Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-07-07
A TERRIBLE DISCOVERY.
Portions OF n Mans Body Found I'm an
Ash HeaP-StrOnE Circumstantfal
Evidence Against His Wife.

This morning the officers of the 7th pre-.
cinct were notified by colored boy that
there was bad smell about house No. GIG I'd
street, between G and III streets northwest
and Lieut. Kelly, with Officers Davis and
Madigan, went over 10 Investigate the cause.
1t appears that yesterday afternoon Will
Berry, colored boy, nephew Of Wash.
Thompson, who lives up stairs In the house,
while playing on the kitchen shed, in jump
ing down on an ash heap felt 1t give way,
morning he told his aunt, Lefty Thompson,
about IL, and she replied that she knew that
something was the matter, and said that they
b ad sent to the landlady. Thompson was
directed to ascertain what was in the ASH
pile, which did not contain more than two
or three barrels OF ashes, and about which
ting a stick he cleaned off the ashes, when,
to his horror, there was exposed to view por-
tions of the
DEAD BODY OF A coLoRED MAN
named Starting Turpin. The officers arrived
about this time and took possession of the
premises, taking the following inmates of
the house TO the station as Witnesses
Washington Thompson and Lettie ThOmp-
son, who occupied the up stairs room; Fanny
Kennedy, who was occupy ing the front room
down stairs temporarily; and the two chill
dren OF the murdered man-Susanah and
Charlotte. The coroner was Immediately
telesraphed for, and soon appeared with DIR.
]. +. Hartigan, and together they made q
Ssaeiu bad hann OF tne premises The
also the arms and legs, and the trunk had
been bursted, causing the entrails to pro-
trude, and 1t appeared to have been white
washed.
The police on making inquiry ascertained
that Turpin and his wife, Johanna, attend.
ed a picnic ON the Fourth. After they re-
turned home some of the parties heard a
fall, when Mrs. Thompson came down and
found Mrs. Turpin sitting down. She asked
what was the matter and received the reply
that Turpin was drunk. On Wednesday they
between 1
the parties in the house heard a man groan-
ing. The youngest girl when she came nOme
trat day saw the body lying on the floor aud
asked her mother what was the matter,
when she replied that
SHE HAD CUT HIS THROAT,
and in the afternoon she went TO work clean
walls thick coat OF whitewash. The child
did not see her father after wards, but she
told the other parties In the house, and they
made some inq JURY, but Mrs. T. asserted that
supposed murderess was engaged In assist
ing neghbor TO move, and she slept at
home within six or eight feet OF the body ON
Wednesday and last night, and this morning
she got up early and went off, stating she
W as going TO wash for family.
THE PREMISES.
The house Is an old brick dwelling, about
fourteen feet wide, with two fair-siZed rooms,
one down and one up, and q small room up
stairs, which Thompson occupied as a shoe
shop. The front room down stairs was Oc-
cupied by man named Rose. The kitchen,
In which Turpin with his wife and children
resided, and In which the deed was COM
mitted, is small apartment, not larger
than eight by ten feet, with a windo W on the
west side, directly over the ash-pile, and a
door on the north side. In the yard there
was little frame shed, in which is q stove
ard table used by Thompson and wife, In the
kitchen were two trunks, one on either side
OF the room, and mass OF clothing and q
limited supply OF furniture In the greatest
Imaginable disorder. Tho floor appeared to
have been recently scrubbed and there were
evidences that the most of the labor had
been expended about the corner near the
about the spot where the terrible deed was
done. On looking over the things in this
room q dress was found, on which there was
number of blood stains. Some straw was
also sprinkled about the floor. There was a
broken bedstead also in the room which they
did not use. In the yard was found an axe
with handle about IA or 16 inches long, In
the eye OF which Is one or two spots thought
to be blood, and the blade bears some appear
apce OF having been washed or RUBBED.
There was also found here q small broad
axe such as ship carpenters use in light
work. The handle appears to have been
On IL. Two shoemakers knives were also
blade, but there is no trace of recent use IN
elmer one. On the pavement about the side
OF a tne house there was some lime and there
there TO hasten decomposition.
THE DECEASED.
Ine Victlm was about GA years OF age,
feet inches high, medium build, dark-
brown complexion, with gray hair and whis.
Keis, OF Peaceable, quiet disposition, but
given to drink At times, when he never be.
came boisterous except when his wife would
scold him, when he would reply. he was q
very hard working man, q white washer
and member OF the Baptist church CJeffsr,
son's.) He was native OF Petersburg. Va.
wnere ne has wife and children living
THE MURDERKsS
rs about 40 or IS years Of age, of slim build
Ard very black, with short hair, bald in