The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1883-10-27
THE MURDER OF zoRA BURNS.
Her Wealthy Employer Suspected of the
Awful Crime.

Awful Crime.
LINCOLN ILL, October 25.-Zora Burns,
who has been employed as a domestic
in the family of Orrin A. Carpenter.
wealthy grain merchant of this city,
was found dead in secluded lane near
the outskirts of the city on Monday
morning last. Her throat has been cut
from ear to ear and her skull crushed
in, and her arms bore evidence that she
had had fierce struggle with her muir
derer. Ever since the discovery of her
body the entire community has aided
the detectives in their search for her slay-
er. 1t was learned that she had been
engaged to a young farmer named
Dukes, and suspicion pointed somewhat
toward him; but during the last two
days chain of apparently eliminating
circumstances has been wound around
Mr. Carpenter, which resulted in his ar
rest this afternoon. Investigation dis
closed the fact that Fora had left his
employ and returned home to her father
in village near Lincoln, and that on
Saturday, the day preceding her death,
she came to this city and paid visit to
Carpenters office, remaining with him
an hour alone. He was the only person
she visited so far as known, while here.
As to the nature of her visit Carpenter
related story plainly denied by the
facts subsequently disclosed. 1t was
also discovered that the dead girl was
enceinte, and the testimony of various
persons tended to show that Carpenter
had supplied the girl with money and
had written her various letters. The
bartender of the Nalte House here tes-
titled that Carpenter purchased from
him half a pint of whisky on the day of
the murder. An examination of Car
penter's buggy today disclosed the fact
that the cushion, lines, and shafts were
plainly marked with blood, and on this
discovery warrant was Immediately
sworn out for his arrest. He was fol-
lowed 10 jail by large and excited
crowd.
Mr.. Carpenter is credited with being
the wealthiest resident of Lincoln. He
has wife and two daughters, who at
the COrOner's secret inquest, on being
sworn relative to the whereabouts of
their father. o. A. Carpenter, on Satur-
day and Sunday evening last, admitted
his absences from the house until IL
O'Clock, but were not positive as to the
hour, as they had retired.
Mrs. Douglas, who lived on the out
skirts of the city, said that Fora con-
fessed in August that she was enceinte,
and intimated that Carpenter was the
cause. Fora said that Carpenter bought
her shoes and told her that he loved her
OeGGeT Gnan ms wire. WHO the girl
was in Carpenters emj 10y hc raised her
wages 81 q week, and told her not to
tell any one of it.
WILL BE CHEMICALLY ANALYZED.
CHICAGO, October 25.-The coroner Of
Lincoln, Ills, who arrived last night
with the buggy, whip and part of the
harness belonging to o. A. Carpenter
stained with what issuppOsed to be the
blood of the murdered Fora Burns, re-
turned home tonight, leaving the ar
ticles with a chemist for analysts The
chemist says he has only given the spots
cursOry examination under the micro
scope, and that they appear to be blood.
The analysis will not be complete before
the middle OF the week. No new de-
velOpments are reported from the scene
of the tragedy. A special advanced the
theory that the stains may be tobacco
juice, as Carpenter was an inveterate to-
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