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

Kee Late RxsraseAlnnsy Ensnaay- N Rhala. !
delPhia.
History furnishes NO parallel to the recent dread.
FIJI death of daughtsr by The hand q Mr. faaAer in
Philadslphia. There is an apparent mystery hang
Ing over the whole natter that il is most difficult to
clear up The death Of the daughter Of Jephtah, by
the hand or order Of her father has been sufficiently
explained in its various relations and causes by the
pen Of the sacred historian. The philosophy Of the
incidents connected with the death Of the beautiful
Virginia at the hand Of her father Vrginius in the
Forum at Rome, is also sufficiently explicit upon
the face Of them But assuming that Mr.. Wood,
designedy (and not by accident, as some suppose,)
shot his daughter, either when insane there
is mystery about the whole matter, which all the
connecting links in the history of the unfortunate
young lady, including her courtship and marriage,
are entirely insufficient to explain. However we shall
proceed to give connected narrative of the history
OF all the parties in this dreadful tragedy and leave
orr readers to deduce their own conclusions there
from.
In the summer Of 1918, Mr. James Wood, then
about thirty-one years Of age, came alone 10 the
United Sta,es, from Oldham, in Lancashire where
he was born He had married in 1876 young lady
in Oldham, the daughter of highly respectable pa
rents, who gave birth to a lovely daag hter Sarah
Anne Wood, (the unfortunate victim of the recent
tragedy short time before Mr. Wood left England
for America. Immediately after Mr.. Wood reached
Philadelphia, he sought and obtained employment at
his trade, that OF journeyman halter. He was
good workman, sober and industrious; and in a short
time he saved sufficient sum to enable him to send
for his wife aud daughter, who soon joined him in
Philadelphia. He labored hard and necessarily at
his business; and worked for long time in that de-
parment of hat making, tschinally called rough.
in he ahl iShp oc
Philadelphia. In fact he continued to work in this
business until ten twelve years ago, with credit
and emolument to himself and satisfaction to his
employer.
His family being increased in the course Of ten
after his arrival by the birth OF three fine boys
| ali Of them now living, the oldest being IT, and the
youngest Ill years of age, Mr.. Wood found il
sary to endeavor to increase his income by some ex
| ira exertions in the mode of getting livelihood
Accordingly he sent his daughter, Sarah Anne to a
respectable quaker lady residing in Second street,
| to learn the business of cake baking. Being of
| naturally smart and active turn of mind, in a few
months this sweet girl had learned sufficient to ena-
BILE her. with the assistance of her mother Ia quiet
patient simpe-kearted and industrious old lady) to
manage the cake baking and confectionery business
OF a small store, which her father opened in Sth
street, one door above the corner Of Arch street.
This was about eleven years ago. About the same
PERIOD he set up small cake and fruit stand in the
lobby of the Chestnut street theatre the left hand
sde the entrance descending from the boxes to
Sarah Anne Wood, then sweet, blooming and en-.
gaging girl Of ii years Of age who with her father
waited the fashionable equenters Of that
and loungers in the lobby.
Thus, IT may be seen, that f ON the common ement
OF his career in this country, Wood was himself
pattern Of industry and perseverance; and brought
all his family up TO the pursuit Of similar habits.
From the earliest recolections that the residents Of
Philadelphia have Of this unfortunate family, the
father was seen to work hard and necessarily, the
mother worked, the daughter worked the three boys
were made to work as they grew up. and the while
Of them were remarkable for their industry, integ-
rIty, sobriety, strictly neral department. and unsb.
trusiye behavior. Time rolled on, and brought no
change in their condact Mr.. Wood, in the day time
was to be seen IN every conspicuous part Of the city
in the market, in Chestnut street, and elsewhere;
wherever there was crowd, a cole ction Of citi-
zens Wood was To be in their midst toiling
to sell the products OF his wife and daughters indus
try; crying "Cakes! Cakes! nice cakes! two for
six pence, five for q shilling; fine cakes! buy buy
buy who'll bay? capital cakesw
In this way by his exertions out Of doors, and
those Of his wife and family within DOORS combined
with the strctest economy all rourd, he enabled
TO bring his family up in respectable and comfort
able manner. He was the very soul Of integ gritty,
sobriety and industry HIMSELF was never heard 10
utter oath profane word; was punctual in all
his dealings and religiously kept af his promises
Anxious Al this early perodfor his daughters future
welfare, he sent her TO or three of the most res
pectable serninaries TO be found in philadelphia.
Amongst others whom she had for her teachers we
may mention the revd. Mr.. Eagles, and the Rev Mr..
Ashton, under whose tuition, she became highly
complished in English literature as one Of her let
ters which we shall publish, will clearly prove.
About six or seven years since Mr.. Wood, having |
continued 10 prosper in business, vestured to take
the store Ne i, in the Arcade In Chestnut street |
where he still carried on the confecto business
He also added to this the next store, No Ia small
font room) which he furnished for persons TO sit in
and take coffee, ice cream, &C. And here we must
digress, to state circumstance upon which much
severe comment has been made. Ii has been said
that at this store several females Of improper char
acter used tn visit, and take shments and con-
sequently, that MIR. Wood exposed his here
in an improper manner. We are assured by per.
sons OF the highest respectability in philadelphia
that the stsre always conducted in very quiet
and gentcel manner; that IT visited by NEST re-
spectacle persons; that there was never any thing
seen there TO offend the eye hearing OF the most
chaste and delicate lady in the land and that if fe.
males Of . doubtful reputation occasionally came
there they conducted themselves so far with out
ward proprety, as to silence suspicion on the part
OF parent and daughter, In which condition they are
still TO be met with at the most fashionable stores of
all descriptions, dry goods, booksellers, jewellers
and confectioners, in Philadelphia, New York and
elsewhere. About the same period, Mr.. Wood
rented the bars Of the Chestnut street theatre Of Mr.
haywood, and fitted up the saloon Of the second row
Of boxes In very neat and elegant style. AZ this
period, IL will be remembered, the Chestnut street
theatre the resort Of all the most wealthy re.
spectacle, and fashionable ladies and gentlemen Of
Philadelphia; the boxes were deserted for the
lounge in the saloon, or promenade in the lobbes
lads vould al their aoN~s ier