Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1884-04-02

The crime was one of the most sensational
AFFAIRS OF the kind that ever occurred in the
country. Fora Burns was murdered Sunday
night, October IA, 1883. Her body was found
Monday morning in lane about two miles
from the center of Lincoln, her face tarned to
the earth. Both sides OF her forehead were
indented, with blows struck with some blunt
instrument, possibly slingshot, a billy or the
butt Of q hatchet. These blows evidently rem
dered her insensible, in which state her throat
was cut, two gashes running into each other,
and completely severing the jugular vein and
was enceinte, and the stomach revealed that
she had not partaken food for at least fifteen
hours previous to death. This would indicate
that she had been kept a prisoner by some
one who meditated her murder Fora
Burns was 20 years old, and was
engaged to be married to Thomas Dukes, OF
Kewanna, Ind, the marriage having been twice
23. The only person against whom any strong
suspicion rested was Orrin A. Carpenter, the
largest grain merchant in the nelghborhood
and Zora's former employer. Suspicion was
directed to Carpenter on the very day the body
Of Fora Burns was found in the lane, Monday,
October Is. This was caused by the fact that
the glrl was seen to have entered his Office on
the Saturday previous, and because Carpenter
could not be found when he was sent for by
the coroner to identify the remains. It was
learned, however, chat he had gone to Harris
burg on business, and on his return he was
again sent for by the coroner. Carpenter en-
tered the undertaker's where the murdered
corpse, and went out to speak to local editor.
He displayed no interest In the case, made no
inquiries about the manner of the glrl's death,
offered no assistance in searching for the mur-
derer; in fact, was perfectly, ast0nishingly, in.
different: People wondered that Carpenter
1~ L.. -
chain OF circumstaniial evidence was
welded about him, and be was thrown
into Jail, charged with murder. Letters were
also produced showing conclusively that Car
penter had maintained relations with the mur-
dered girl. When the public mind became sat
isfed that Carpenter had been crlminally in
innate with the servant to whom he clandes-
condition that the bonus was to be kept secret
from the family. motive was found for the
murder. Former servant girls came forward
and told how the moral merchant and, stern
Presbyterian had tried to hug and kiss them,
and his reputation for virtue aud probity was
somewhat shattered. It finally became settled
that Fora left her home, telling her parents
she 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 Office, q block distant and in full
view of the hotel. She was closeted with her
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 track and disap-
pear in the shadows of Carpenters elevator,
adjoining his Office. That was Saturday night,
October l3, night upon which Carpenter said
he was at his Office. She returned to the hotel
about o'clock, paid her bill and departed.
There was no train leaving the city, but she
went out nevertheless. Carpenter was the
only man she had spoken to that day, except
the hotel clerk. From that time, few min
utes past 8 o'clock Saturday night, she was not
seen until her body was found Monday morn
ing. Where she spent the intervening time no
one knows except her murderer.