The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1880-09-25
Brutal Murder Of Elizabeth Ray

We are indebted to the columns of the
Carbon County Democrat Of last Saturday,
for the following particulars Of the brutal
murder Of Mrs. Eliz. Ray, in the borough OF
Mauch Chunk: Friday morning, quite early,
our people were thrown into considerable
excitement by the announcement Of the
murder of Mrs. Ray, who was found deed
squotting on the floor of her house, her head
covered with blood and evidence Of having
been struck violent blow behind the right
ear. Her residence is an old ielapidate6
building owned by Charles McFadden,
few doors below the county Jail. About
O'Clock we entered and found the victim ns
above stated, and the filthy condition of the
room presented a scene the like Of which we
never believed could exist in this commun.
ty. 1t is reasonably safe to say that the
house has not been cleaned for years. The
sight of the bloody corpse in such place
was simply sickening.
Soon after O'Clock Mr.. John Painter ar
rested Thomas Dowdell aged about 45 years,
and employed as laborer on the l.. q S.rail-
road. The arrest was made without formal
proceedings, ON information that demanded
prompt action. Mr. Painter found him on
Susquehanna street, and apparently under
the supplying effects Of liquor He was
taken before Squire Frisbie, ard witnesses
were examined as follows:
George Van Ronk sworn. He said that he
was at Beers store last Thursday night,
about lO9 to IL o'clock and saw DOwdell
coming along, and some one hurra'd for
Gar field, and Dowdell responded aud con.
tlnued up street talking politics to himself,
ana witness kept close enough to him to
hear him being also on his way home.
Dowdell crossed the street at the school
house, and went up as far as the vicinity of
Mrs. Rays honse,whilst witness Stood at the
Aumory and crossed over near the jail, but
DowdeIl had disappeared.
L. II. Hohl sworn, said as he was coming
down about l. o'clock und heard a noise
near the Jail, in small house standing in
the hullow-saw at Mrs. Rays door a man
who acted as il intoxicated Dowdell, the
prisoner Looks like the mamie was max
! ing a noise and wanted the woman inside
to open the door, and threatened to burst il
open. Witness stopped about 10 minutes
the voice inside said he should go away,a ,and
didn't want him there.
| Alfred HaInes sworn, said he lives oppos
| ite. His sister called his attention to the
noise aud he looked out and listened, heard
| IT, but could not understand the words
| Heard mans voice but could not recognize
| him. Mr. j.. MTlnearn came along and
witness called him and stated that some
thing was going ON at Mrs. Rays. Mr.. NJ
went over, listened and returned. Mr.
Kuntz ,Mulhearn aud witness went over ana
Mulhearn raped at the door, which wa,
opened and saw man but did not recognize
him. He was nan ni size about like Dow
dell Mr. Muihearu said he recognized tn,
voice. The door opened second time anc
we stood aside talkng. II was moonlight
night. After got home and To bed wake,
| up again, and saw a man 60 up the bill bach
ui Mrs. Rays house; was walked by his SIS
ter vino sand she saw man come out AM
took out white shirt.
L. M. Mulhearn, ESQ, sworn stated tina
he returned from Il meeting at Nesquehon
ing about midnight and proceeded home
| ward residing few doors from the jail
Mr.. Kuntz called his attention To noise a
Mrs. Rays, and that they heard cries o
|
ing her. Witness went over, stood in from
of the door and listened; heard conversation
between two persons, If not three, and rccog
nized Mrs. Rays and Dowdell's voices; wen
back and informed Mr.. Kuntz. The con
versation lie heard was of character lead
ing to the belief that Dowdeli's purpose wa
criminal intercourse. | returned and toll
Mr. Kuntz and expressed belief that tn
woman would be abused, and Mr.. K. put o
AN overcoat. Mr.. Halnes also dressed him
self,and we all crossed over. Witness rappe
at the door and heard Mrs. Ray in husk
voice say "open the door" and it was opene
ana man stood behind it. Witness sal
"don't throw anything" then Haines an
Kuntz retreated little and left witness
"hold the fort" The door closed again an
/ the party outside remain ed for while, an
the door opened again and they saw Dow
dell. He had on white or light shirt, n
coat 1t was a clear moonlight night.
] William II. Kuntz sworn testified, sui
stantlaly tn the same facts as Messrs. IainC
and Mulhearn.
Whilst these witnesses were heard, th
County Coroner, C. W. Lentz, put in a
appearance and summoned the fol!owin
gentlemen as jurors: John Taylor, Jos.
Tacy; James Belford, Bernard Phillips, D
A. j. Meyer and John Osborn.
The further examination of witnesses WI
then suspended, and the evidence being su
n ficient, Duwdell was taken to Jail by M
Painter. Mr.. John Sherry having been se
o up to Dowdell's house, by Squire Frisbie,r
e turned with pair of pautaoons belongiI
to him, and they were stained with blood
o The gentlemen named as jurors with Il
Coroner and District Attorney Siewers, thu
/ proceeded to the scene of blood where 4
II Jurors were sworn.
The Coroner's Jury, after having be
sworn, adjourned until 2 o'clock, p. M,
order to enable the report Of the doctors e
gagged in the post mortem examination
n, report. DR.. Erwin, assisted by DR.. Jos. /
I'd cair, proceeded to the scene and gave I
Q, body thorough examination. We are 81
h. in saying that a club or other instrument
at greater force than fist struck the ia
en- blow, and that aside from this, the vict
be was choked, the blue finger marks bel
al clearly visible around the. throat.
at probabilities are that the old woman v
nd outraged choked and beaten to death. .
s. The shirt referred to as belonging to
ub accused was found back of the Jail, "
much saturated with blood and it was fu
identified as the shirt OF the accused.
The deceased was at one time an inte
ed gent and respectable woman, but for ye
on past she was dissipated, and an object
in pity. 1t is said that after the loss of
ac- husband by death, and also the death {
w. daughter, that she commenced drown
'nj sorrow by the use of strong drink-the
at old story She continued her existence
vas five or six years in the place where she e
ir- ed life as the victim of a most british m
lrn der, and for some time past citizens of
lg- vicinity endesvored to have the nuissnc
ng her filth removed and the poor won
ad properly cared for, but they were unE
ch, cessful.
sd- Whilst it may be true that no paitict
ath person or party can rightfully be held
:. II r =. 4