominent young men of this
city for alleged betrayal, says a New Or
leans special of Nov. 30, is without par
allel in the criminal annals of this CITY.
Numbers Of tragedies have resulted from
| the ruin of young girls, but some male
member of the family has heretofore acted
the role of avenger. That two sisters,
young, pretty and lovable, sisters by ties
OF blood, sisters in misfortune and sisters
in a terrible resolution of taking the lives
OF those VINO ruined them, should avenge
their dlshonor in calm and determined
manner, is so unusual that the affair is
now the sensation of the city, and is likely
to remain so until another shall usurp its
| place. The causes leading to the shoot
| ing, as given by the brother of the girls.
are about as follows:
John ID. Lagan and Joseph A. Devon
| shire made the acquaintance of Georgiapa
and Josephine Conway some months AGO
and soon became intimate with the fam
lily. They escorted the sisters to several
places of amusement, young Conway al
ways going with them. One night when
the brother was absent the two Young
men called and persuaded Mrs. Conway
to let them take the girls to West End to
see pyrotechnic display. When young
Conway was informed of this ne told his
mother that no exhibition was given on
the night IN question, and that the two
men must discontinue their visits. La
gan and DevOnshire called when Young
conway was absent, and succeeded in
making the mother believe that her son
was standing in the way of her daughters
happiness, and induced her to move into
house on Dumaine street. In a few
days the son succeeded in getting his
mother returned to his house, but the girls
refused to follow, and went to live with
the young men. The mother tells sub
stant1ally the same story.
The girls say that in the home provided
for them by the TWO men they led miser-
able lives, suffering for the simplest
necessities. Their love received a fatal
blow when, after hours of pleading, the
men refused to marry them, and when
their brother and younger sister came
and asked them to return to their mother
they willingly complied. Such was the
course of events up to last night.
Lagan and DevOnshire We're walking on
Canal street, near Baronne. Behind
them tripped the two girls, dressed in cir
culars, to all appearances merely taking
an evening constitutional. They were
perfectly calm and collected and gave no
indication of their terrible purpose.
When the men were opposite Jayne's con-
fectlonery the girls quickened their steps,
and, coming close behind the men. stimuli
taneOusly drew bulldog revolvers from
their clOaks and fired. GeOrgiana, the
elder sister, shot at Lagan, and Josephine
selected DevOnshire as her target.
Josephine's bullet grazed DeVonshire's
back, just turning the skin. He immedi-
ately fled, but was quickly followed by an
other bullet, which abrased the skin on
his neck. The last shot caused him to
tall, but he was quickly on his feet and
sought refuge IN store. Josephine was
caught by some one in the crowd, and
after desperate struggle was disarmed.
Lagan was not so fortunate. GeOrgi-
ana's bullet struck him in the small of
the back, passed through his kidneys and
inflicted injuries that will probably cause
his death. AS the bullet entered his
body, he turned quickly, wheeled, caught
the woman's pistol arm and attempted to
wrench the weapon from her grasp. His
wound had weakened him, however. and
GeOrgiana was his match in strength. In
their struggle they staggered against the
confectionery door, forced it open and fell
on centre table in the saloon. While
lying across this table the girl fired a sec
ond time, the ball entering Lagan's cheek
and shattering the jawbOne. Lagan then
released the girl, and, walking into the
adjoining store, rejOined Devonshire and
was conveyed to the hospital.
Georglana was approached by the pro-
prietor of the confectionery and asked if
she was injured.
mo, am not" she replied. ''I fired
twice: L did it to protect my honor"
Josephine, when arrested, said:
81 shot Joseph Devonshire. He is the
father of my child. He will not ruin
another girl.'
Inc sisters were conveyed to the Central
Station and made as comfortable as posi-
bic. They were visited in their cell by a
correspondent to-day, and said they had
passed comfortable night. GeOrgiana,
however, looked somewhat fatigued. Both
were perfectly cool, and inquired as to
tne condition of the wounded men. When
told that Devonshire was not hurt. Jose
phlne expressed regret, saying she was
willing to suffer forty years if she had
only killed him. Georgiana expressed a |
similar wish in regard to Lagan. Both
said they were en- ciente, and added:
eve have no statement to make nor
aught to explain. What is done could
not be helped" Georgiana Conway is %
years old, and Josephine 20. Both are
pretty 0runettes of average height, GeOr-
glana being trifle the taller and more
slender. 1t is rumored tonight that the
girls are of mixed blood and that for this
reason the young men refused to marry
them. John Lagan is a son of ex-AIder-
man Mat Lagan, prominent politician
and tOundryman, and had an interest in
his fathers business. He was resting
easy this evening, but the surgeon
expressed little hope. Joseph De-
Yonshire is United States Deputy
Marshal. James Conway is peaceable.
quiet young man, of studious and labori-
Gus habits. He clerked during the day
and taught school at night, thus support
ing his widowed mother and three sisters.
He is charged by Devonshire with being
accessory to the shooting, and is now in
prison. One OF Josephine's bullets struck
a gentleman 100 yards from the scene of
the shooting, grazing the femeraI artery.
The wound was dressed, and causes little
inconvenience. Public sympathy is en-
tirely with the young women, and it is
probable the only suffering they will
undergo will be in lying in prison until |
fh.Osv. A..s,