The Cairo daily bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1870-1872, 1871-04-26
LUST, MURDER AND PsLF.
Revolving Crime in ~. Ciair County,
Illinois.
BRIDE OF TWO MONTHS BRU-
TALLY BUTCnERED.
Particulars or the Tragedy-An I'm.
known vagabOnd the Murderer
An Inrsged Populace Scour-
Ing the Country, etc.

From the ~. Louis Republican, 2ithl
A revolving crime, tho bare recital OF
the facts OF which is enough TO make the
blood run cold, was perpetrated in St
Clair county, Ills, on Saturday evening,
and has incensed the people Of the locality
to degree rarely known.
THE TRAGEDY.
The tragedy was committed at the farm
house Of Christian Peter, six miles SOUTH
west of Belleville, and the victim was Mrs.
Mary Peter, wife of Mr.. Peter, and daugh-
ter Of Mr.. John Keek, an aged and high
y respected citizen of the county.
Between three and four o'clock on Sat-
urday afternoon Mr.. Peter left his house
TO go to the house Of his father-in-iaw for
IA wagon.load Of corn, and it was during
his absence that the terrible affair oc-
Cured. Subsequent revelations show that
not long after his departure a stranger
arrived at the house, and seeing no one
but defenceless woman present, pro-
ferred insults which rather than submit to
the lady chose the less bitter alternative
Of death. The hesrtless intruder COM
menced violent assault on Mrs. Peter,
which she resisted with all her strength.
How desperate the struggle was, was suf-
fcieatly evident by the wounds she re-
ceived, and the slaughter appear
ance OF the room. Though, at the end of
the struggle, the victim of the attempted
outrage lay lifeless, the villain was dis
comfited in his base purpose.
Before retiring from the scene of his
atrocity, he sought to add crowning fea-
ture by piIlaging the house of articles
which he could carry away without incom-
moding himself.
DISCOVERY OF THE MURDER.
Mr.. Peter returned shortly before sun
down. and was taken by surprise by miss
ing his customary greeting on approaching
his home. A loud crack Of the whip failed
to call his wife TO the door, and leaving
his wagon he raised tho latch, rather per-
picked about the silence His wife lay as
she was left-with her throat cut in three
places, the iugular vein severed, her face
hacked and bruised, hair torn in handfuls
from her head, and her clothing rent.
Blood stained the wall and furniture, and
had tricSled into pools.
Mr.. Peter, shocked scarcely as man had
even been before, raised the alarm and
astounded his neighbors by the intelligence
of the crime.
PURSUIT.
deavor to capture the murderer, and the
country was secured in all directions, un-
, til darkness stopped further search. The
good work was continued yesterday.
THE MURDERER.
The following is a description Of the
man believed to have committed the mur.
der:
Height 5feet inches or feet inches,
thin face, sharp nose, heavy set man,
broad shoulders, hair cut short, dark COM
plexion and dark eyes, large nostrils,
beard Of about three weeks growth; age
about so years. His dress consisted of u
slouched black wool hat, low crown with
brim about four inches wide, with black,
faded ribbon; wore reddish coll
ored jeans jacket, with pantaloons Of same
material, tho latter considerably worse
from wear brogan shoes with double
sole, with the right shoe torn Mt the toe.
He stole from the house dark brown
beaver cloth frock coat, pair of black and
steel mixed pantaloons and a vest of the
same material. This suit belonged to Mr..
Peter and the murderer may have attired
himself in il for the purpose of avoiding
detection
The man suspected was in the town Of
NcutcrN W uDbut a " GlOCh OH GutuTuaN
afternoon, and while there stepped into a
store and asked for few matches. The
proprietor showed him where to find
them, and noticed that he placed them in
his pocket, and Immediately walked out
of the store. At later hour, five and six
o'clock, the same man was again observed
lettering about the farm where the mur-
der was committed. A match was found
laying on the floor, and it 10 surmised that
1t fell from the mans pocket while he was
in .he act Of numbering Mrs. Peter. The
match corresponded exactly with those
given the man at Centeryille, and was
different in shape from those used at the
farm house.
The man described was "a stranger in
the locality, and had been seen in the
.nsigborhood during the day. 1t was as.
certained that he had inquired at differ
erent farm-houses for work. 1t Is also
stated that he had been observed by somo
ofthe nearest neighbors of deceased loiter-
ing about the premises during the after
noon, and that he had been seen running
from the house in northeastern direction,
carrying q bundle in his arms. 1t Is
stated that he was at Ogles station yester-
day, stopped at house and begged for
something to cat.
The murderer stole in addition to the
clothing mentioned; Two anger-rings,