The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-06-20
DepIorablc Catastrophe at 81. Louis.


all the facts OF the case and shall now briefly pre-
sent them cur readers, as reciied to Us, by those
most ayoraby situated 10 obtain The truth, entirely
irrespective Of the numberless rumors-each more
or less vain and preposterous-w hich are IN ciTcu-
la ION throughout The city.
This morning, between the hours Of eight and
nine, EDWARD FORD, a shoemaker by trade wno mas
his shop Fourth street, opposite the Court House,
accompanied by one OF his workmen, named Rich
ard Welsh, called at the Auction Room OF Messrs;
Peek ~ Low, at the northwest corner OF Main and
Walnu' streets, and interview with MIR. Iow,
whom they met, was requested by Mr.. Ford. i ne
reques, gran d, and the three persons repaired
together TO tn flee OF lr Myers, few nds dis
tant on Walnut street al which place Mr. Low
had lodgings
On reaching the Office the door was found lock-
ed. Mr.. Low returned alone TO his Auction oom,
aud shortly came back with a key, with which the
door was opened, when the paIties entt red The
front room, and the door was again closed: Mr..
Low then seated himself on Il chair, Mr. Ford sat
upon a trunk, AID Mr.. Welsh renamed standing
In the room TO the right was bed, bureau, MR.
ror, Nc screened by "A curtain the l. II, WIN
| dow looking into yard-in the rear, door lead
Ing into back passage, aud IN lont the sr.et-en-
trance and window, both opening On Walnut 81.
The parties being thus situated, Mr.. Ford adj
| dressed himself to Mr.; Low-saed that his daush-
ter encelnte-had been so tor some months
that Low was the tather-that he had sent her 10
New Orleans that he had eit her at Ste Gene
We've last Monday morning from on board the
"Echpse;' and that, yesterday, he had returned TO
this city on the "Naiional" without her.
lie then asked Mr. Low what. under these cir
cun stances, he proposed doIng-Dld lie design
marrying his daughter! The reply considered
| unsatisfactory, and was somew hat to the effect,
that he did not regard the matter as any business
| Of Ford's, and that II he had come with purpose
to make II so, ne had better retire. From this,
high words are said to have ensued. Welsh, " ho
is The sole witness of the interview, told us that he
srove TO pacliy the parties, but unsuccessiuy; and
as he was turning his head aside TO go cut, pistol
was fired by Ford. The ball struck Mr. Low, who
was still seated, and near the back window, In the
centre of the forehead somewhat obliquely, and he
pocket weapon, some q or inches in length, with
| a slugged bore-the barrel connected to the handle
by screw and carrying ball OF peIhaps.an ounce
weight, The weapon was as drawn by Mr., Ford,
discharged at a distance OF some or ieet his
| event iranspired about half past eight o'clock.
and street into The room and surgical ali
was Immediately summoned Ford at once surrendered
paired to the Recorders office where they them
| selves 10 Mr.. Prddy the City Marshal by hr they
were taken by order Of the Recorder 10 the once OF JUS
ce Wetmore for examination. AT about ii o'clock, we
the parties with their legal counsel Mr. Benneihas
sett at Major Wemores office and there scts
which we have above stated The examination oil ford
postponed until this afternoon at O'Clock and we
suppose will depend somewhat upon the situation oil
| Mr. Low, at that time, whether II is then held.
Neither Ford his friend Welsh seemed to betrsy
much agitation, and the former was considered by the By,
| ISLANDERS as remai kably calm and collected.
Prior to visiting the office OF the Justice we passed an
hour the Walnut street. where the assault
made, and where was the wounded man. The spectacle
" as a sad one The victim, young of some %
80 years, and who told has been considered more
sitting Cd rocking chair with his head hending forward
| and supported by friend From irghtiui wound in
the forehead icklng dark current which fell in
cot,ed drops to the hosr already covered with gore
and from time 10 time it was mingled with fragments OF
BRAIN which, with movement oil the patent gushed
from the perforated skull.
The wound is regarded by surgeons one Of the very
worst descI pton; and il is considered remaIk able that 1t
did death But the patient seemed
tain not only his but full consciousness oil biz sit,
ua,ron and even stated Of the assault and by
whom made when ard first reached i'm The pulse
was iang rapidly when we lett ard was indeed scarce
which evnced viewed as precursor TO speedy
dss ou,ion although, should reaction IRON inflammation
take place thought the patent might nger some
hours OF possibly until tomorrow.
For statement OF the extent and chor acer OF The wound
we arc indebted to medical friend, Who, together with
Drs Merrick Phillips Chase and others. WIS in al
tendance. The ball penetrated the skull about
ha inch the rgh OF the dian ne and about two
inches above the brow, causing decorated wound III
the ntegumens, OF three quarters OF an inch In lrngh
and half an inch wide. AS could be ascertain
ed after passing through both plates OF the cranumcsr
ing before piece OF the hat well portion Of
the bene halt inch wide BY OF an inch oig
tue bail passed directly backwards breaking down the
whole OF the upper portion OF the right hemf pierre OF the
brain. A probe introduced eight oi,nine inches
through the entire substance OF the BRAN until reached
he back part OF the skull portion of the ball. with
evetai speculm OF bone were removed IRON the wound
rabe quantity oil the subssice OF the BRAIN also,
came o the opening Thus, from the nature and
tent OF the wound, it is evident that in all human moba
bity, it must prove fatal.
Win respect which have ID to this mel
ancholy event, they are variousy stated One report
deeply eliminates Mr. Low, NhIe bbOtncr
Eliminates MIR Ford and his daughter Before, however,
pioceeding detail these, will briefly remark that
The female question three four yea ago. The
Miss Ford married vidual OF the OF Hazard
that time bookkeeper mercantile house the
Lcyee. This connection proved most unfortunate to
Mis- f. and NAV be dated as III. inc ption OF The dreadful
ms fortunes which have attended her, and which
have resulted in the present dcpionbe chasii ophe -
Hazard remained with his wife scarcely three weeks
nav ing in the interim committed forgery He succeeded
making his escape from this city, but was subst quen
y arrested in another part OF the country Tor bgsmy
.iioi-convicted and in the peDitentary such
are told by responsible persons the facts
ted with hlary Fords early career and which deem
accessory now late they bear directly upon
| what follows
We are informed that being thus deserted by her hus.
band Mrs H. returned her fathers house where she
assumed maiden name, and superinended his domes
tic affairs tina, was frequently beaten by her father
and that situation OF most unhappy description.