Alexandria Gazette

MISCELLANEOUS.
From the Natchitoches Herald.
TEXAS.
Murder--Lynch Law--Last of the Yoakum Gang.
We have been put in possession of the facts in relation to this affair, which is one among the last Texas tragedies.
The citizens of Jefferson county, it appears, have long suffered from their outrages; and from their numbers and total recklessness of character, it seemed impossible to arrest their injuries by the hand of civil power. Cattle had been stolen, robberies committed, and citizens insulted and murdered; but still, whenever any were arrested on the charge, the gang came forward with perjured oaths, and they were acquitted. "Yoakum" was hardened into the most inveterate degree of crime, and seemed but to reap enjoyment by pursuing the most fiendish acts of robbery and murder.
It is a most singular instance of the effects of habit. He was a rich and affluent planter, and lived in a sumptuous and most magnificent manner-kept a splendid equipage--owned over a hundred negroes and large tracts of land-had constantly about a hundred breeding mares, made a yearly sale of fifteen hundred cattle, and had a large revenue coming in from other sources. There is no doubt that he was the richest man in Texas. Yet with all this wealth, his disposition to plunder knew no bounds.
The cause of his death arose from an abortive attempt to murder Mr. Carey of Houston county.-Mr. C. is a highly respectable and wealthy citizen of the town of Houston, and was at the time staying at the residence of Yoakum. He was suspected of having a large sum of money with him, and Yoakum determined that he should be murdered while in bed. The plan was properly managed by during the day, and every thing placed in readiness.
Nothing remained but the darkness of the night. Then the pulse had to beat its last throb, and the cold hand of death steal away the last expiring breath.
Fortunately a faithful negro servant of Mr. Carey had heard of the intended murder, and communicated the design to his master, in sufficient time to leave him a chance of escape.-
He managed to do this, and when sufficiently out of the reach of Yoakum, made the facts public to the citizens. The people no sooner heard of it than they were satisfied of its truth for the good character of Mr. C. is proverbial.
A meeting was held, which resulted in the formation of an armed corps exceeding one hundred in number, who resolved to drive them out of the country. This they proceeded to do; but, in the mean time, Yoakum heard of his plot having been detected, and fearing the indignation of the people, had left his plantation, and in company with some of his gang and negroes, started for the West. When the corps heard of this they immediately gave him pursuit. It was not long before they found out his route: and soon after both parties met at a place called the Big Cypress near Houston. Here a portion of his gang resided.-
The corps shot Yoakum and one or two of the most desperate ruffians of his gang.-
They then had his negroes bound to trees, and compelled them to unfold the secret acts of their late master. One of them detailed a most horrid catalogue of crime. He stated several murders known to him that his master had committed. Some of these were once citizens of the country, and their sudden disappearance had always been looked upon with a suspicion of foul play.
The corps subsequently examined his residence, when these evidences of murder were fully confirmed. At the bottom of an old well, human skulls were seen, where they had no doubt been thrown as each fresh murder occurred. Among various other things also, there was a watch found, with a stranger's name in it. This, a negro declared, he had seen on the person of a gentleman who had once lodged there all night. The residence of Yoakum is called the Pine Island, and is on the road leading to Houston.-
It is a thoroughfare necessarily frequented by travellers; at his house many have been compelled to stay, by the advanced state of the day, bad weather, &c., until it almost became a usual stopping place for travellers. From these circumstances, he had ample means for carrying out most extensively a bloody list of tragedies. There can be no doubt but that his fiendish temperament had its full sate in flesh, and has sent to the fatal source from whence no traveller returns the last sad remains of many a valuable life. The rest of the gang have fled, and now ample security and peace exist throughout the country.