Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1839-10-22
From TIE Philadelphia Herald.
MTIQDER.

Independence Hall, had deliberately shot
his daughter. Il is unnecessary to say,
that the entire population were smilten
with horror at the commission of an of. |
fence for which no name can be found 10 |
any language. Determined, however, to |
clear away the rubbish with which tho pre-.
JUDGES Of the multitude were fortified, we
have made careful enquiry, and now sub.
init the following statement as entitled to
the credit ofour readers.
Mr.. Wood, the keeper Of confcctiona.
ry store in Chestnut street, opposite indie.
pcndence Hall, had an only daughter, Just
verging into womanhood. Few of our
readers who have ever visited his elegant
and fashionable establishment, could have
failed to observe the delicate taste add re.
tired modesty with which they were re.
ceived by this lady. For a long time past.
she has been addressed by young man
by the name Of Peak, .bootmaker, in
Sixth street, near Chestnut. Every effort
had been tried by Peak to gain the assent
of her parents to their paion, but all pro.
we'd unsuccessful. The great and over.
powering objection On behalf Of Mr.. Wood
was the want of moral character in the
person who proposed 10 become the guar
dian Of the future happiness of his only
daughter. Peak from time to time persis-
ted in his efforts to gain admission to the
lady, with like i'll success. The fathers
orders were imperative. AT length, watch
ing the time when Mr.. Wood stepped out,
he seized the opportunity Of entering the
store and conversing with the lady. Fle-
quent interviews Of this nature ripened
their fondness into affection. and about The
fifteenth Of last month they were clandes.
timely married.
On Friday last she quilted her parental
roof, aud remained absent all night. On
her return in the morning an explanation
took place, in which she was forced to de-
clare herself wife. From that moment
her father was q maniac. He saw the
daughter whom his affections had so long
cherished, united TO q common gambler.
1t was too much for frail nature. The in
slant the condition of Mr.. Wood was dis.
covered, the house was closed, and so re-
NAMED all day. IOn Friday, Saturday, and
yesterday, the doors hung with Grape, de-
noting some dreadful calamity. Ycster-
day morning Peak sent messenger de.
handing his wife. The deep, dark, and
damning injury, had deprived Wood of
his senses; the insult restored him TO par.
tial reason.
From condition OF frantic fury. he be.
came suddenly calm. He desired the mes
senger to say to MIR. Peak that he should
have his wife at 10 O'Clock, and directed
her to prepare herself Leaving the house,
he repaired to Tryon's gun store, where
he purchased and charged two pair of pis-
tolls.
lie then. returned home, entered the
apartment of his daughter, where be wait.
ed until the approach Of ten O'Clock, at
which hour, Immediately after embracing
her with tears, he placed one of the pistols
to her head and blew out her b.ains. The
ball entered her forehead over the left eye,
and came out at the top of the head. A
sound 50 unusual drew q crowd instantly,
and among the first, entered Sheriff Filler.
He found the idiotic father fondling on the
corpse of his child, whilst little boy stood
BY, cGnging to his father, declaring that
she This father) did not mean to do it,"
Mrs Wood swooned at the sight. On
the entrance Of the sheriff Wood raised
himself at the head Of the corpse, with a
pistol in his hand, and said, Il shot her! |
shot her! am the man! am the man!!
Sheriff Filler placed him instantly in the
custody Of two Of his officers, who conduc-
ted him to an adjoining room, where he
laid down on q bed, and occasionally ask
ing if she were dead, stating that if she
were, she was happy, and add ng, ''when
they hang me, wish 10 be buried in the
same grave with my daughter"
He was conveyed before the Mayor, anC
subsequently,to Mayomensing. Mrs. w
has since relapsed from one convulsior
into another, until doubts are entertaineC
of her recovery. We have but ono wore
Of comment. The lady was lovely be
yond description, and the idol of her faith
er. He found her married to wretcl
whom he had long spurned for his vices
and this discovery deprived him of reason
In this state he committed murder. TIL
mother is sinking into the grave-the ia
ibcr in prison, the daughter corpse.
The following information was elcite
respecting the manner in which Sarah A
Peak came to her death, by the witnesse
examined before James Gregory, the col
oner, and the jury last evening:
Mr.. Sill was attracted this morning
about III O'Clock, to the back gate OF MI
Wood, AMI shortly afterwards saw tn
gate open, and the two children becko
me, rushed directly up stairs after then
where saw Mr.. w. and some of his fan
lily standing over the body of his daughte
who was lying on the floor weItering
her blood. NY first obiec. was to see
what state she was. She was still breath
ang, and was in hopes something migl
be done for her relief. kneIt down an
supported her head upon my lap, and n
quested gentleman present TO get som
water. | then wiped away the blood, an
discovered tho wound under her eye.
sent directly for DR.. Rush who immediate
y came. lie said nothing could be don
ms she was in dying state. Previous
his coming unloosed her clothes, in hope
1t would give her freedom to breathe.
remained with her until the doctor said
was useless. Mrs. Wood was in the ROOF
all the time; she was apparently uncoI
sclous. Mr.. Peak came in, and there Of
peared to be scuffle between him an
Mr.. Wood. Mr.. Wood was soon aft'
taken into the front chamber, where