Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1839-10-10
From the PHILADELPHIA Gazette-October !.
SHOCKING HOMICIDE.

The quiet Of our orderly city is rarely disturbed
by such an appalling tragedy as was acted yester-
day, and we do not remember to have seen the
members Of this community more shocked at any
event.
Few, If any, Of our city readers but will recollect
Inc elegant ice cream establishment Of MIR. Wood,
opposite the State House. The house has recent
y been pat 10 order at very great expense. and Is
perhaps one of the most splendid Of the kind in
The United States. Mr.. Wood was assisted in his
business by his wife and a daughter about twenty
years Of sge. Some two weeks since, Miss Wood
was privately married to MIR. Peak, a boot-maker
in Fifth street, and, as We gather from enquiries,
on Thursday last. she left her fathers for her hus-
bands house. No sooner had the knowledge ofhis
daughters clandestine marriage reached the ear Of
Mr.. Wood, thar he Immediately closed his store,
and refused 10 attend TO business.
Mis-. Wood, however, on Friday or Saturday, in
duced her daughter to return to the house, assuring
her Of her fathers forgiveness, and OF an early re-
conciliatioD with Mr.. Peak. We did not learn
that there was any cordially in the reception OF
Mrs. Peak by her father, and the place remained
closed.
About ten O'Clock yesterday morning, the report
of a pistol in one Of the upper rooms Of MIR. Woods
house, attracted the attic ntion Of persons in the
street, and it was soon ascertained that Mrs. Peak
Gate Miss Wood had been shot by her fatber.
The body was found lying in the back room OF
the third story, the face covered with blood. An
examination was Immediately held by Drs. James
Rush and g. Emmerson, which resulted in the dis
covery that the ball had passed entirely through
the head, entering immediately beneath the right
eye, and carrying with il a portion Of the skull and
brain. A few moments before the examination she
expired, not having spoken from the time she had
received the fatal injury.
Mr.. Wood was Immediately conveyed to the ad.
joining room, apparently in a state of phrenzy,
where he was detained By the instructions of the
Attorney General, George w. Barton, ESQ, uutll
the physicians should have concluded their exami.
nation. and made report thereof. The idea that
Mr.. Wood bad swallowed poison was FIRST entertai-
ned, but this was soon d~ispelled. He avowed that
he had committed the act, and declared that he
considered 1t juslifable. Soon after the arrival OF
Mayor Roach, Mr.. Wood was aroused from the
apparent stupor into which lie had fallen, and upon
being questioned by the Mayor and Mr.. Barton,
ne admitted that he drank three glasses of brandy
about ten minutes before he perpetrated he horrid
deed, and that he deliberately went into the room
in which his daughter was sitting, placed the pistol
close to her head, and fired.
Such was the crowd of persons in the street,
that 1t was considered proper to institute such ex-
animation as was necessary in the house instead
OF conveying the prisoner over to the MAYORS Of
fee.
One of the servants, q colored man, named Jo-
seph Seymour, testified that he heard the report Of
a pistol, while he was engaged in the kitchen, that
he Immediately fastened up stairs, and found Mrs.
Peak lying on the floor, her face covered withb'ood
and a pair of pistols lying near her, and Mr.. Wood
standing a little distance from the deceased. The
husband OF the unfortunate lady remained in the
house with his dying wife for some time, in a state
of great distress, but was finally persuaded by MIR.
Barton 10 retire.
Immediately after the examination of Seymour
and of Drs. Rush and Emerson, Mr.. Wood was
committed to Moyamensing prison.
We write this article before the Coroner holds
his inquest upon The body. A deed has been done
that shocks the feelings Of the community to an
unusual degree, and the public voice calls for a
measure of justice suited to the circumstances and
guilt of the case. Public sentiment, however, in
Philadelphia, quietly waits the development of all
that goes TO show "in what mind the act was
committed.
No attempt is made to deny that the death of
Mrs. 7. was caused by the hand of her father.