The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1884-03-29

being out all night.
The crime was one of the most sensational
Sfalrs OF the kind that ever occurred in the
6untry. Fora Burns was murdered Sunday
nght, october ID, 1883. Her BODY was found
aonday morning in lane about two miles
tom the center OF Lincoln, her face turned to
ne earth Both sides of her forehead were
hdented, with blows struck with some blunt
Instrument, possibly slingshot, billy or the
batt OF hatchet These blows evidently rem
tred her insensble, in which state her throat
vas cut, two gashes running into each other,
and completely severing the jugular vein and
arteries. An examination disclosed that she
Nis eneelnte, and the stomach revealed that
sac had not partaken food for at least fifteen
nnrs previous to death. This would indicate
tiat she had been Kept prisoner by some
me who meditated her murder Zora
burns was % years DID, and was
Engaged to be married to Thomas Dukes. of
Iewanna, Ind, the marriage having been twice
postponed and the final date set for October
3. The only person against whom any strong
slspiclon rested was Orrin A. Carpenter. the
hrSest gram merchant in the nelghborbood
and Zora's former employer. Suspicion was
directed to Carpenter on the very day the body
q fora Burns was found in the lane. Monday,
October 10. This was caused by the fact that
The gnl was seen to have entered his Office on
be Saturday previous, and because Carpenter
ooud not be found when he was sent for by
tle coroner to identify the remains 1t was
barned, however. that he had gone to Harts-
burg on business. and on his return he was
again sent for by the coroner. Carpenter en-
ered the undertakers where the murdered
slrl was living. tooa slight glance only at the
corpse, and went ont to speak to local editor.
he displayed no Interest in the case, made no
inquiries about the manner of the girls death,
offered no assistance In searching for the muir
ierer; IN fact, was perfectly, astonishingly, in
different. People wondered that Carpenter
should be so emotioness, and by degrees
chain OF circumstaniial evidence was
welded about him, and be was thrown
INTO jail, charged with murder. Letters were
also produced showing concusively that Car
penter had maintained relations with the muir
dered girl. When the public mind became sat
isfied that Carpenter had been criminally in
innate with the servant to whom he clandes
timely paid an extra dollar per week. on the
condition that the bonus was to be kept secret
from the family. q motive was found for the
murder. Former servant girls came forward
aud told how the moral merchant ard stern
Presbyterian bad tried to hug and kiss them,
and his reputation for virtue aud problty was
someu hat shattered. 1t finally bs came settled
thar Fora left her home, telling her parents
sue was going to Ramsey to pay a fare
well visit to friends before marrying Tom
Dukes, but went instead to Lincoln.
She went to a hotel changed her cloth
ing. and Immediately went over to Car
penter's offi,e, block distant and in full
view OF the hotel. She was closeed with ber
former employer for half an hour, after which
she returned to the hotel, had dinner and went
up to her ROOM She did not leave the room
until supper time. After supper she went out,
and about that time Kitty Madden saw a wo-
man walk down the railroad TIRE ek and disap-
pear IN the shadows of Carpenters elevator.
sdjoining his Office. That was SATURDAY. night
October l3, night upon which Carper ter said
he was at his office. She returned to the hotel
about o'clock, paid her bill ard departed.
There was no tram leaving the city, but she
went out nevertheless. Carpenter was the
only man she had spoken to that day, except
the hotel clerk. FIR, N that time, a few n in
utes past o'clock Saturday night. she was hot
seen until her hodv was found Nor day morn
ing. Where she spent the intervening time no
one knows except her murderer.