The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1884-01-23
ANOTHER COWARD!
Brave az Lion While Committing the
Crime Under Cover,
Hut Craven ~ . jacket when Con.
froated by the Victims Of Wis
P~culattOns.

PArcHoGUE. l.. l., Jan. %. Two hun
dred people Of this very badly swindl ed vii.
lage gathered in Tower Hall to raise funds
for the prosecution Of Edward S, Peek, the
| proprietor Of the .Pstchogue and Suffolk
County Bank, which closed its doors last
| Friday. Most OF those present were cred
itors. filed with gall and bitterness OF spir.
IT, What little charity there was left for
| the unsuccessful Spectator did not kee q
over sunday. A feeling was prevalent that
Peck bad not turned over all his property
for the benefit OF the unfortunate creditors,
but WAS looking after his own interest.
The meeting had Just elected q chair
man when boy. bresthless with excite.
ment, came rushing up the stairs and
roared. peck has killed himself. I" The
meeting WAS summariy adjourned, and
men, women and children rushed up Main
street toward Mr.. Peck's house. The only
man not excited by the news was a wood L.
chopper who had lost his little all. He kept
on with his work and said:
II wish he had shot himself three years
| ago" Mr.. Peck was at the bank In the
morning with the assignee and an expert
accountant endesvoring to figure up the
assets. His nerves were all unstruny, bis
talk was irrational. and - he expressed
bimself to an acquaintance, he was
- suffering . mental HE'LL He has
kept himself very much secluded. but
seems to be aware Of the bitter feeling
against him In the village and to know tn at
be was In momentary danger Of arrest.
He was afraid to stir out OF doors without q
companion, and Or J. J. Craven volun.
teered to take him to and from the house.
lector, had stormy time with Mr.. Peck 10
Potter 4 Prices office.
Look me In the face like man, notliks
a coward as you are,' he said.
Mr.. Peck wss much frightened. aud be
begged that he should be protected from
bodily harm. He was in such Z terrified
condition that be was sosthed with opistes.
An account Of the shooting Is given by DR..
Craven: ~ was sitting with Mr.. Peck in
Potter and Prices Office be said.
waiting for Mr.. Potter to return from
Denver and open the bank. Mr.. Peck was
very nervous, evidently fearing personal
violence. To distract bis attention he
picked up q newspaper and began to read
OF course be found something not very "a
vorabIe to bimself. Suddenly be threw the
| followed him, In the absence OF
Mr.. Potter, not wishing 10 leave
him alone. He asked me II I would drive
him home for few minutes, as he wished
10 get something. consented willingly.
supposing he meant more assets. He and
his wife had been stopping with Joseph
Loekett, = relative, over Sunday. and I
Was going to drive him there. NO: 90;
to my own house" be said. We went
there and found the place locked. Peck
never spoke, but he paced exoitedly up aud
down the veranda. Finally be went down
TO back door and setered the house, lsav.
ing myself and hoy outside. He had not
been in the house two minutes when !
heard shot. which was soon followed by
three more. took In the situation At .
glance and smashed In a window and enter.
cd the house. Peek had locked the door
behind him, and found him on his bands
and knees on the floor with the blood
streaming from his mouth aud nose. lift
cd him on a lounge, bis arms aud his legs
banging limp. There WAS no external
abrasion. so / concluded he bad fred all
the sho5s into the mouth. His puse was
slow aud there was every appearance OF
approaching dissolution. Soon ne rallied
in such wav that ! was convin ed that
| here wss no brain trouble.
For Gods sake, what have Won donav
| said.
"Doctor,' he answered, 81 have wi.
| ingly wronged no man and they ar" going
to lynch me. y
Two other physician. came and Peck was
| put to bed and we all three mnde AN exami.
| nation. Or. Chapel found only one bullr,
wound In the left side Of the mouth. Mr..
| Peck had fired towards his brain hut the
| bullet had passed through the bard palate
| into the nasal passage, and ne had spit il
| out with great flow Of blood. After The
! frs shot he had pulled the pistol or % Iii.
mouth and fred the other
three INTO the ceiling; the hulot'
went through the plaster. struc
lath and rcbouDded to the carpet where
we found them. carried the news TO his
wife, who was watching the crowd around
the house from window on the other side
OF iDt slTec'' Snt tuouSnt " "AH Ah AnRTp
mob
''MY GODp'
| she said. "my Edward shot himself L. it
true. dootor'" aud she tainted.
DR.. Preston remained with Mr.. Peck
| during the afternoon, and the latter talked
freely about his attempted suicide. He
SAYS be fully meant to kill himself, pre-
ferring death to public nensure snd dis.
grace.