Gazette Of The United States & Evening Advertiser

UNITED STATES.

AUGUSTA, Jan. 18.

On Saturday last, Major Robert Forsyth, Marshal for the State [District] of Georgia, was killed in the execution of his office, at the house of Mrs. Dixon in this place, by Beverly Allen of South-Carolina. A sketch of the particulars is as follows: Major Forsyth being about to serve the aforesaid Allen with a writ: From a principle of delicacy, asked him out of the room, where there were several gentlemen present, upon business in which the said Allen was interested; he assented, and perhaps added these words "with pleasure;"—but instead of following, he asked some one apart, "is not that Major Forsyth?" —being answered in the affirmative, he inquired about the key of the room opposite, and having obtained it, he retired thither; in the interim the Major had made service of a writ on William Allen, brother to the said Beverly, and had granted him some period of indulgence—this, was sent in the room to which his brother had retired, and after being elapsed, the Major going upstairs reminded William that his time was expired, (Messrs. Richards and Randolph, acting as Deputy Marshals, were now at the room door and prevented its being entirely shut, which was the object of exertion within) and Major Forsyth advancing towards the door, was told by Beverly Allen, "if he came further, (or words to that effect) he would blow his brains out," which, said Allen, it is asserted by disinterested and respectable persons present, at the same instant discharged a pistol through the opening of the door, and verified his fatal threat by killing the Marshal on the spot.

Thus fell, a sacrifice to his delicacy, by the hand of a wretch, to fill up the measure of whose iniquities, it seemed only to want an act of such atrocity, a man whose character is highly revered by all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance, whose active, social, cheerful and benevolent turn of mind rendered him a useful and pleasant member of society, and whose removal from this scene of things, affords a most striking and instructive lesson of mortality.

He was interred in the Church-yard here on Monday with every respect which could be paid him, in a public or private capacity: Being, at the time of his decease, Deputy-Grand-Master of the State, as well as Past-Master of the Lodge-Columbia, a numerous procession of the brethren accompanied his remains, and deposited them in the house appointed for all living.