The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-04-17
EXECUTION OF A FRATRICIDE.
HORRIBLE TRAGEDY AT ANGELICA


and the circumstances that an execution is q sight
which the rural population Of this district have no,
often an opportunity OF beholding and that the
derer and his victim were wen known to large mum.
bers people in this region, had the effect of bringing
large numbers to the scene. The particulars OF the
fratricidal deed that brought David H. Carpenter to
the scanod are familiar to the people of Allegheny
county, but the murder did not at the time excite
mucn general attention. The crime was one commit
ted under circumstances that evinced a very low
moral tone on the part OF the miserable ratricde il 1t
does not also indicate lamentable want of civza-
tion among the rural population Of this region. No
human eye beheld the brutal deed, and had not the
victim been found while yet alive would have been
extremely difficult to have produced circumstantlal
evidence sufficient to convict the murderer.
DISCOVERY OF THE MURDER.
On the evening OF the 25th OF September, 1865
Judson Carpenter, young man twenty three years
OF age, who resided with his uncle, Richard Ellison
Carpenter at West Almond, near Angelica saw his
uncle aud father return home together from politi
cal meeting at Angelica. They seemed on their
usually good terms, and there was nothing in the
manner OF either to indicate that there had been any
recent misunderstanding between them. Some time
after their return Judson Carpenter. the son. paid
visit to the house Of family named Tanning, who
resided at little distance from the Carpenters, and
returned between half-past nine and ten O'Clock on
the same night. AS he was about to open the door
OF his uncles house he behed the somewhat unusual
sight of light moving near q house occupied by
family named Commons. He had lifted the latch
Of the door and was standing with the door partly
open when he heard noise In his uncle,s
Orchard Ellison Carpenter) room. At first
he paid little attention to this noise and stood stu
watching the light, which seemed to be coming in
his direction, when louder noise and one that in.
at ofal
caused him TO enter the house to see what was the
cause OF the noise. A door leading from the kitchen
into his uncles room was open. The young man
passed into the room, and, by the light OF the moon
which was shining IN through the window beheld
great cong 1e mn To- a h e s6oS Is
was the matter, and his uncle replied, Uncle Hote
has shot me and ! am dying "Hote" was
David II. Carpenter) was generally known.
Judson Carpenter had no light nor does there seem
left the room, and going to the door Of the house
found that the light which he had first seen In the
81 na he Se %
men he called out several times Come in, come In;
he is dying" The men crossed the fence and, pre-.
the room where the wounded man was lying. Again
the dying man said, in the hearing OF his nephew
mons, "Uncle Hote has shot me and / am
DYING" doctor was sent for and while
mained with Richard Ellison Carpenter. the former
saw his father, David Il. Carpenter, in the Kitchen
looking intenty into the room where his brother lay
Bleeding and dying. BY the time the doctor had
arrived the wounded man was q corpse. His MUIR
derer walked about the house for some time, care
VINO had arrived on the scene. He made not single
answer IN reply TO his sons questions regarding the
shocking deed which had Just been discovered. That
night the murderer went to bed and slept as usual
watched by some OF the neighbors. while his brother
lay dead III an adjoining room Early on the follow
THE TRANSFORMATIONS OF ATRocIous IsGRATI-
tube.
The trial took place on the 25th OF February, at
Belmont Court House, Allegheny county, before
Judge Lamont. The testimony detailed the dis
shown in addition that the murderer, David II. Car.
penter, had been living at West Almond, In his
brothers house, for nearly year, and that The
occasionally David had shown some III feeling and
said that his brother was trying TO injure him.
There had been no serious difficulty between them,
so far as known, and 1t seems that the murderer
had always been kindly treated having little TO do
own home. This brother was an unmarried man
David H. Carpenter had been separated from his
wife Tor a considerable time: The prisoners
son and the two Commonses testified TO the fact that
the poor victim OF his brothers. malice had several
times used the words "Uncle Hote has shot me- ami
am DYING IL was also shown that loaded pistol
which had for time past hung In the prisoners
room could not be found there alter the murder. Is
was subsequently, found in the room OF Jndson Car
penter. The bullet from II which had caused the
death OF Carpenter had passed through the murdered
man and was found among the feathers OF the bed.
The only other evidence OF any importance adduced
ON the triai showed an attempt on the
impression regarding the cause OF his
brothers. DEATH Between halfpast ten aud
eleven on the night OF the murder the family OF the
Commences were awakened by hearing knocking
at their door. one OF them went down stairs and,
nndlng David H. Carpenter there. inquired what was
the matter. he replied that he wanted them to
come aud help, as there We're robbers at his house;
the robbers ne said had shot his brother and tried
to shoot min. lie told the Commonses they had
bettencome prepared,a the robbers still there.
Two OF the family took lantern and went
from this lantern that had attracted the attention OF
the young man, Judson Carpenter, Just before he
discovered that his uncle had been shot. These
Wero all the circumstances known In connection
with this unnatural and seemingly unprovoked
murder.
prisoner failed, the medical testimony showing
that there was no ground Tor sucn supposi.
people submitted to the jury by Mr. N. D. Chap
lam, Attorney General OF the state. Retiring at
the jury at six O'Clock in the evening OF the same
day returned a verdict OF guilty OF murder In the
hrst degree The prisoner was sentenced to be hung
ExECUrioN or THE FR,rRropE
Since The sentence OF the prisoner an attempt has
been made ~ is becoming so usual even In the case
OF the most atr0cous murderers. 10 obtain COM
mutation OF the death sentence TO one Of impriscn
IN the course OF the law, seeing no mitigating cir
cumstances. A brothers life had been taken, and,
according 10 the evidence, the murderer nad been
the kindly treated guest OF that brother.
peculiarly stolld bearing and seeming disre-
gard alike for the fearful crime he had committed
and for the death he himself must soon suffer on the
scaffold had characterized the murderer until re-
Gently. few weeks ago he for the first time be-
gan to exhibit any signs that he felt any for
his crime. OF late he had prepared himself for the
fate which he saw was inevitable, but his religious
sentiments were not very deep and had been little
brought into exercise until his foul crime consigned
him TO a murderer's doom. To-day as the hour
appointed for the execution arrived, large numbers
OF people had congregated around the court yard
Of the prison, eager TO get view OF the execution
which was appointed 70 take place between eleven
O'Clock A. M. aud one O'Clock p. NJ. The prisoner slept
well during the night and betrayed no great dread
OF DEATH At an early hour In the morning he was
visited by several clergymen OF Angelica, and en-
gagged with them earnestly In prayer. About half
past twelve O'Clock the procession formed at the pri
soner's cell and marched slowly into the court yard
in which the scaIold had been erected. The prison
er's manner was collected and calm arising, how
ever apparently from a lack OF moral sensibilty
As he passed towards the scafold the assembled