The New Hampshire Gazette

BOSTON, AUGUST 1.

OBITUARY.

When the beauty of youth, blooming in science, excellent in virtue, and rich in expectations, is taken from life in the ordinary course of mortality, the tears of sympathy flow spontaneously; but when the grave reluctantly receives its untimely prey from the hand of violence, gloomy silence, burdened with astonishment, denies to sorrow its usual utterance.

The Funeral of Mr. CHARLES AUSTIN, the oldest son of the Hon. Benjamin Austin, Esq. was attended on Wednesday last by a vast multitude, from this, and other towns.

On Monday last, T. O. Selfridge, a lawyer of this town, about 34 years of age, was committed by Justice Gorham, for his MURDER, perpetrated on the same day, a little after one o'clock. We do not mean to anticipate a trial, which will be more affecting and interesting than any one which has taken place in our country: but the public anxiety demands a statement of this unhappy affair, so far as it can be given with propriety.

The Coroner's Jury, who were very respectable men, formed and signed an Inquest of Murder. The witnesses, sworn before the Justice on the examination, testified, that a few minutes after one o'clock, they saw Selfridge and Austin meet in State-street, on the side path, near the shop of Mr. Townsend, goldsmith. No witness was sworn, who was nigh enough to hear any words that passed. Within less than a minute after they met, the witnesses saw Selfridge take a pistol from a side pocket, and discharge it upon Austin. Austin instantly struck him, or at him, with a small stick he had in his hand; Selfridge threw the pistol with great violence at his head, and snatched the stick from his hand; Austin fell from the side path on to the pavement; Selfridge beat him with the stick, and continued to beat him until some persons came up, and with great force prevented his proceeding further. Austin never spoke but expired instantly. The blood was gushing from his mouth. The Coroner was sworn, who said the ball entered his breast just below the left pap and passed through his body. No evidence was offered by the prisoner; but at an impartial and interesting trial, the circumstances of mitigation, if there are any, will appear; and justice will, we trust, have its course.

Mr. Austin was in the nineteenth year of his age; he was to have taken his first degree at Cambridge College the ensuing Commencement. He was respected by the scholars there; and beloved by his class. The government of college had assigned him an honorable part, in the literary exhibitions, on that day. His fond parents were providing an entertainment on the occasion, for a large number of his and their friends; the guests were invited, and the agreeable topic of commencement day, floated spontaneously on all their language.

Selfridge had the same day published in the Boston Gazette, that Mr. Austin's father was "a liar, a villain, and a coward," and signed it.—The young man visited a number of his friends, and families where he was acquainted, in the forenoon, as usual, and appeared very cheerful and gay; he left one of their houses about ten minutes before he was killed. His breast, glowing with filial piety, received the fatal ball, which probably had been prepared for the fond bosom of his father!