National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-05-29
MRS. CARPENTERS CRIME.
The COronOr's Jury Believe That She Killed
Her Husband with a Ratchet,
And Forged Il letter 20 Divert Suspicion
from Herself.

Coroner Patterson hold an inquest yester-
day forenoon at Lieut.. Gessford's station over
the remains of George Carpenter, which were
unearthed Tuesday from under tho house
No. 1919 street northeast. A largo crowd
assembled about tho station while the inquest
was in progress. Levi Bauersox, a carpenter.
testified that ho saw the body dug out. The
head aud arm were exposed. Tho remainder
Of the body was covered over with n large
quantity OF tin cans, bricks, and rubbish.
The trap door was 10 by Is inches. A bed
sack was wrapped about tho head and
shoulders of tho corpse. Witness did not
think ono person could haYe put tho body in
the hole
William Hendley testified that the Car
pentors were quiet and orderly people. When
tho husband disappeared the neighbors
thought that no had gotten in trouble with
his employer aud Jumped tho town" DIR.
Hartigan testified that an examination of
the corpse showed that 1t was in an advanced
stage Of decomposition. Tho back part OF
the skull was crushed in, showing the effect
of repeated blows, probably with Ratchet.
There were marks on tho scalp and skull,
evidently made with the sharp edge of the
hatchet The hole in tho skull was as large
as mans hand. Tho condition of the body
indicated that the man had been dead since
Christmas. Mrs. Sarah Wenzel, who lives next
door to the house formerly occupied by the
Carpenters, testified that q week after Christ
mas she saw pile of clothing burning in
Carpenters back yard. She thought some
one might have been sick with a contagious
disease. About three months ago she heard
a heavy body being moved down the stairs
Witness saw light colored man go to the
house on one occasion.
Mr.. Il. G.. Davis testified that tho dead man
had been in his employ for fifteen years. On
the day after Christmas he received note,
purporting to be from Carpenter By com
parison with other notes he found that it was
q forgery. The note said:
When this Letter reach you will be on my way
to the far west my uncle leaves me all his money
and home out west and ain going Out there II
live. have liveda life Of shame in Washington
What with so much whskey aud keeping so meny
wimen my helth is all CORN. l am gOin TO the
west in months will pay all owe 10 people in
Washington. tried to git you man but could
not you will halter git one for yourself from your
porter.
Tho body was then identified by several
witnesses. Detective Edelin, testified that
Carpenters 9-year.old daughter told him that
her mother had thrown bricks through the
trap-door during tho Christmas holidays
with the remark that she did it to keep the
rats down. Witness said that when he went
TO arrest the woman she denied that she
was Mrs. Carpenter, and said her name
was Hattie Parker. She was much
startled when he arrested her. She told the
detective about her husband coming home
drunk on Christmas night, and said mar
named Mudd had sometimes visited her house
He was there Christmas night, but did moi
come in. The detective then went to Mrs
Carpenters cell and got q specimen of hei
handwriting. 1t was the same in the opinion
of the jury as that in the note to Mr.. Davis
Tho verdict of tho jury was that the said
| George w. Carpenter came to his death on OF
about the 25th day of December, 1888, at No
1919 Ii street northeast, from injuries of the
head inflicted with Ratchet or some othel
sharp and heavy instrument. From the evi
dcnce adduced. and tho circumstances of the
case, the jury believe that the act was com.
mitted by his wife, Henrietta Louisa Carpcn-
ter. probably aided by some person or persons
| unknown"
| Mrs. Carpenter was taken to the fifth pre-
cinct station late in the afternoon and locked
up in one of tho cells. She is directly il
| charge of Detectives Edelin, and Mattingly
who are endeavoring to get n confession o
the crime from her. In the meantime no on,
| will be allowed to see her.