The Illinois free trader and LaSalle County commercial advertiser. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1841-1843, 1842-09-16
De Kalh CO.. Sep. 10. 1912.


sinate Col. Wentworth, the editor Of the Chicago
Democrat. at the house of his brother-n-law, in
Belyedore, and of the Cocnel's handling him like
: puny child, harming him in no other manner
than pulling sufficient quantity of hair from his
head to make a finger ring and breast pin for his
friend the editor Of the State Register, and neck
lace for canal commissioner Morris. We have at
last found two eye-wtnesses, who detail the facts
substantially as follow: The Colonel was putting
up at tavern owned by one of Mr.. Pecks bro
thers-in-law and keptby another, and where about
a dozen of Mr.. Pcch's family connections were
staying. and with whom the Colonel had always
been on the most familiar and friendly terms.
Court had adjourned the night before, and the
Col was left behind awaiting the course Of medl-
cine which he had taken to break bilious attack
under which he was then !aboring, and was then
confined to his bed and left it only from necessi-
| ty. He had just left his room and passed out,
when Mr. p. and his lady rode up in a carriage,
dismounled, and Mr.. p. Immediately waited upon
his lady up stairs, which led him directly to the
Coils room. Noticing sundry books and papers
there, no asked the chamber-matd who occupied
that room. She very innoccnty, suPposing that
he wished the room himself, told him it was "long
John's-that he had just slept out and would soon
return to lay down as he was very sick" "What,"
says Peck, give him the best room in the house y
"Yes," she replied, 'wo always do and the best
of everything we have in it too Mr.. p. became
much excited and exclaimed, is this the way
my own relations treat that ID scoupdrel-
house or | will!' Whereupon he rushed down
stairs, and going to the bar wi,hou, saying word
TO any one, swallowed about half a tumbler of
brandy, and, although spoken to by several per-
sons, said nothing, but seemed very absent min
ded. He then seized large cane, with a heavy
silver mounted head aud got behind the door so
as to peep through a crack which commanded
view of the Col. as he came into the house. He
said not a word concerning his intentions to any
person about him, and as the Col. was coming
hedlessy along with very much inclined pos
ture, and whilst in the act Of stepping on the first
step of a three feet stairway to enter the bar
room, Peck rushed out and aimed blow at him
with the full strength of both his arms, but, thank
God the blow of the assassin was lodged and
this second Darnes failed of his fatal intent. The
force of his blow on the stairway fractured the
cane somewhat and brought Peck TO the ground
below. Peck then recovered his posture and
followed up his blows, saying "Oh, you id
rascal, will make a corpse o. you-oh you aa-
thor of all my calamities, now will pay yotI in
JaN!-you stay with my reations l will teach
you better!!" None his blows, however, took
effect although he had advantage of the uphill
ground and struck with full iOice. The Col.
ayaing himself of the first opportunity to seize
him by The hair, Gas he was entirely unarmed and
there being no weapon handy, not even piece of
woody and held him off at arms length, and it is
supposed was about 10 pull his nose, when lac es-
pied Peck's lady looking out of the chamber win
dow, apparently much frightened; and knowing
that she was in a situation tina, serious flight
might prove dangerous, he clasped his arms
around the "paymint," and said all he wanted
was guarantee that Peck would not attack him
unarmed ccain, and said that any one of the by
ISLANDERS might have him if they would take him
up to his wife. But, no one appearing, he
very good humoredly commenced teasing him,
and told him about the vast improvement which
4 l. l.; hal L,,,,
to the South-asked him how he liked his new
otlce--what were his chances for promotion
and who managed the affairs of State in his alb
sence from Springfield. he asked Furthermore,
whom he was going to make Speaker of the House
whom Judge--whom u. s. Senator, and last of
all, what he thought of "Long Johns Life of e.
ladies of the house began to come down stairs,
and the Col. begged some one to hand Peck to
them for safe keeping. Peck then asked the Col.
to let him so, which he agreed to do on condition
that some of his friends would pledge themselves
that he would not attack him again unawares.
Peck faithfully promised to get into his carriage
and leave, which some of the by-standers guaran-
teed he should do forthwith. Accordingly he was
released by the Col. and he departed Immediately
for the residence Of his father-in-aw, one and
half miles distant; and, up to o'clock on Satur-
day, nothing had been heard of the " midnight
clerk" except that he was at the residence of his
cursing the old mans Children for
suffering the Col. to remain in their tavern
swearing that there is no honesty in the Illinois
politicians, and that he intended to emigratc to
Missouri
From information I received before Peck's ar
rival at Bclvidero, infer that the object Of his
visit to the North, was to obtain subscribers to the