Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1873-05-09
7.
A RIIlDEs: RDDVs,S TAKING 4sGE.

was burned by an lncendiary. .
From the Press. Ma% |.
A BIsIDEs: TAKING DEE.
A Young Gentleman in HhiI.des.
phia Shoots Himself Through the
Heart on his Wedding Day.
Our city was shocked yesterday by
the report that well-known citizen
had suddenly ended his existence by
shooting himself through the heart
with Il Smith 4 WessOn revolver. The
suicide was Richard Dale Petit, a son
of the late Hon. William NJ Petit, and
nephewof Richard Petit, ESQ. naval
paymaster for this station The sad
affair took place at 21S South Eighth
street, where the deceased had been
boarding for some wears
The unfortunate man was in compa-
ny with friends until nearly L O'Clock
on Tuesday night. and appeared to be
i'll tl;c best Of spirits He spoke of his
excellent prospects for the future, and
alluded cxlltingly to his approaching
MARRIAGE
with Miss Rebccca Staley, :. most es-
Unable lady, daughter of the late
Andrew Staley, the well-known brewer,
and il niece of the late DIR. Robert
Caldaleugh, wealthy physician, who
resided for many years on Chestnut
street, below Fifteenth. DIR. Calda-
leugh died some months since, and by
his will left quite a large fortune to
Miss Sta1ey. It seems that Mr.. Petit
had been engaged to be married to
Miss Staley for the past thirteen years,
the delay having been caused by a de-
sire on the part of the lady to wait I'M
til both could secure fortunes sufficient
when joined to insure competence,
ease, and enjoyment for the rest of
their natural lives. This bright and
hopeful picture was utterly obliterated
yesterday morning by the terrible act
OF which we have spoken. The nIp-
tails were to have been cele-
brated at noon in st. Mark 8
Episcopal Church, on Locust street,
above Sixteenth. The announcement
was made some time since to the rela-
tives and immediate friends on both
sides, and extensive preparations had
been going on to make the ceremonies
as imposing as possible. Bridesmaids
and grOOmsmen We're selected ; dress
makers of extreme taste engaged tolend
their aid to the occasion joyous were
the hearts of all who were to partici-
pate in the festivities, and the success
of every undertaking toward the con-
summation of the long looked for
event assured those interested that
their hopes would be realized to the
fullest extent
THE WEDDING.
The wedding at St Marks Church
was the theme of gossip among those
who make up its audiences at such
times, and after breakfast this morn
ing many maiden as we'll as matron
repaired to her chamber to prepare her
toilet, not expecting so soon to receive
the startling intelligence that the hand
some bridegroom had put an end to
his own life. The news was broken to
the bride in delicate manner, from
whom there was no response, but a
look OF woe not bearing description.
She retired at once to her chamber,
where she remains shut in with her
own grief. What makes this affair ad-
ditionally sad is that the bride and
groom had laid out a plan for a we'd
ding tour to Europe, and had engaged
New York and Liverpool
It appears that the deceased retired
about midnight, and nothing was heard
of him again until 7 o'clock yesterday
morning, when the household was
startled by the report of pistol shot.
A boarder, Mr.. Thomas Hal, proceeded
to Mr. Pettit's chamber, and there
found his lifeless corpse stretched
r.
people of the house and physicians
were called in, but all efforts to per
ceive the slightest sign of life We're
Intellectual. It was found that the ball
had entered the heart and had caused
instant death There were 40 signs Of
any reconciliation in the act. The
deceased was only partly dressed, and
had taken the pistol from a bureau
drawer while apparently arranging his
toilet. 1t seems to have been an act
committed on the spur Of the moment,
without previous intent. Those who
were with him on Tuesday night state
that he drank only ale and beer, and
was mostly engaged ill conversation
touching his projected
WEDDING TOUR TO EJ-RO1'T,
speaking of his forthcoming wedding
with all Of that enthusiasm which
usually claracterizes a person on tue
eve of Il happy matrimonial alliance
Several persons presented him with
letters OF introduction to prominent
personages III London and other cities,
all of which he took thankfully and
promised to use.
The deceased was an impulsive man,
I-inI1ry l,iC liCpncifIn,, Io
about thirtv-six years of age. of Angli-
can mould III form and features, and
was not engaged III any business at the
time Of his death. He had studied the
profession Of medicine some years
since, but had never practiced the
healing art.
Some of the deceased gentleman S
friends ascribe the rash act TO insanity,
Il theory which is borne out by the fact
that he had stated to several parties
that he was going to Vienna as a cor
respondent Of the Press and Ledger.
The Western papers have started a
strange report that the Indians have
been for some time expecting a Moses
to arise among their race and redeem
the people from bondage. This belief,
substantially the same as officially sta
ted above, has led the Indians i'll that
belt OF country situated east OF the
Cascade and west of the Rocky Noun
tains, to longingly look for the coming
of their deliverer, and to hail all unu-
sual occurrences as indications Of his
speedy advent. No chief knows but
that he may prove to be the chosen
one, and Captain Jack in his success
will be greeted as such by great mum.
bers of braves.
Arthur Arnold, Chicago boy, has
been at work all winter in building a
sail-boat, but in launching her, the
other day, he happened to get drowned
which circumstance will somewhat
detract from his summers enjoyments
of aquatic sports.
A young man in Cleveland, o., who
advertised for lady correspondents, was
answered by some of his companions
and, when the interview was granted