Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-10-27
4 O'CLOCK p. M.
GOVERNMENT SECURITIES.
THE MURDER OF HARRIET WILKES.
Suicide of her Murderer.

In our first edition we gave the telegraphic
dispatch received from Detective Officers Wise
and Allen, stating that the murderer Of Harriet
Wilkes, had been arrested by the New York
police and had committed suicide in his cell.
Harriet Wilkes, it will be remembered. was
the keeper Of a house of i'll fame, No. % 13H
street, and was found dead in a closet adjoin-
ing her bedroom on Sunday morning. Sus.
picion at once rested on q man named Levi L.
Earwell, who had been cohabiting with de-
ceased, and who, in various fits of jealousy,
had threatened the life of the girl. He was
under bond to keep the peace towards her, and
the bond expired on the 18th of this month.
The jury rendered a verdict to the effect that
Harriet Wilkes came to her death by strangu-
lation after ether or chloroform had been ad-
ministered by Levi L. Farwell, sometimes
called Mr.. Wilkes.
The jury, considering all the facts, concluded
that Farwell slipped in the house secretly, and
finding the deceased slumbering, administered
the chloroform She partially revived, and
attempted to alarm the house, when he seized
her throat (the marks and bruises were plainly
visible) and thrust the apron into her mouth
until death ensued. He proceeded deliberately
to rob her fingers of the rings, and then wrap
ping the body IN the sheet locked il in the closet
and turned his attention to the yaluables in
the trunks and drawers. Farwell is a small
man, is originally from Massachusetts, but
came from Albany to this city; was at one time
sutler In the army, and subsequently kept a
restaurant on ID, between 10th and 18th streets,
ceased was about IS years Of age, and has a
son, ~ or IA years old, at a boarding school in
New Brunswick, N. ]. 1t is said that she was
respectfully connected, and her relatives were
notified by telegraph of the murder.
She was a small-siZed woman of attractive
appearance and sprightly manners, and Far
well seems to have been perfectly infatuated
with her. He had been heard to say if he
I" could not have her no other man should
The police here have been working for the
arrest of Farwell since Sunday; and as soon
as the facts were known at the police head
quarters that Farwell had escaped, the fol-
lowing telegram was sent to New and other
cities:
WASHINGTON, October 22-12 o'clock Mo
Chief Of Police Of Neio York: Arrest Levi Far
well, alias Wilks, - years old, S feet inches
high, dark complexion black hair, chin whis-
kers, black eyes, black clothes, and silk hat,
for murder and robbery this a. m.
(Signed,) b. NJ. REED Asst Sup't.
About six o'clock p. m. yesterday the fol-
lowing was received from New York:
NEW YORK, Oct. 26-To A. C. Richards, Su-
perintendent Metropolitan Police, Washington: We
have arrested Levi l.. Farwell. Shall L send
him, or wait tor you to send for him! He is
willing to 60. JNO. A. KENNEDY,
Sup't Police, 300 Mulberry.
Suspecting that Farwell had gone to New
York, Detective Clarvoe started in pursuit on
the IL Is a. m train yesterday, and at 2 o'clock
p. m to-day the following dispatch was re-
ceived from him:
ToA. G. Richards, Chief Of Police :-Farwell
has been arrested by Elder. He has committed
suicide Hattie Wilks' watch was on his per-
son. (Slgned) CLARvOE.