Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-12-04
A FEMALE FIEND.
She and Her Param0ur Murder Her
Husband While Asleep.
A Shocking Case OF Female De-
pravity.

From Our Own Correspondent
TRENTON, GIBSON COUNTY, TENNESSEE.
December 3. 1874.
A horrible murder was committed In
this county, at Rutherford Station, on
the 18th OF last May, which has never
been made public in the Memphis papers,
and l give the particulars, as well as
other incidents that occurred within the
past month.
t. J. cAvERHILL
was O Paducah drummer and was also
engaged in the grocery business at Ruth
erford Station, fifteen miles from this
place on the Mobile and Ohio railroad.
His salary was q large one, and by fru-
gality and industry he had amassed a
neat little sum. He was absent from his
home (Rutherford) most Of his time and
his business house was In charge of his
brother.in-law,
THOMAS N. COLLIE,
who had married Caverhilps sister. On
the evening of the 18th Caverhill arrived
at home, and being fatigued, retired early
in the evening, as he expected to resume
his journey early the next morning.
His wife,
JENNIE E. CAvERHILL,
also expected to 60 upon journey early
the next morning, and retired soon after
her husband did, but in separate room.
About three o'clock the next NOR ming
the neighbors were attracted by the
cries of
MURDERl MURDERT
and upon their going to the house found
Caverhill dead, with his skull broken.
There we're two wounds-one on the
forehead, the other above the left ear.
An inquest was held, the result Of which
was the arrest of Collie and Mrs. Caver-
hill upon State warrants, and they were
both lodged in Jail. The legal techni-
calities in the case warranted the exam.
ing court in admitting Mrs. Caverhill to
bail in the sum of $4,000, and on last
Wednesday her bail was made and she
was released. 1t is the opinion of the
citizens who heard the evidence that
Mrs. Caverhill was implicated in the
murder Of her husband, and there is in
consequence much indignation at her
release. From the evidence in the case
on file in the Justices court it appears
that Collie was the paramour or Mrs.
Caverhill, and that the murder was
committed with a view of getting
THE INSURANCE ON oAvERHILL LIFE,
he having been insured in Memphis
company. He had considerable sum
of money also at the time he was MUIR
dered, which was taken from his person.
Through the politeness of the jailer,
Mr.. James A. Reed (who by the way is
the man for the place he is in), we were
permitted to interview the prisoners.
Mrs. Caverhill is a very handsome wo-
man. She is of delicate physique, but
well formed about twenty. six years of
age dark brown eyes and hair, and about
FIVE feet seven inches in hight. Her |
manner is rather reserved, but she con-
verses huently upon almost ally subject
In her girlhood she was quite belle, as
she possessed a number of attractive
accomplishments, the shining one being
of whom-an infant three months old
DIED IN JAIL
some time during the summer. This,
together with her close confinement in
prison, has impaired her mind TO some
extent, and it is the opinion of promi-
nent physician who attended her during
her imprisonment, that she would have
become totally insane had she been con-
fined during this winter. She was
humanely treated by the ladies of this
place, many of whom visited her and
gave her much consolation. Although the
crime she has committed places her in
the front rank of blood-stained criminals,
vet we sincerely pity her for the sake of
her sex and her children. Woman is
weak"
Thomas NJ Collie was committed to
Jail upon the charge of murder in the
first degree, and is now confined awaiting
his trial, which is set for the second Mon
day in this month. He was born in
Lyon county, Kentucky, where heresided
until he came to this State, which was
about two years ago. He is about five
feet three inches in hight, light com
plexion, blue eyes, sandy hair, and pos
sesses quite a genteel physiognomy. He,
as wAl as the other parties, is Of q good
family and has fair English education,
He is devout
PROFESSOR OF RELIGION,
and st the time be assisted in committing
the foul deed was a member in good
standing Of the Methodist church. The
following Sunday after the murder he
organized and conducted a Sabbath