National Republican., 1885-07-02
Mrs. cARrrNrEns TRIAL.
The Prosecution Closes and the De-
fense Starts out TO Prove Insanity.


fense Starts out to Prove Insanity.
The trial OF Henrietta L. Carpenter, in
dicted for the murder of her husband,
George w. Carpenter, on Christmas day,
1888, was continued in the criminal court
yesterday, and occupied the entire day.
The government resumed putting in its
testimony as soon as the court met,
Mr.. Il. H. G.. Todd testified TO selling
house 1919 ii street northeast to Mrs. Car
penter, her paying between 500 and $500
on II, and being unable to meet the balance
OF the payments returned the deed to him.
Officer VIM. 4. Riley found the defendant
at the house Of Mrs, Wheelock. She de-
MED that her name was Mrs. Carpenter,
but said It was Hattie Parker; that she
never lived at 1919 II street northeast, but
did live on Sixth street before coming to
Mrs. Wheelock's. When he asked why she
denied her name she said her husband had
gone away, and after two or three weeks
he told her that she could change her name
II she wanted to.
Detective VIM. Y. Edelin, testified to ac-
companying Mrs. Carpenter from the house
Of Mrs. Wheelock TO the station house. She
asked what was wanted of her and he told
her that he wished to sec II she was able to-
identify q body found under the house
No. 1919 ii street as that Of her husband.
She said, ooh, my, ] wonder who could
have killed him. She was taken to where
the body laid in the station house, and
when asked II she recognized IL, she made
no answer. Later he searched premises
No. 1919 II Hstreet, which were vacant, but
failed to find either AK or hatchet but af-
terward found an AK at her rooms in jack
son alley
~ then went to see her In iail,u said the
witness, "and she said was talking her to
death asking her questions
"Did you caution her?" asked the Judge,
"that what she said would be used against
her.n
~ did not,n replied the detective.
"Then l do not think l will allow
the testimony to be received" said the
judge. "Ihis pumping should not be per
mitted. Here was poor creature confined
in cell, not knowing the object Of ques-
tioning her or the consequence other answers
as to herself. In some cases such course
might be excusable, but in,one of this CRAFTY
/ do not think II should be. / know that
| get admissions from them for thelpurpose OF
| using them against the party, and | hope
| / shall hear no more OF it.n
| Mr. T.. v. Davis testified that he had
| Carpenter in his employ about fifteen years
and saw him last at noon on Christmas day,
1888. The next day he recAved letter
| supposed to have been written by Carpen-
| ter, but which he did not think was his as
| IL differed from the writing he had of
| Carpenters In his possession.
The letter is addressed to Mr.. Z. G. Davis,
corner Eighth street and Market space, Is
| postmarked East Capitol station, Dec. 20,
| m, 1888, and reads as follows:
Mr.. DAvIs-when this letter reach you will
| be on my way to the iar west. My uncle leaves
| me all his money and home out west, and / am
going out there 70 live. I have lived life OF
\ shame in Washington. What with so much
| whisky. and keeping so many women my
health s Is oil @ gone, am going to the west, in
Washington: l tried TO get you man but
could not. You will halter get one for yourself.
Mr.. Davis said that Carpenter was in
debted to him for about $50 when he left;
in fact, he was always ahead.
Joseph p. Page, boolkeeper with Mr.. e.
| G. Davis, testified that at the request of
Mr. Davis he visited Mrs. Carpenter and
told her Of tho letter received by Mr.. Davis,
and inquired II she knew where Carpenter
was, and replied that she thought he was
in Ohio She also said that her husband
had beon down town spending his money
on whisky and women, and had not done
much for her and their children.
Mr.. j. G. Sayille, an expert in hand
writing, testified to having examined the
due bill, order, and letter held by Mr.. Da-
| Wis, and IL the two former were written by
Carpenter then the letter was not. The
signature to the letter was similar In char.
acteristics to the words, George Carpenter,
written by the defendant at the station
| house.
Officer John w. Bailey, brother of the
defendant, testified TO seeing the body al
the station house, and recognizing Il az
that of Carpenter. He had no converse
ton with his sister about the case. The
only thing she ever said to him was thai
| she did not do IL.
With this witness the prosecution CLOSED
its case in chief.
Officer Bailey was recalled for the defense
and testified that his father was insane fol
long time, and died In the insane asylum
He alwys thought his sister acted strange
when she was young, and used to call hel
crazy. His eldest sist was insane, and diet
In the asylum.
Margaret johnson, aged S5 years, aunt o.
the defendant, testified that her brother
the father Of the defendant, died in the in
sane asylum, and that his older daughter
died in the same asylum. Mrs. Carpenter
had peculiar ways from the time of he
childhood.
Alfred Pope testified that he lived will
the family some thirty-seven years, and h,
thought there was something wrong abou
the most Of them. They all had peculiar
ways.
NJ. p Key was at the station house wheI
Mrs. Carpenter was brought in to identify
the corpse. She did not seem interested
about 1t at all, and 1t had no effect upon her
and when asked about II she said that sh,
did not know anything. He thought from
her action that she was not right in he
mind.
Leonard G. Bailey, brother of the defend
ant, testified to the mental condition Of DIFF
ferent members Of the family.
Rebecca Laavlette visited at the house o
| a,,1 doc al tl..Nh l.
ied life was happy one.
At this point the court adjourned unit
this morning.