Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1873-08-07
, THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 1878.
THE STAMFORD INCENDiARY,
Young Peabody, the Min listers Sos
Again at tho Work of Destruction
Another C1A pier o. u sud Story.

I Young Peabody, the Minister'S Son,
Again at tho work Of Dc.tructton-
Hartford, Conn. (July 2s). Correspondence Of tho
Boston Journal.
Some weeks since sad affair &C.
Cured in the country village of North
Stamford, which resulted in the death
OF the aged pastor of the Congregations
al Church, the arrest of his son for
iIcendiarism, and the ruin of the peace
of family. The Rev. Mr.. Peabody
had been the pastor of the church for
several years, and was universally es.
teemed as q good man and faithful
minister. His advancing years, how
ever, and the approach of that period
when his faculties would begin to grow
dull, led his Practitioners think of
dismissing the old gentleman, and sup
planting him with younger and ADLER
man. This fact worked sadly upon the
feelings of Mr.. Peabody. who had a
family, and saw no means OF providing
for them if he should lose his parish in
North Stamford. His son, Charles j.
Peabody, lad Of about '16 years, ap-
pears to have been deeply affected by
the family trouble, and filed with q
spirit of revenge.
One night in June the church wa
discovered to be on fire and was totally
destroyed. Circumstances pointing to
young Peabody as the incepdiary, the
strongest of which was the production
OF several anonymous letters, some in
Latin and Others in English, worded in
the ku-klux style, and threatening all
-
neighbors. The handwriting was
shown to be like that of young Pea
body's, and he was also the only youth
in town who could write the Latin
language. He was tried and bound
over, a friend giving bonds. The ut-
most sympathy was expressed for the
unfortunate youth and his family.
Shortly after it was reported that
young Peabody had developed signs of
insanity, aud he was sent to friends in
Topsfield, Mass. His father, the min
lister, died under his accumulated
troubles, and the ruin of q once happy
family seemed complete. But there is
another startling chapter to the story.
On Wednesday evening last, Peabody
reached Stamford by the 10 o'clock
train, having escaped fromaTopsfield.
He had come seeking revenge. First,
he fired the outbuiidings of Deacon
w. w. Davenport. They were all de-
stroyed, with all the entire crop of hay
OF this season and other valuable prop
erty. Next, the barn of Alvan Weed,
. mile distant from the first fire, was
found ablaze, and was also completely
destroyed. Mr.. Weed noticed boy
in the BARNARD trying to escape, and,
securing him, he recognized Charles
Peabody. The boy was the centre of
attention, and some hard words were
used, but no violence was done to him.
He was bound, and the next morning
lodged in Jail. He had his preliminary
trial Thursday, on the charge of arson,
and was recommitted to jail, no one
giving bonds.
The following paper was found on
his person:
lily fathers death avenged
BY his son.
His vile murderers Ruinedi
Another "sad story" for the Advocate, with
no "1ndian stones" in it or 'Rakcs."
I've come to North Stamford at last, and
leave my best respects to that interesting peo.
pie, hoping to have their ioD aud respect, and
also hoping that they may think more Of me
than ever before! Yours with respect,
G. H. ]. PEABODY.
Another paper found upon Peabody
WAS letter from his mother, full of
the warmest affection, protesting her
belief in his innocence of guilt in the
first case of incendiarism, and entreat-
ing him to look to Heaven for consola
ton.
1t is apparent the youth is insane,
and even if found guilty by the Supe-
rior Court, he will he sent to an asylum
rather than prison.