Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1840-03-27
Correspondence of the Herald
PHILADELPHIA, March 90 p. M.


The greatest interest prevails here relative to this
trial. The evidence on the part of the Common
wealth closed today at one o'clock, and
the defence was opened oy Peter A. Brown, Esq
The evidence will be decidedly strong in regard to
the insanity of Wood, and | have not a doubt but
that he Will be cleared on this plea.
George w ashlngton Barton, sworn.-On the Both
OF September had been up town, and on returning
saw great crowd around Mr.. Woods house. l in.
CURED the cause OF the gathering and upon informa
ton deemed it my duty, being then connected with
the prosecution 10 enter the house. In crossing the
street | met by Willis II. Blaney, who said he
was In search Of me; had cons derable dfc ulty
to get 10 thedoor, but upon MIR. BIS speaking il
opened from the inside found Mrs. Peak lying on
the floor, in the third story, backroom there
a man who was told was Mr.. Peak, walking up and
down and wrnging his hands; begged him to leave
the room, and after had repeatedly solicited him
he did So There was an eldsely female, (not Mrs.
W. DIR. Rush, and some others in the Frsm
what could learn, | suppose | must have entered
the house from IL TO ID minutes after Mrs Peak
ceived the injury. The door communicating with
the front room was open and entered it and found
w. with all his clothes lying on the bed; several
officers, among whom was Levin H. Smith,
standing at the bedside; told them not to leave
there, and keep strict watch as was apprehensive
that w might throw himself out of one of the win
dows; w. kicking violently with his feet; remain
ed in the house until w. taken to prison and his
daughter had died. l directed several persons to
look for the bullet about the room they did so, but
without success.
When first entered w. was muttering something
which did not understand but after aw lille he broke
out into EXPLANATIONS which loud and distinct
dead" and Il Justify the deed, "she'd better be in
her grave than live with ablackieg-the villain, the
blackleg,to steal away my daughter" He said,
"any father would do the same" The phrase, IL
Justify the deed, he repeated more frequently than
the others; requested some person to go for the
Mayor. and he came either after Mrs. Peaks death
short time before In answers to quest ions
prior to the Mayors arrival they told me they did
nj tpE hat md faEa
ments conversation the Mayor went to the bedside,
shook him and spoke to HIM somewhat sharply. W.
started, opened his eyes for the first time that had
seen, and looked very wildly; the Mayer asked
him. {" do you know met" lie said yes" and !
think, stated who the Mayor was; the Mayor asked
him il he knew what he had done; he said he had
shot his daughter, and inquired, els she dead'' to
which the Mayor replied yes"
During all this time he rolling his eyes about
peculiarly wild, more than had ever seen be-
fore; we were all struck with the expression and
spoke Of il; he dated the pupil much that they
were all white; the expression peculiar that
was once twice inclined To think that had been
mistaken in my first conjecture, but he reeled and
staggered so much that my doubts were removed;
after this lapse Of three four minutes the front
door opened and he was told he must get in
the carriage; he refused, saying that he would
see his laughter and he would not be taken from
her; upon the assurance thst he to be taken to
his daughter in the carriage, he went, but would
not let 60 of Bradford the latter and other per-
son got into the carriage with him, the door was
closed and the carriage drove oil.
was standing over the bedside when the Mayor
shook him, and as he turned, his face came in con-
tact with mine before j could remove IL, and the
odor Of liquor was strong. The Mayor asked him
IL he had taken any poison, and he said distinctly,
and l almost thought Indignantly mo" The
Mayor asked il he lad taken any thing; he said
brandy he then asked him how much brandy; he
said three times, and he had taken the last glass
about ten minutes before ne shot his daughter; i
thirk l asked him IL he had put any thing in the
buI CT, and he said, eyes, lemon syrup in the last
Ira aver To an inquiry where he had obtained the
brandy, he said he had IL in the house He said he
wouldn't live long, and begged that he might be bu.
ried in the same grave with his daughter. He said
that she now in heaven, and better there than
living on earth with blackleg. He extremely
anxious TO his daughter and implorcd one
around To that effect. was standing over the bed
side when the Mayor shook him, and he turned,
his face came in cantact with mine before could
| remove IL, and the odor Of liquor was strong.
The crowd in the street increasing. and IL was
deemed advisable not TO take him to the Mayors Of
flee, but to examine of the witnesses there; the
examination Of a colored man, and think of one Of
the physicians, took place, and reduced TO writing
by the Mayor, after which he made out his commit.
ment; carriage was then brought Co the front door,
and Mr.. w. then raised from the bed by the Of
fcers and MIR Bradford; when raised he appeared
very much intoxicated. and was obliged to be held
up; he renewed his eatrcaties TO see his daughter
and 10 qoict him the Mayor else told him
they were going to take him to her; he was taken
down to the confectionery without being taken thro'
the room in which Mrs. Peak was; we were dctain-
ed in the store two three minutes; whilst there
he called upon his daughter, denounced Peak, and
made use Of such expressions referred to above.
lie also said he was now happy, Sarah Ann an
angel in heaven; he said he knew he wouldn't live
long, and wanted 10 be buried with his daughter. He
did not couple the name Of Peak with his dcnuncia-
tions; he spoke to Mr.. Bradford and myself by
name, and said to me, " i know you, Mr.. Barton, to
be my friend, and you'll stand BY me-" lie caught
hold Of MIR. Bradford, who could not extricae him
self from him he said repeatedly "you are my
friends, know you NV friends.
Joel CooS, who resided next door 60 w Gods con-
dictionary, was sworn was at Woods the 30th
NJ September; heard noise, and went in next door
by the back way. I heard some person Knocking at
the front door; proceeded there, and found a man
trying To- get out; IL was Peak. ! walked towards
him with the intention Of taking hold of him, when I
discovered black man; ] saw pair Of pistols on
the countcr-took them up and put them in my peck
ct. and then pushed the front door to; these look
like the pistols they have been in my custody since
until today; they were out of my custody few
minutes. While M stairs discovered that the per-
cussion caps of both had been exploded. and then
laid them on the counter; the same pistols handed
10 me; went mp stairs as fast as I could; when !
got mp stairs saw nobody but Mr.. Wood he was
walking very rapid from the front room 10 the back
room; he had nothing in his hands, entered n the
at me; he turned and walked from me with the same
rapid step; heard some noise az " person was
breathing; took step towards the sound and
found Woods daughter lying the floor; as he came
from the front to the back room he came so near
me that | could touch him with my hand; to relieve
the daughter pulled her cape up and found 1t was
toosc. the ket Of one of her filled with