The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-11-10
THE CARPENTER HEARING
Applause from the Audience at the
Remarks of the Prosecution.
The Defense Makes an ArGument-Interest
and Excitement Among the People
Increasing-CriminaI News
CARPENTERS TRIAL.
Opening Arguments of the Prosecution and
the Defense.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal
LINCOLN H., Nov. 9-In the examination
of o. A. Carpenter, accused of the murder of
Fora Burns, the forenoon was occupied in
further testimony in the endeavor to prove
from the temperature of the body when
found, and from the rigidity of the body, at
what hour she was killed. Various conflict
ing theories were set up, but all pointed to
the fact that she was killed after midnight.
Immediately after noon States Attorney
Forrest began the argument for the prosecu-
ton. He had proceeded but a short time
when ne said he believed before the trial
ended the murderer would be pointed out
This statement drew out yociferous
applause, which was severely rebuked
by the court. Forrest claimed that it had
been shown that Carpenter was intimate
with Fora and the father of her unborn babe
Being a married man, he hated exposure
hence his motive for getting rid of her and
the child. She wrote to Dukes that there
wasn't money enough in the world to make
her happy without him; that she was coming
to Lincoln to have an operation performed
on her throat. She came here, found that
whom she expected to get money for a doc
tors bill and expenses. Forrest outlined
Zora's visit to Lincoln up to the time she
left the place. Carpenters conduct on the
discovery of the body and at the coroner's
office, when he almost refused to
recognize the woman who had been his
mistress, was considered as proof of guilt.
Carpenter never mentioned to his family
that Fora had been to his Office, as it was
shown she was on the forenoon OF her last
day seen by mortal eyes. He had counsel
employed before he was arrested. Carpenter
can never say to this community that he is a
virtuous man, an innocent man. Carpenter
refuses to open his mouth in his own de-
Tense, He does not go on the witness-stand
and show by figures on his books or letters
that he was at his Office, as he claims, on the
nights of the 18th and 18th of October. All
these things point out Carpenter as guilty
man,
At clock Colonel Lynch opened for the
defense in an eloquent and able speech. He
claimed that abortion is a terrible crime, and
that Fora wanted Carpenter to aid her in pro-
curing it. He claimed that the prosecution
failed to show that Carpenter was at Peoria
with Fora. Hundreds of men in Logan
county committed fornication and adultery,
yet they did not cut throats like butchers.
Carpenter had arranged to go to Harrisburg
on Monday to arrange his books there, and
spent Friday and Saturday nights in prepar-
ing for that work. For weeks hundreds of
men have sought in vain to show
that Carpenter went to Harrisburg to
conceal a eoseoraer, s'1e sachel, bloody
..-.--s, etc. lie reviewed the halr-plh .Aoosss
the theory of bloody lines, ETC., and said all
were exploded, also that a clear aibi was
proven for Carpenter OH the night of Mon
day, on which his mother saw him at home
at 10 o'clock.
The evening was spent in further argu-
ment of the case by other attorneys. An i'm
mense crowd fills the courthouse, and as the
end of the case draws near excitement grows
more and more intense.
Affidavits were procured tonight contra
dieting the former testimony that a light
was seen in Carpenters office on the Sunday
night previous to the finding of Fora
Burns's body. The men who made
the affidavits were at the pump
near Carpenters Office, with the three
persons who said they saw the light The
names of these three persons were Long,
Reed and Griffith. After testifying before
the coroner's jury, they. were set adrift to
depend upon the cold charities of the
world. not like waits, but possessed
of plenty of cash. They came to Lin
coin as tramps. Mr. Koehn, proprietor of
the Nolte House, voluntarily told the officers
tonight that Carpenters partner had guar
anteed the payment of the expenses of the
three men while stopping at the Nolte
House. 1t is stated, on good authority that
the prisoner wall be held