The sun., 1873-07-28
NORTH STAMF0RD'S FIRES.
THE MADNESS OF 4 SOW AND THE
DEATH or A FATHER.


A Pastors Removal Followed by the Burn-
lug Of the Church Edihee-Tke Ciergvmap's
sons Diseased Imsgination.
Correspondence OF The sun.
NORTH STANFORD, Conn, July 26.-Some
weeks ago THE SUS published an account of the
burning OF a Congregational Church In North
Stamford, and an interesting story Of the atten-
dant circumstances. The building was fired by
a son Of the Rev. Josiah Peabody, who had just
severed his connection with the church as pas
tor. and accepted a call from a church in New
Canaan. Although nothing was alleged against
the reverend gentleman, and the parting seems
To have been a friendly one, his son. Charles J.
Peabody, a boy about fourteen years old, seems
To have thought that his father was injured
and took. .ths means OF revenging the fancied
wrongs.
The circumstances leading to his detection
are briefly IA follows lie was the first person on
the ground after the alarm raised and was
carefully dressed, while every one else was mp
pare tly hastily or incompletcly dressed. After
the fire
ANoSYMoUs LETTERS
purpurting to bo from "Hibernia Club" and
from various Catholics, were found on the
street. threatening further mischief
After some time young Peabody was seen TO
drop letter. which was similar IN purport and
handwriting to those which had been found.
All this was considered sufficient ground for
m wa @d bsd T in ,BS bn @r Merritt G
stamford becoming his surety. The friends of the
boy had him taken to the Middletown Asylum
for the Insane. soon afterward he was taken
to his uncle's house In Massachusetts. In the
meantime the Rev. Mr.. Pc body had sickened
and died, II Is thought. OF grief.
Early this week Mr.. Davenport OF this place.
who had interested himself In the legal pro-
him, In which he said that he should soon
turn ITO
AvEsGE MS FATHERS DEATH"
No notice was taken Of this letter, and few
knew OF Its existence until after the execution
of the threat, IA II was looked upon as idle
vaporing. hut ON Wednesday Young Peabody
escaped from his uncles house and took tho
train Tor stamford, arriving there at 10 o'clock
In the evening. He was not seen after the arri-
val of the train until his arrest, and In the mean
time had funlled his threats of vengeance by a
wholesale destruction Of the property of his
supposed enemies. walking from Stamford To
North stamford, about seven miles, he set
Ere to Deacon Davenports barns and cattle
sheds. Mr.. Davenport, having been aroused 10y
the light of the Ore, hastily summoned assist
perty Of various kinds was saved, but four times
that amount was destroyed, on which there WAS
an insurance Of sl.SN by hard work the dwell
ing house was saved soon after this nre was
discovered, Mr.. william u. Weeds barn was
found {" be IN flames, and In spite of all that
could be done IL was destroyed with its entire
contents. While
THE sTcoNp FIRE
was burning. Mr. Alvin weed, who lives about
mile from Davenport was starting for the scene
oi The bre. he saw stealing INTO bis BARNARD
boy, who, being promptly rollarcd, proved u he
/ Charles Peabody. He was ttAen to the village
and arTalgned before Justice Adams on the
following morning On second charge " arson
Ou the Auy's person were found the following
document and quantity Of matches:
Revenge
Ny fathers death avenged
l, bis son.
His vile uurdercrs Ruined!
Another sat story " fIr the AffD.d's with In
dian stlLcs " ~ 10 " ltIAr.."
I've come TO Nurtn stamford a. last and best
re,pecs to that inter- sh pcope honug 10 have thtiT
love snu respect aud asO that tcy may hihA more Of
than ptfure,
l,ufs ~ith rerpect, {. II J. PFAHopN.
A letter from his terribly afflicted mother WIS
also found ia ms pocket This, written at the
time of his hrst trial expresses a nrm belief IN
her sons Innocence.
lie was held Tor trial. and after being taken
back t. his cell attempted suicide by inhaiIg
the Aaine from the gas burner. lie was. how
ever detected and prevented from accomplish
] ing this and has been closely watched ever
since. The justice having rcfused 20 admit him
To hail he was sent to the bridgeport JAN to
await his trial. II Is generally thought that his
insanity will he proved on the trial. and that lie
wll be consigned to the Asylum for the Insane.