Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1839-10-04
HORRIBLE


PHILADELPHIA, October Oar city was thrown
into state Of the greatest excitement yesterday morn
inp by n rnmor, which ~unhuppily was but 100 true' that
James Wood, the confecIicner occupying ,h" large and
much freouentrd establishment in Chr5nut street oPpn-
site the S ate House, had murdered his only daughter,
Sarah Ann. whose marriage 10 q Mr.. Peakr, q boolIna
kcr in 9Th street, was announced a few days since. me
circumstances of Ibis fearful and heart sicfenIng muF-
der are. we believe substantially as fuiiows:
An attachment, had taken place between Mr. feake
and Miss Wood, which WIS opposed by her iather. VINO
kept Inc slric!est watch over his daughter 10 prevent
their meeting. About two weeks ago. early on SUNDAY
morning. il appears that Mr. Peak and Miss wood dd
meet md were married; the you"g lady, who, however,
was Of mature ngs, returnlng to her father house -
The marriage remained n secret until Friday last, when
Mrs. Prnke supposed from Her iather $ department.
who is a man Of strange md riclent'PmPer, that he ho
discovered what had taken place. She went up stairs,
dressed herself, and eScaprd through the trap door
across the roof 10 a neinhhnting huus'. through winch
size descended. il being occupied by . irIerd. nGd f'J2iil'
ID her husband IN a state of great terror ana appEeHeh-
sion. drcadIng some injury II she should lal mo Tue
hands Of her iarher, vino was terribly excited by her mar
riara and her Gr-ht, and conducted himself like a man
Utreit 0f his ssnses-so much 50, that his establishment
was clusfd from that time up 10 the fatal ca'asirnphe
On Saturday. by the instrumentnlir ni sSrern! TRENDS.
the unfortunate young wnman, then Mrs Peakr, returned
To her faiher's house in the hope that 4 happy reconcI
lIa,iun might be- f.Trcred This. however. was an nn
founded hope. II ia said ih", she vas detained by "n'd
and locked np. The husband having IN vain demanded
his vile Yesterday morning WI t'h ""S "ooo' ="
resort to a legal princess 10 obtain her release, and whilr
thus wns in agitation thp crime was committed Wood
Ind promised to relensr Sarah al il q clock and between
Q md 10 o'clnck in The morning went IN WIN Mrs Hoco
I, The back ruom Of the ,hirC s,nry where his daughter
was sitting. His d. pertinent at this moment was SO
frinhrful that Mrs Wood left the room IN alarm 10 call
for assistance, when The report al a pistol was heard, ana
on rushing in. Mrs. Prake was discovered PROSTATE on
tie Il, or. lyinu with her face downwnrds and covered
win bIood-a pair of pistols lay near her-and her ia.
liner. STA nd .ng q lew PAGES distant, lnud'y aro~rd nam
sell 10 be her murderer, and ftanlicaiIy declared that he
canld Justify The deed!
The scPre thai pnsuad-ihp heart rending distress OF
Woods interesting family, consisting OF his wife and
tire. sons is too terrible 10 BE- dwrit upon. The she.
riff. followed by Aitnrnsy .Gpneral Barton. the Mayor,
and Their persons, arrived a, the house IN a lew minutes:
whrn Wood was arrested two pair ot pistols being DIS
covered in The room The murderer, ritter mnny rhren
sled QUERIES and repeated ri POPULATIONS that "he he'd cone
The deed, " interminehed with hopes that his Tic'im was
ont Of her pain, vas conveyed into an adjoining room,
wEere he sunk on a bed in a sturor which led 10 a BELLE
TIM, he had taken prison; but il nle rwards appeared from
his own statement. that he had swallowed a large guam
t,v Of brandy. As Mrs. Prake still hreaihed, by dIrec
ton of Mr. Barton, two physicians, Drs Rush and I'm
etson. we're sent inr, and On investigation, IL pTGveo tha'
her wound was mortal, the bullet having passed IN helo"
The right eye, coming on; al The upper part OF The back
head She fingered until q few minutes past ii 0 clock
| when she expired.
ond was finally aroused from his sir2or by Mayor
Roacb. and in reply 10 interrnnalories by that Office and
| MIR. Barton. stoied Tint he had taken three glasses OF
brandy abnut ten minutes before The murder; that he
had 90 G into the back room end on approaching ms
daughter. had placed the pistol lmn'edialely oe'o" hef
eve and fred. As il was deemed unadrisable 10 convey
him through Tie immense crowd in front OF the house,
to the Mayors office, an examination was held on The
spot and he was sent to MuyameGsing in a carriage
He prnGrssed himself anxious TO dIe-raVeo about being
hurled in The same coffin with his daughter, hut mani
Tested no contri,ion for what he had done, and displayed
great dislike 10 Mr.. Peake
Wood is on Englishmun By birth. He formerly kept
The bars in The Chesnut Street Theatre, and had u Con.
dictionary shop in The Arcade. lie prOspered in bust
ness. and a year or two ago, bought the large house in
Chestnut street where the murder was committed and
fitted il up at great expense. His daughter was about
TWENTY-FIVE years of age, remarkable for her correct con
duct. amiable disposition, and agreeable appearance.
[Pennsylr4nGn.