Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1839-10-08
EsO.Fa ESTE.
THE LATE MURDER.

|, NAV no, be umss a moment Ike this, when the
public mind is deeply and naturally agaied al the al
rc"rcev.ble CRIME Of the murder OF beloved and
only daughter ~ a'her whose affections seemed TO be
wrapped OF in her glance at the causes which sn,ny
contribute to the appalling event; Tor n we are correct
in our supposiiions. have good 10 beeve
We are The narrative bears with 1t impressive moral
likely 10 sink deep al such time. Deeds Of afro
civ Among hose whuse lives labtually vicious and
who waiting in intelligence and education 10 re.
strain their passions. not much TO be wondered
but in The case which now agaies the community, these
comparative polliainns not 10 be found The
happy " oud. though man OF g':0my and suspicious
nature and violent in temper is of business,
auainied with The world heretofore correct in his morals
and had acquired station which reach, with
out much ii tina, schooling by coa,nct with his fellow.
creatures which constitutes practical education That
he should commit murder and euch murder, s well
calculated create anuz"men, and the public look oil
in vain for motive sufficiently stimulating 10 drive
him to act Of such fearful consequences He has
mitted crime blasting in its results in moment Of his
greatest personal prosperity He has no, only sacrificed
his daughter aud himself never il dreaming
Of escape but has enailed misery upon the surviving
members Of bis family. Why has lie done This. With
out alludng TO The usual question: when crimes Of so
fghlful nature are commlttedihe nice point Of ga.
nifty insanity. which mos, he LETT TO Court for deci.
sion hing upon the matter Of how far MIR Peake
worthy of the hand a" The murdered girl-it be
stated that the crime The result Of the sudden and
complete disa ppoiniment Of morbid ambition james
ood literally doattd his dangher-aIi his labors nd
his srvngs alter wealth Tor her He hoped when
hp had enriched her through himself that he would
be enabled to marry her in England, where he pur.
posed eventually ~ return, into cnss above his
lion THIS common feeling, if we correctly inform
ed his thought by day anu bis dream by night
and This enQrussng hope led him into course Of con
duct most likely 10 defeat il. lie rndeavnred far us
possible TO seclude h daughter from society, and
particularly Jealous of any association which would ena
BILE her become acquainted with young men, pushing
this caution tar hey end the prudential limits which every
wakeful parent exercises. He was guarding against,
what he deemed terogatory marriage, well against
other dangers which hesrt young and beautiful girl
This Of selfish affection, for think VI no
other phrase which describes il, lyrannical in lis
EFFECTS and the daughter, who was too young and un
sophisticated 10 share in her fathers ambitious hopes
and whose disappointed social feelings and depaled
lonpngs for the usual liberty Of young women Of eveiy
rank. found sufficient recompense in lavish ndul
gence in all other respects and when approached by
lover. it but natural ha, che should give his
honorable solicitations She did sO-a secret attach
ment and clandes,ne marriage the consequence
The truth came upon Wood like thunderslroke.-
All his vain precautions end foolish were de
featcd. The cherished hopes Of yearsthe bright pic.
lures Of his maginaon-lhe very aim and objects Of
his existence were swept away al blow. The blight.
ing disappointment made him furgeiu of all other ties
be probably felt in the midst Of this hurricane Of pas
sion, us II he had nothing le 10 hope for and mmoa,.
ed himself and his daughter at blow, instead of obey.
ing the dictates Of reason, which would prompt men Of
better balanced intellect TO make The best of what had
occurred. He doubtless thought for he capa
BILE of thinking, That It were better that his daughter
should perish Ivy has own hand than live The wife Of the
man whom she had made her husband The personal
objections which he seemed 10 hnrbor whether Justly or
unlus,!y cannot say contributed 10 his pbrenzy-
To what exlen, all this is TO be regarded es madness il
is e!t 10 nicer casnlsls 10 determine.
This melancholy picture shews what fearful evils
may flow from The Of feeling which under due
regulations is in general beneficial in it's effects To
advance in the social scale desire which is the guar
dian OF character and the promoter of many virtues but
povhi6 md in ito atura
as II was in the Wood when it narrows oil our
ahecnnns-ni our impulses. and all our hopes 10 sin
gle point, operating upon individuals of uncomfortable
passions and comparatively feeble intellect, il may