The New York herald., 1872-11-21
A Wealthy Merchant Murdered and
Robbed Of About $4,000.
DISAPPEARING INTO DARKNESS.
From Louisville 10 New York
and Thence TO Death.
Horror in the Hotels-Complete Description Of
tho Man and the Money and valuables He
Carried About Him Probing the Mys-
tery-Another Tragedy Thrown Upon
the Hands Of the Police to Unravel.

tho Hands Of the Police to Unravel.
At halrpast two O'Clock on Thursday morning,
the 14th instant Mr.. George N. Peoy, merchant
OF Louisville, KY, disappeared at the street
door Of the Brandreth House, on the corner OF
Canal street and Broadway, and has not since been
seen or heard Of Mr.. Peoy had been for number
OF years engaged In the insurance business but
finding some time ago that 1t did not offer sufli-
cient scope for his talents and desires he
wished to get out OF it. He accordingly
communicated to his partner this desire to adopt
some other line of commerce, and an arrangement
was entered into by which Mr.. Peoy was to be re-
licved Of the interest he held in the insurance
business at once. These matters were settled
about month ago, and Mr.. Peoy had already de-
cided upon the line OF business he would next
adopt The time intervening between the giving
up OF the old trade and the taking up OF the new
one Mr.. Peoy desired to spend in New York. Some
friends OF his In this city, hearing OF his
intended visit, requested Mr. Peoy to settle up the
AFFAIRS OF house IN Louisville that has just be.
come bankrupt and transmit to them what he
could recover from the wreck. He delayed to at
tend to these matters and, having satisfactorily
despatched the business, started for New York.
| He left Louisville three weeks ago last Sat
urday and came directly to this city Nothing
unusual occurred on the passage as far
as can be ascertaned, nor did Mr.. Peoy
| make any acquaintance on the way that after
wards troubled him. Upon arriving at New York
he put up at the Brandreth House, because he hap
pened to know the night clerk, Mr.. Martin. He re-
mained there only few days and went to the ST.
Nicholas. STILL though living at the latter hotel he
spent good deal OF time, especially in
the evening, at the Brandreth House. His
liking for MI. Martin appeared to be
the cause for this and no one who
knew him seemed to think anything oft. During
each day Mr. PeOy went about his business like
MOST OF THE OTHER GUESTS
OF the hotel, returning each evening to supper and
then frequently going to the Brandreth House TO
spend the evening. He was remarked by the peo-
pie Of the hotel to be quiet, easy-going gentle
man, with simple tastes and very refined culti-
vated manners He was well known by many
Of the most prominent merchants In the city,
and some Of them called upon him during his stay
at the st. Nicholas. On Wednesday evening, the
18th inst, Mr.. PeOy left the st. Nicholas to 20
down TO the Brandreth House, as usual. He got to
the latter hotel somewhere about ten O'Clock, and
remained there until about halfpast two O'Clock on
Thursday morning. He played billiards. the most of
that time with Mr. Martin, the night clerk, and with
. Mr.. Lumley, to whom the night clerk introduced
him. Mr.. Lumley Is an old and highly respectable
merchant, and has lived a. the Brandreth House
for number OF years Between half-past ten
on Thursday morning Mr.. peoy took three drinks.
He was perfectly sober when he left the
to the street door and bid him good night iilt
as he walked away. Mr.. Martin closed the
door and saw no more Of him. Mr.. Peoy is known
thousand dollars, which he had drawn the day be-
lore from the Nassau and National Bank or Brook
cent pearls valued at $500. He carried in his waist.
coat pocket an od-fashloned gold watch with q
white dial that his grandfather had given him. This
nj mn Eo-
ened to heavy old-fashioned silver chain, also a
relic in the family. The money Mr.. Peoy drew from
the bank was given to him in
ONE-THOUsAND-DOLLAR BILL,
four ive-hundred-dollar bills, four One-hundred-
dollar bills S and 3D. six aftydollar bills 1t Is very
than this about him. but this is all his friends know
positively about just at present. He lett Louis
ss money sSe scs shs ss arrival paa ia
New York, and as he had no debts to
and Z has mot banked Of the the CON
common occurrence, however, for Mr.. Peoy has
frequently carried as much as twenty and thirty
hotel on Wednesday night, or even Thursday,
caused no alarm In the minds OF the people OF the
residence Of some friend perhaps out Of town for
o day or two Guests at hotels frequently
do these things without consulting the officials
and nothing was thought of the gentleman's
disappearance. MrVan Ingen, however, merchant
doing business on Broadway nearly opposite the
st. Nicholas, became alarmed at the absence OF Mr.
Peoy, and teegraphcd to Louisville for his brother,
who Is justice OF the peace OF that city it then
dawncd upon the minds OF the hotel people that
they had better bestlr themselves, and they in
structed Detective Kelley, who is detailed from the
detective Office at the house, to look after
to the Brandreth House to make inquiries. He was
told there that Mr.. Peoy had left the place at half
pass TO Sor Mn was snce
been seen BY any one belonging to the hotel: From
there Detective Keeley went to Bellevue Hospital
and examined that institution, in the hope Mr..
PeOy might have been carried there. II any acci-
dent had occurred to him in the street he would
undoubtedly have been sent there but, as Warden
Brennan had heard nothing OF the gentleman, ne
did not suffer any accident in the street. The
hour. too, at which he left the Brandreth House
was not one at which a man was likely to be
KNOCKED DOWN IN THE STREET
by q car or coach From Bellevue Hospital the
detective went 70 ST Luke's and from there to all
people hurt by accidents In the street are taken,
but no trace could be found Of Mr.. Peoy. The
Morgue was examined and has been watched
every day since the disappearance, but nothing
IKE the body OF the missing gentleman has turned
- y aoessn d al the re
purpose. The assistance OF several OF the other
detectives from Police Headquarters was called in
and they have been working assduOusly In the
case but up to a late hour last night the answer
WAS
mo intelligence yet"
Mr.. Justice Peoy Of Louisville, KY, is now at the
st. Nicholas Hotel. He came on here in answer 10
the telegram, and he says
IL came on here to find my brothers. body, quick
or dead and shall not go back without it."
The missing man was always known to be very
quiet and steady. His brother says ne never saw
him drunk In HIS life, and he doubts very much If
any one else ever did, He has always been happy
in his domestic relations, and nothing his occurred
that could In any way disturb that happiness. Mr..
George Peoy was singularly devoted to his vile
and children, and 1t was his invari-
able rule when the business OF the day was
over to 60 directly to his home, which he was never
known to leave OF an evening unless TO 60 with his
family to the house OF friend. He was worth be-
tween nifty and sixty thousand dollars, and had
large expectations from his uncle Mr.. james
Speed, who was Attorney General under the ad-
ministratiOn OF President Lincoln. Mrs. Pe0y is
also wealthy In her own right, and from all these
circumstances 1t Is clear Mr.. Peoy could have no
motive for either running away or doing away with
himeelf There Ia hut one theory of the disapDear-