Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1839-10-22


age. when she first attracted the attention Of Mr..
Peake, the person to whom she married, pro
lorna, but which marriage, rs Mr.. Peake asures us,
never contaminated. This connexion was the
Of all the misery that has been entailed the
surviving members OF the family; but how far Peake
was blameable or bameess in the business, remains
to be from the curious facts shall detail here
after In order TO be systematic in our stateme nts
throug hout the whole OF this extraordinary tragedy
have this point in the tae describe the per-
and character Of Mr. Peake, and the curious de.
tails Of his intercourse and connection with Miss
Sarah Anne Wood up TO the period of the singular
pro lorna marriage and her my sterous and untimey
death. We have Peake's last letter to Miss Wood
as well as her last letter to him; and after publishing
them both the public will be able TO learn how far
the one was worthy the other.
Edward Peake is, at this time, as near we
judge from external Appearances about forty years
Of age; some persons In Philadelphia, who assume
to know him BEST say that he is every hour Of forty
five; he, himself, confesses TO thrty-fve. He is
one of those spare, thin, marrowess, lank, "lean
and hungry Cassius" kind Of characters, which from
twenty five to forty-fve undergo perceptible kind
Of change. He il exactly five feet eight inches in
height; with uncommonly homely features, even to
positive ugliness; has small ferret eyes, dark and
unmeaniRg; has an unfavorabe downish look, aris-
ing more. we believe, from stupidity and ignorance
than from any decidedly malicious and wicked pro.
pensities; his face AID forehead which Is small and
low, is frigatfuy Scared with the small pox; his
cheeks are Of dngy and bloodless hue, except ON
particular occasions; his ears project most unplea-
sanity from his head; his teeth are filthy from chew
ing tobacco; hi. lips have unpleasant compression
indicative OF the predomnance Of the animal over
the intellectual powers, varied at intervals by
smirk Of low cunning escaping from the sinister
ner OF the mouth. And this goes to make up the
general contour and cast Of his countenance, with
the exception Of his hair, which il is impossible for
us to describe, since he wears very vilely made
scratch wig.
Such is Edward Peak, who in form and ceremony,
married the lovey victim OF this sad tragedy but who
confesscs he never consummated the same. or his
~. ~.-.. al A.vnr EnAx u.1
can say nothing He says that he once lived for or
months in Albany, that he worked boot
maker, or boot closer, for Mr.. Thomas Benton, in
Wall street; that he then bearded with family
ed Slidell, whoved in Reed street, but who low
aide in the upper part ri the city, and that he is well
acquainted with Of the 6rm Of Kimball Rogers,
boot makers in Broadway. Ofhis characterize know
nothing save that he IL accounted first rate make
boots aad when he sticks to his business he can earn
Sc day; but like all first rate workmen, he has not
stuck close TO his business he might have done.
He had store in a first rate business part Of the
city for some tme he lived some years in Philadel-
phia, where industry, sobrleiy, and good conduct
mostly meet good reward; he had no to sup
port bat himself; he did not spend his money in
tend TO; and yet strange TO say he failed in business
about two years since and has not yet cleared his
credit satisfactorily TO every one. Unfortunately
for his fair fame, he confesses that some time back
he gave himself Up to peculiar kind Of dsspation;
he was sadly mixed up in a strange way with some
strange transactions Of several vlainous gamblers
in Philadelphia he said TO be witness in favor
Of a fellow notoriously known as Arcntrue; he was
found in the room associated with gamblers; and s
spoken Of by Mr. Attorney General Reed, who had
TO examine him in The criminal trials Of last summer,
as a man whose moral character is decidedly tar
nshed and tainted.
In addition 10 this, Peake sued for the mante-
nance of q child sworn to him by young girl who
said he seduesd her some short time since. But in
explanation OF this, Peak told this -" That child
don't believe mine because the girl lived with
and he uses all the girls VINO live with
him" How far this Is false true we are unable 10
say; such 10 Edward Peake such is his history con.
Duct character and conversation current in the cir
ces where he resides; and such are his statemests
20 us.
Our readers have now brief sketch Of the charac-
tiers in this drama; shall resume our account OF
their actions % Thursday.