Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-07-02
THE CARPENTER TRAGEDY.
Testimony Of the Widow.

DIE SAID The SKULL IN COURT Is NOT
LATE HUSBANDS.
In the Criminal Court yesterday, in the case
OF Mrs. ii. l. Carpenter, charged with the muir
der Of her husband on Christmas day, ] SS3
Alfred Pope, Samuel Chase and Mrs. ]. Hughes
testified. NJ. p. Key testified that he was at
the station when the accused saw the body. She
did not seem to take any interest in the matter
nervousness or emotion. She had strange
look in her eyes. l.. {. Bailey, brother of the ac-
cused, testned to the mental condition OF differ
testified that Mrs. Carpenters married life was
happy one.
TESTIMONY TO-DAY AS TO INSANITY.
This morning A. d. Prince testified that Mrs
Carpenter was a servant in his family for two
weeks in January, 1884, and her actions were
DR.. Alex. McWilliams physician of the JaiD,
testified that since her confinement at the Jail
docile, well behaved prisoner rather lady like.
Her readings were of the higher class-Scott,
d. Dickens, DC. On cross-eXamination witness
dicate an unsOund mind.
Or. w. W.. Godding superintendent of the
nn ha hospital for the nsane testified
authorities agree that if insanity is not heridi-
tary the tendency to the disease is transmitted.
pital and read that j. W. Bailey was admitted
to the asylum March 10Th, 1855: died April 9TH.
1857: Some Of the earlier patients (and Bailey
~.
He also read that Annie Robinson daughter of
J; ". Bailey was admitted AUGUST 21st,
from the record of Annie Robinson at the time
of her admission that she had homicidal
mania.
"What," asked MIR. Mackey, sis insanity? is
the cOnundrum would ask
DIR. Godding-"That is the question usually
show that the witness does not know of what
he is testifying." Laughter. After defining
insanity witness said an insane person would
perform an act knowing 1t to be wrong.
The Court-'SO do sane persons
Witness-'The insane do such acts being i'm
peled-the will power being impaired. Skill
ful devices to conceal may exist with in
sanity"
Mr.. Mackey stated the facts of the case with
asked IL lie would hold the person insane
Dr. Goddng said that the facts were sufficient
to base theory of insanity upon, but he would
not say that she was insane.
MRS. CARPENTER TEsTIFIEs.
The defendant, attired in black, was placed
on the stand, on which rested the skull of the
dead man, and having been sworn, was asked:
"Did you murder your husband?"
Witness, shaking her head, replied: "No, no
SIR
Question.-Where Is your husbande
Answer.-I don't know where he is. He told
me that he was going west.
"Is that your husbands slull?"
Witness picked it up and examined it, and
replied: ~ don't think it is. The hole in the
bottom is not large enough. George had very
Q:-pid youwrite that letter. (the one written
to Mr.. Davis)
Al did not. did not know that he went
with other women, and never accused him oft.
She stated that her husband furnished the
money TO support the family himself and seven
never treated her badly, for she never disobeyed
him in her Lie. Sometimes he slept apart from
her, and in December was sleeping away from
her because she had sick baby. He preferred
when the baby was in the bed with her to sleep
elsewhere, as he was large man. There was u
little trap down in the closet. When her hus-
band came home, about O'Clock, he sat down
and said he had got his dinner at Hillery Davis
He did not talk much, but told her he was
house and asked who it was and he said that is
all right. He then told her to take Ida to bed
with her to help her to take care of the child
She went to bed, leaving him down stairs. and
she went to bed she saw 4 man standing by
the tree box and her husband go out to him.
That was the last she had seen of him.
When she Was going to bed her husband said
night He said nothing about going west
not see him next day She had Carpenters
supper ready in the evening when M. Page
called and asked if her husband had gone
away or was in trouble, and she said: II do not
know. but he had been talking of going west"
Witness took the name of Hattie Parker. for
her husband said ii he was away three weeks she
Size took the name of Parker after her grand
parents. Her grandfather called her Queen, as
:i.So her husband. She went out TO service at
Mr.. Princes, on 9Th street: while there re-
manned OF nights with the exception of one
night in the week and one sunday. Then went
TO Mrs WheelOck's, and when she did not sleep
there she was at home with her children.
When Carpenter came home on Christmas
night there We're two voices she heard few
days before Christmas he gave her $50 and
enough groceries to last two OR three months.
The witness was closely cross-eXamined. and
left the stand at 2:15, having shown no emotion
whatever while giving her testimony.
This closed the testimony for the defense, and
Mr.. Page and Others testified in rebuttal.