Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-11-30
A Murder and a Fire.

i TRYING TO FIND THE MAN WHO CALLED John
SHAMELESS OUT OF HIS HOME AND KILLED
/. HIM.
/ John Sharpless, jr., an old man nearly three
score and ten years of age, was sitting in his
coy home near buttons mill. not far from
Chester. Pa. Sunday night. November 22d. and
ABOUT o'clock - knock was heard at the door,
y dark featured man stood there. "Friend.
what does thee wante asked the farmer i'm q
kindly voice. 'Thcre is a wagon with three
ladies IN IL out here ne replied, land we have
broken down. | would like to get IL piece OF
rope TO fix it up" The old man with his &C
cistou!ed hospitality and kindness of heart, at
once got his umbrella. took ladder and fol-
lowed the stranger to the barn. The rain was
falling rapidly. the wind hOwied disInally and
the clements seemed to fOrtell the tragedy that
was to follow.
In !. few minutes after the stranger had asked
for Mr.. Sharpless' aid the ladies at the house
We're surprised by seeing the man walk into
the house without even the ceremony of knock
ing: ~ hat does thee wish? asked one of the
repeated The man asked if a certain white
woman li-!ed there and said he wanted to see
| l:er. The lady replied that he could not see
her. though he might speak to the colored do
| nlestic if he desired. He kept moving towards
! them as he spoke, and then stopped and asked
the lady to go for the woman he had asked to
see. but she refused TO leave the room 1t is
supposed the Williams object was to get one OF
the ladies To leave, overpower her and perpe-
trate an outrage. He demanded money 1t
was refused, and he stood irresOlute for q few
moments and then turning on his heel sudden.
~ it'lt Inc mousse ana went towards the mill.
The ladies were terribly alarmed, especially
Mrs. ShIrplcss, who wts i'll, and as Mr. Sharp
less had not returned their fears grew into
alarm. They waited a half hour and still the
husband did not come in. NeghbOrS were
then informed and search was made for the
missing farmer. At the door of the barn Law an
umbrella, and IL thrill of horror ran through
the brain of the finder. A glance inside re-
Veaicd the tragedy. There lay the aged far
ner, his life gone. The man bent over him
There was no breathing; the fatal work had
been done quickly. He was lying with his
head close tn the horses feet. A deep cut
about III inches long, had been made through
his stiff hat. The fatal blow was doubtless
struck Just as Mr.. Sharpless entered the barn,
aud he fell iieless.
After the crime was discovered the sky was
suddenly illuminated with lurid fame and
soon fOrked tongues of fire were seen to lean
from Lindsay barn. which is about 500 wards
from the place where the murder was COM
mitted- The large stone and frame structure
had been fired: by whom was not known. but
suspicion at once attached to the stranger and
il Is supposed it was done to effect a robbery mt
the house while the inmates were fighting the
flames.
The colored man, John Carpenter, who was
arrested last week on suspicion of being the
murderer. was not iully identified by Mrs
SharDless. who said that while his appearance
the same. At a hearing before Mayor Forward
in Chester Saturday, the mayor ordered the
prisoner committed to the city Jail until
Wednesday next, when q further hearing will
be z ven. This will allow the officers time to
work up the case against him If it can be done
IL is thought that the defense will try to prove
an alibi.
Another colored man named Henry c. Bolt.
OF Glyndon, Baltimore county, Nd, has been
arrested OH SuSpiciOn.