Daniel Peterson
foundHeadstones #done
ca. 1809 — 21 January 1855
Daniel Peterson (29A)
Headstone
Daniel Peterson's headstone discovered in a Toowong Cemetery Archaeological Dig in 2016.
- Erected: North Brisbane Burial Grounds, Episcopalian section. After 21 January 1855
- Moved to: North Brisbane Burial Grounds, Reserved Area. ca. 1914. Recorded as Daniel Peterson
- Demolished and disposed of in: Toowong Cemetery, Portion 29A. ca. 1930
- Discovered: Toowong Cemetery, Portion 29A near Section 72. ca. May 2016
Inscription
Sacred
to the memory of
Daniel Peterson
who departed this life
January 21st 1855
aged 46 years
Learn more
Death registration: Daniel Peterson
Death date: 21/01/1855
Mother's name: - Buried 22/01/1855
Father/parent's name: -
Registration details: 1854/BBU/354
MURDEROUS ASSAULT AND ATTEMPTED SUICIDE. —On Sunday evening, the last day of the year, the neighbourhood of Stanley-street, South Brisbane, was thrown into a state of considerable alarm by a report that Mr. Daniel Peterson, many years carrying on business as a storekeeper in this town, had shot his wife and cut his own throat It was about ten o'clock at night, and the house and shop were closed, but after the alarm became general, several people broke into the premises, and the police having arrived, Dr. Cannan was sent for, when it was ascertained that Mrs. Peterson had been shot with a pistol through the thigh, without breaking the bone, and that the unhappy perpetrator of this outrage, her husband, had inflicted several gashes in his own throat, with a razor, severing the windpipe, but not separating any vital artery. All proper attention was paid to the wounded persons, and we understand that they are both considered to be now out of danger. From the subsequent depositions of Mrs. Peterson and a servant girl in her employ, it appears that Mr. Peterson had been drinking hard all day on Sunday, and at night, on asking his wife to go to bed, she expressed her reluctance as he had a pair of loaded pistols in the bed. Upon this he took the pistols into the servant's room and put them into her bed, when the girl became alarmed and got away. Immediately afterwards she saw Mr. Peterson with a pistol presented at her mistress, which he fired. The girl ran to make an alarm, and states that she told two or three persons outside, who (to their eternal disgrace if it be true) said that they were afraid to go in. When she returned she saw Mr. Peterson cutting at his throat with a razor, and a large pool of blood near. Soon afterwards the people rushed in, and he was secured. These facts having been deposed to on oath, a warrant has been issued against Daniel Peterson, who remains at his own house, in custody of the police, until he can be removed to undergo an examination for his crime. No motive whatever, save drunken madness, can be assigned for the attempted crime, as the poor lady so nearly murdered, is known to be a person of most amiable manners and irreproachable character, and has reared a large family with the utmost credit.-Since the above was in type, Mr. Peterson has been removed to the gaol.