The Sun.
London, England, 1841-05-25 00:00:00

THE ST. LOUIS TRAGEDY.

The St. Louis Republican of the 19th. inst. brings us
the following particulars of the late dreadful affair in that

city :

MURDER, BURGLARY, AND ARSON.—We have never
before had occasion to record such a complication of
crimes in a single transaction as was presented to our
appalled citizens on the night of Saturday last. About
one o'clock the alarm of fire was given by the flames
Im-sting out of the windows and various parts of the
large stone store on the corner of Pine and Water-
streets ; the front of Water-street occupied by Messrs.
Simonds and Morrison, and the rear by Mr. Pettus, as a
banking-house, formerly Collier and Pettus. At the
time of the discovery it was evident that the building had
been fired in several parts, and the flames had made
such progress, that it was impossible to save either the
house or any f its contents.
That it was the work of an incendiary was soon appa-
rent. Several gentlemen who arrived early, after some
difficulty, forced open the door of the banking-house,
and through the smoke discovered a body lying on the
floor, near the stove. The body was taken out before the
flames had reecho:l it and found to be that of Mr. Jacob
Weaver, a clerk in the store of Messrs Von Phul and
M‘Gill, who usually slept in the room immediately in the
rear of Mr. Pettus's banking-rco al, with Mr. Jesse
Baker, the clerk of Messrs. Simonds and Morrison. Mr.
Weaver was found in the dress he had worn during the
day, but his head dreadfully mangled. He kid been
shot through the head, the ball entering above the left
eye, and so near had the weapon been to him that his
face and left hand were blackened with the powder, and
the little finger nearly cut off apparently by the ball.
His head was also cut open in sever al places, the wounds
appearing to have been made with a bowie-knife or
hatchet.
Near to him, in the same room, was found the hat
and handkerchief of Mr. Baker, but no traces of his body
could be discovered. It is conjectured that he had been
killed either in the bed-room or some other part of the
store, and that his body lies buried in the ruins.
In the banking-house there was a large fire-proof
vault, in which there is at all times a large sum of
money, and it is supposed that the murder was com-
mitted with a view of entering the vault. Of the manner,
however, there is nothing but conjecture. Mr. Baker
left his boarding-house about nine for the store, and has
not been seen since. Mr. Weaver was in company with
a number of young gentlemen at a ten-pin alley, until
about 11 o'clock, when he went to the store, and about
the time he arrived the report- of two pistols or guns
were heard in that direction by the people in the vici-
nity, but from the reprehensible frequency of such re-
ports, excited no attention. Some supposed the mur-
derers had concealed themselves in the store, and had
previously despatched Baker, and killed Weaver when
he entered. Our own belief, from all the circumstances,
is that they entered with Weaver, and that the struggle
and death of both followed immediately. After the
murder they doubtless fired the house in several places
with the hopes of consuming the bodies, and in the ex-
pectation that their crime would not be discovered.
So far as there has been any means of judging, it is
believed that the murderers failed in their principal pur-
pose; that of entering the vault. Owing to the heat, up
to a late hour, yesterday, the door could not be ap-
proached, but when it was, it was found to be locked and
could not be unlocked. The safe of Messrs. Simonds
and Morrison, in which there was some money, was un-
disturbed, and it was, therefore, probable that but little
booty was obtained.
The loss by the fire has been very great. Mr. Pettus
lost all his books and the books of Collier and Pettus.
He, however, after three attempts, at great personal risk,
succeeded in getting out a drawer under the counter, in
which were all his bills receivable, amounting to near
200,000 dollars, the papers being very little injured.
Most of the books and papers of the late firm of Hemp-
stead and Beebe were destroyed, and Mr. Hempstead's
Messrs. Simonds and Morrison lost their journal and
ledger, but saved several other books. Their safe was
dragged out and the papers in it preserved with little
damage. Their entire stock of goods, however, was con-
sumed. Their loss, including their own stock and the
goods on storage and commission, is estimated at about
30,000 dollars, which is probably below the amount.
They were covered by insurance to the extent of their
own stock. The whole loss, including the goods and the
building, may be set down at from 40,000 dollars to
50,000 dollars.
From the house of Simonds and Morrison the fire ex-
tended south to the adjoining building, occupied by
Messrs. Kennett, White, and Co., the roof of which
was partially consumed, and for a long time we thought
it impossible to save the building or the row ; but the
firemen of St. Louis are indomitable; and by exertion,
demanding of all the highest praise, the house of Messrs.
Kennett, White, and Co. was saved, with the loss of the
roof only. The goods in the store, however, were greatly
damaged by the water, and the stock was very large.
The amount of damage is variously estimated at from
10,000 to 15,000 dollars, fully covered by insurance.
The wind setting in a south-west direction, carried the
embers in great quantities over the buildings south of the
fire; and nothing but the saturated condition of the
roofs by the previous rains, and the exertions of the fire-
men, saved the row.
The store of Mr. Bernard Pratte, on the opposite side
of Pine-street, was several times on fire, and some of
the window frames were considerably burned, but by
the exertions of those from within, and the aid of the
engines, no injury was done the building, although Mr.
Pratte's goods suffered considerable injury from the water.
We would rejoice to pause here in this sad recital, but
there is yet a tale of woe to be told. About the break
of day, the interior of the first building having all fallen
in, Mr. Ansel S. Kimball, first engineer of the Union
Fire Company, was standing on the side walk in Pine-
street playing on the fire through a window, when the
wall suddenly gave way and fell outwards into the
street. A gentleman with him made his escape, but
Kimball was caught and crushed beneath the falling
mass. His remains in a few minutes were disinterred
from the ruins, but the vital spark had fled.
Mr. Kimball was one of our enterprising citizens, a
carpenter by profession, and was one of the contractors in
the erection of the Second Presbyterian church. He was
of irreproachable character. He was born in Concord,
N. H., and came to this city from Boston in the fall of
1836, and has carried on his trade under the firm of
Kimball and Webster. His circumstances were mode-
rate ; in fact, embarrassed in the general embarrassment
of the times. He has left a young and amiable wife and
children to mourn his loss—a loss to her which no sym-
pathy can repair, but for whose future comfort it is now
the duty of our community to make a liberal provision.
He, upon whom she leaned for support and protection,
has been cut down without a moment's warning, and
mkm labouring for the preservation of his neighbour's
goo(S
Mr. ;Paver was a young man, about 22 years of age,
of excellent character, and had he entire confidence of
his employers' and the esteem of all his acquaintance.
His parents resid,l3 in the city, his father carries on the
business of house-pa!nting, and is one of our most res-
pectable and worthy citizens ; ho removed to this city
about three years ago from Washington city, and doubt-
less prided himself on the promise of usefulness which
his son gave, but the icy hand of death has destroyed
the flower and crushed the parent's fond hopes.
Mr. Baker was a young gentleman of about 22 years
of this city. Ftirasssieaalcrinaes
of age, the son of a respectable family. residing in Wor-
cester county,
he was a MrieriyjeosfsecLonidnudcatil,
pattern, and it is nothing more than justice to
say that Viere was not a worthier young man in our
s
community. He has lived here a number of years, and
eapnhde wp
roof;
from all with whom he became acquainted won the ap-
plause due to rectitude and worth.
It would be impossible to describe the intense feeling
which pervaded the community during the night and tut-

desk,

,

suing morning, and, in fact, the whole day. Every one
was shocked at the enormity and boldness of the deed,
and felt, that whilst such crimes could be committed in
our midst, and the guilty escape detection, there was no
security to any one.
At an early hour of the morning, without any pre-
vious call, a large number of the citizens assembled at
the Old Market House, when the Mayor, John D. Dag-
gett, was called to the chair, and George K. Budd, Esq.
appointed Secretary, when the following proceedings
were had :

" Whereas a foul and inhuman murder, together with
arson, was perpetrated in our city last evening, by
some person or persons unknown ; and whereas the
perpetration of this horrible outrage calls for the most
prompt and efficient measures on the part of the citi-
zens. Therefore,

"Resolved—That the Mayor be, and he is hereby
authorised and requested, without delay, to offer a re-
ward of five- thousand dollars for the detection and con-
viction of the perpetrators of the crime aforesaid.
" Resolved—That a Committee of twelve from each
ward be appointed by the chair, to immediately take
such measures as to them shall be deemed expedient to
ferret out the murderer or murderers.

" Resolved—That the Corporation of the city of St.
Louis be and is hereby requested to appropriate the
amount aforesaid reward of 5,000 dols. to be paid on the
arrest and conviction of the perpetrator or perpetrators
of this horrible outrage and murder."

After the adjournment of the meeting, the Mayor of-
fered a reward of 5,000 dols. for the detection of the per-
petrators, and the St. Louis Fire Company offered a fur-
ther reward of 300 dols.

The city and country was paroled during yesterday
and last night, and the citizens generally are using all
the means in their power to detect the guilty.
The key of Mr. Pettus's room was found yesterday in
the alley running up through the square above, by a little
aegro.
Several persons were taken up yesterday and examined,
without leading to any developments. The whole police
and manf the citizens were on the alert, however, and
we trustiat some light will yet be thrown on the dark
transactions of Saturday might.