The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-05-17

DEATH OF
G. D. PECK

The body of George n Peck. missing
from 14l Hollis street, this city. since
May 2. was found in the woods a. Nayatt
early yesterday morning Since his dis
appearance an active search had been
carried on in the woods and swamps az
Seekonk. Swansea and neighboring places.
Peck was 36 years Of age. a bother in
the employ OF the Mt. Hope Distiling
Co. and had had quite steady work until
few weeks ago. when he lost his en-
poyment. and brooding over this had
become respondent.
At 7;So o'clock on MAY he left his
home. asserting that ne intended TO go
TO a swamp in Swansea. Mass, and there
end his life, as he declared he was no
longer Of any use
The local police were Immediately no
tilted ard securing the cooperation Of the
East Providence authorities. endeavored
to overtake Peck on some one Of the high
ways leading To Swansea. hut without
success The following week the Swan
sea swamp was Systematically but fruit
lessly searched for the missing man.
Peck wore suit of dark brown. a
brown bicycle cap. red and white striped
outing shirt. red flannel underwear. red
bdominal bandage ard vici kid laced
shoes. lie wore a plain gold ring on the
third finger Of his left hand. and carried
nickel watch with curb chain attached
When the body was discovered at
Nayatt IL had been badly burned by n
forest fire. The clothing was nearly all
destroyed. but such as was left seemed
to answer the description Of that worn
by Peck
The fact that there was a gold ring
on one hand and that a cheap watch and
n, Ia ht- fra iyfp hn-
side the remains. encouraged the Nayatt
authorities I'm the belief that II was
Peck's body that had been found.
Not until last evening was anything
definite obtained. The fact that forest
FIRE swept over that part Of the town
April 90 seemed 10 make II certain that
IL was not Pecks body. There was, Il
appeared. too great a discrepancy in the
dates but as there had been three sera-
rate fires, one after May >, Medical Ex-
amner Hall Of Warren took possession OF
the body and notified the Providence po-
lice. who caused Mrs. Peck 10 go TO
Nayatt
AS soon as she saw the backened
watch and the charred clothing. she was
positive that the search for her husband
was over To make absolutely sure. she
inspected the body and positively iden-
tilted IT,
While Peck went away saying that ne
intended to kill himself by cutting his
throat II Is very probable that he did not
take his life. but that while wandering
in the woods he fell from exhaustion and
not having strength with which to drag
himself from the forest when the blaze
was sweeping toward him. met with a
terrible end
The condition OF the body. so Dr. Hall
SAYS. indicated that the unfortunate man
suffered intensely before death came 10
his relief.
The body was found by William &.
Marker and Edward Smith. Of Barring
ton. at a point more than n mile from
the nearest house and half n mile back
from the highway.
Mr. Pects watch had stopped a. 20
minutes past . o'clock.
Medical Examiner Hall caused the
body To be taken 20 Warren for purposes
Of Identification and today the remains
were brought here.
The funeral will be held AZ the North
Burial ground Thursday, ~ o'clock
n m.