The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1884-01-23
FEAR CAUSED THE ACT.
CASHIER PECK ATTEMPTS SUICIDE.
Threats OF tho Defrauded Depositors In the
Patchogue u" H. Bank Drives tho
Guilty hank Onioer 10 u Despsr-
ate Efort for Relief
A REMARK ABLE CASE.


New YoRK, Jan. 2g,-ThN excitement
which followed the failureOf the Patchoguo
aud Suffolk County Bank on Friday last
has not abated In the least II was still al
fever heat Monday morning, aud II was
further Increased IN tho afternoon when
Peck, the cashier, made a desperate effort
TO end hls troubles by suicide, Slill later II
was given IN Impetus by tho discovery Of q
large deposit In New York bank,
10 the personal credit OF Peck, and later
still II was given another boom by the TO
port that $4,000 had been found hidden
away under tho carpet In PeCk's house.
Nearly everybody In PatohOguo lost by the
failure. The admitted fact that the money
had been lost by speculation made the peo-
pie feel that they had been deliberately
robbed, and talk OF violence has boon NJ
general that the committee appointed on
Saturday 10 take charge Of the bank kept q
guard AT Peck'a house ever since.
Monday morning Peck, accompanied by
his physician, DR. j. j. Craven, went 10 his
office In the bank building, lilo was pale
and nervous, and looked like man we'll
worn out with anxiety and mental torture.
A fow OF tho depoalt0ra had already gath.
cred about the place aud among thom was
John lt0e Smith, the tax collector who lost
nearly $4,000 Of the town money by the
failure. Tho unhappy cashier had hardly
entered the otice and dropped limp aud a.
most helpless Into a chair when Smith flow
NJ him and grabbed him by tho throat.
Look mo In the face, d---n YOU" ho
shouted. "lOOk me In the face llke man,
aud tell mo what you did with my money"
Peck rose, and, In abIGct terror, begged
Smith not 10 lnluro him, LOOK NJ me-"
said Smith, like q man, not like tho
coward that you are" Friends OF Smith
here nterpOsod, and, pushing Peck through
the Iron door of tho bank, had II boltcd on
the inside, thus preventing further moleSta-
ton for tho time
Tho crowd ON the outside OF tho bank
heard tho yolla OF Smith, and all NJ once
they became excited and q desperate move
WIS made toward entering the bank. Sow.
oral crlod out that nothing but Peck's hearts
blood would satisfy them, but tho bank was
secure against them. Peck fell from his
chair In tho bank, and only by tho most
persistent endoayors was ho resugcltatcd.
The Investigation Into tho banks affairs
closed NJ two o'clock, when Peck slipped
out tho back door and Joined DR., Craven In
u carriage, Hastily driving TO hls home Peck
ran Into the house and locked tho door bo.
hind him, leaving the doctor outside, lie
then ran 10 the dlnlng'rOom, picked up u
thlrty'twO'callber pistol aud fired four shots
Into his mouth, falling under tho table,
Dr. Craven broke In through window, aud
by prompt attention saved Peck's life, only
ono NJ the shots having taken u
dangerous course, As soon as
the patient recovered consciousness no
seemed 10 fancy that ho was about 10 be
lynChod, lie grew greatly excited, and be-
Kan 10 cry; "llayo they oomo TO lynch mop
Have lh0y cOmo 10 lynch moY" repeating II
over aud over ngnln until by tho uso OF
0pintos h0 was put 10 sleep,
Tho dopOsllOfs appointed u committee u
protect Peek from tho anger Of the mob, and
another committee 10 slt NJ hla bedside and
protect HIN against himself Many OF tho
losers arc reckless baymol, and u is quietly
understood that ~ soon W Peck settles tho
bank affairs vigilance committee will
drown him In the bay
Peek N aged thlrlylyo years Mn. Peck
IA young and beautiful, She was married
less than three years ago This afternoon
she signed over everything sho had for tho
benefit Of her husbands creditors, Pcck's
losses have mostly occurred during the past
six months, and consist Of margins for
grain, Iron Mountain aud Missouri n Toxas
stocks, aud West Shore bonds. lie seems
10 have feared broOk, as ho had u private
account In the Market National Bank In
this city with $50, 900 10 hls credit, which
was attached. His banking books arc In
hopeless confusion. Criminal proceedings
against him will bo begun this wOok.