The Republican journal., 1873-05-15
A Melancholy Suicide.

| At hait-past 7 o'clock this morning g
| startling calamity occurred at No. PAS
| South Eighth street. which terminated the
| lite OF an excellent and much esteemed
gentleman, and struck terror to the heart
of one dearer to him than that lite whose
mortal spark had been so suddenly eX-
tinguished. At the hour mentioned, Rich
ard d. Pettitt, in the privacy OF his bed
chamber, shot himself in the breast, the
ball piercing his heart, and killing in
+tantly. The head of the house is an
elderly gentleman, surrounded by a family
consisting oI his wife and two estmahle
daughters, while the suicide dwelt there
Is 4 friend, and was loved for his ami
ability Of temper and kindness of heart
A MIR. Hall, who was within the house
lhjs morning at the time of the sad oc-
culrcncc, heard the report of a pistol
which came from room on the upper
floor. Alarmed at this he ran up stairs,
and as If by intuition, proceeded at once
to the bedroom of Mr. Pettitt. which vas
located on the third floor, and attempted
10 push open the door He discovered
thai something way lying up against it.
barring !, passage, and MS alarm increas-
ing, lIc pushed with all his force. and be-
hold, to his horror, when the door was
opened, there lay the body OF the occupant
of the room at tuli length upon the floor
every spark OF life extinct The shock
was 50 great upon Mr.. Halls nerves that
Tor the moment he could neither move
nnr utter a sound, but as soon as he be-
cam" rec0ncilcd to the terrible truth he
rushed down stairs and at once broke the
dreadful intelligence to the household
that death was in their midst
A MATRIMONIAL ALLIANCE.
One cannot realize the CONSERVATION
thHt was the result upon the breaking of
this inf1rmction, coming so suddenly and
at n time when all hearts were centered
upon Mr.. Pettitt, who this very day was
to enter into Il matrimonial alliance For
the past ton years he has been engaged to
q Miss Rebecca StaIey, an estimablc and
accomplished lady Of this city, living in
atlluence on one OF our principal thorough
fares. The Stalevs are one of the first
families OF England she who suffers most
bythis unexpected calamity being a cousin
to the English Bishop Stalev, late of
Honolulu 1t is said that the reason for
this long engagement was a desire on the
part Of Mr.. Pcttitt and his fiancee to ac-
cumul1to sufficient means before marriage
90 insure them a life of ease and comfort.
The couple did not see their wav clearly
until Il short time AGO, when the Stalevs
came into a fortune Of no meagre sum.
Il will bc remembered thai not a long
imc ago DR.. Robert Caldcleugh, who
resided atthe southeast corner OF Fifteenth
and Chestnut streets, died, leaving all
his estate, real and personal, to Mrs Re-
becca Stalcy and her daughters, number
ing three, among whom is the lady above
referred to. Upon their arriving at the
age OF p they were to become possessed
each OF handsome property. This sud
den good fortune was the means of clos
lng this long matrimonial engagement,
and to-day was fixed for the wedding,
the nuptials to take place at noon in St.
| Mark Church.
PREPARATIONS FOR THE WEDDING.
The announcement was made some
time since to the relatives and immediate
friends on both sides, and extensive
preparations had been going on to make
the ceremonies as imposing as possible.
Bridesmaids and groomsmen were select
ed; dressmakers of the most fastidio GUS
taste were engaged to lend their aid to
the occasion; joyous were the hearts of
all who were to participate in the fes-
tlvities, and the success of every under.
| taking towards the consummation of the
! long-loooked-tor event assured those inter.
ested that their hopes would be realized tc
the fullest extent. The wedding at St
Marks Church was the theme of GOSSIP
among those who make up its audiences al
such times, and, after breakfast this morn
ing, many maiden as well as matrou re.
| pared to her chamber to prepare hel
toilet, not expecting so soon to receive
the startling intelligence that the hand
some bridegroom had put an end to his
own lie. The news was broken to Miss
Staley in delicate manner, from whom
there was no response, but look of woe
not bearing n description. She retired a
once to her chamber, where she remain.
shut in with her own grief What makes
This affair additionally sad is that the bride
and groom had laid out plans for wed
ding tour to Europe, and had engaged
passage in a vessel plying between New
York and Liverpool
THE DECEASED
shot himself with q small Smith & Wessol
revolver, which he kept in q bureau
drawer, inflicting u wound scarcely pre-
ceptible, and although no positive reasol
can be assigned for this strange conduc
on his part, yet some of his intimat
trends are of the opinion that for lon
time he has been demented. He was i
a Joyous mood last evening at the tea
table, and spoke pleasantly Of the chang
which was to take place in his lite on tR
morrow. After sitting for about an hou
; he went out, and returned about y O'Clock
retiring at once to his chamber. All {
yesterday he remained out of the presenc
of Miss Staley, tact which adds to ths
, lady's sufferings. The deceased was
son of the late Judge Pettitt, of this city
and nephew of the present United STATE
: Naval Paymastcr OF this city, Richar
, Pettitt, Esq. He was y man of mediu
1 stature, wore q trimmed beard, and W,
about 36 years of age. He was at tt
time of his death engaged in no busines
but living principally on his means. TT
coroner was notified this morning, ar
l will hold an inquest, no doubt, at Il
r earliest moment.