Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1839-10-11
HORRIBLE TRAGEDY.

, he rumor of deed Of blood which il was
sincerely hoped at first was but a rumor-
but which, after inquiry, proved, alas, too
true.
|, Those who have been accustomed TO
walk 10 Chestnut street. in he neghborbood
OF Independence Square. IA point. perhaps,
with the exception Of the Exchange where
both at day and evening our citizens most
d. congreqale.) must have frequently step.
ped into the confectionery store and refresh
ment rooms of Mr.. Wood, opposite the
State House.
They must remember slso his handsome
and attentive daughter, whose chief care
II was to attend to The more elegant minis.
tra;,ons ofthe establishment. She was n
faithful add du,iful girl, just blushing into
womanhood. Among her many sdmirers
was young man in Sixth street of the
name of Peake. who succeeded in securing
her affections. About Two weeks since
we understand. they were privately mar.
RED, and on Thursday evening the young
woman left the establishment, OF her father,
md joined her husband. On Saturday she
returned, and all the circumstances were
made known TO the former lie instantly
closed his shop, much to tho surprise OF The
public, more than particular attraction be-.
ing nov in the ladies' dopar'ment-a s,ri
King likeness Of Queen Victoria by a young
artist Of this city having been placed there
for exhibition.
The demeanor ofthe fnther to his daugh
ter was morose and unreconcll,ng although
he tad previously invited her home; but
shn stIovc bv every means TO svsrl his III
feeling, which. 90 far as il was likely to
end in my thing desperate, he iogeniously
concealed. This morning, however, al,
about ten O'Clock, as the daughter wa. cit.
ting in the room with her falhe-. and we
believe with some other members Of the
family. he walked deliberately up to her.
ana drawing pistol from his bosom. placed
It s'most aga'nst her forehead. and shot
her entirely through tho brain. The ball.
We learn. passed through the skull, end fell
IN another part Of the room.
The murderous weapon was at once
thrown from the hands Of the desperate
man, in the presence of HE diving child, and
himself secured. The Sheriff Of the citv
was sitting in his office. and was immedl-
atcly aware that something unusual had &C.
|
and ascending TO the apartments where the
deed was done, found the murderer etan.
ding pale and terribly sgits'ed. with his
back to the fire place, and his daughter
lying PROSTATE and bleeding ON the floor,
with her head near his feet.
One child. promising lad. was claspiag
MS Knee, and svcr''ng with fearful eyes,
ana language Of implor'ng passion, that
father did not, father could not do il,
while other members Of the family were
sobbng and shricklng over the diving sster
and child. On the entrance of the sheriff.
wood lifted his arm az if in tho act Of firing
pistol, and cxc'aimed-I am the man.
shot her--l shot her
While writing this article, we learn tina,
| The father, otter such an act, is sound
as'oen, with gunrd OF officers over him.
An immense crowd gathered around the
place, yet none wore admitted but certain
members Of the medical faculty, and The
coroners jury Of inquest, who will delay
their verdict until o'clock this evening.
The girl was lingering in great agony to-
wards the close OF the forenoon, but not
he s''gh hopes OF her recovery were
Mr.. Wood was an Englishman, who
may he remembered as q frui, seller for
many years in the Chestnut street Theatre,
and the keeper Of little shop in the Az.
cadc, which his daughter and hmsef atten.
ded. He has several other children who
with their mother, nre thrown into incon.
cevnbIe distress by this drend act IF mur.
der and or blood philadelphia Gazette.
we subjoin what few additional purtc.
ular have rcnchcd ue:
FURTHER PARTICULARS.
On Monday night, after his arrival at
prison. Mr. Wood wept for hours like O
child. Tuesday morning no was somewhat
more comrosed,nnd EXPRESSED his pognan,
grief at the dreadful occurrence. He re-.
mombered the affair ofihe preceding day
only "a dream. and could not name the
part Of the house in which the fata trage.
DIV was enacted A friend who has been
in the habit Of visiting the house for two
or three years, for the purpose OF obi aiming
ice cream and coffee. and who is quite in.
innate with oil the members Of the family,
SAYS that during n visit n short time since,
he observed that Sarah Ann Wood. the
daughter, was apparently detected and in
III health. He so expressed himself to her.
and suggested the propriety Of an occa-
sonal walk, or if,hat were impossible dur.
ing The week n visit TO church on the Sab.
bath To all this she shook her head des-
pondingly. and minated that she could
not verv well avail herselfof the suGges-
tinn. Feeling interested in the matter,
our friend ven,nred TO make similar hints
To The father. He said hat the girl was
evidently too much confined, and that the
condition of her health absolutely required
some change. The father said he thought
he was mistaken. and observed that chill.
dren were bound to attend TO their parents