Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1885-12-03
THE sH4RPLEss MURDER.
The Largest Funeral in ihe Memory
of Delaware COuntians-'Fhe Hear
ing of Carpenter Before Mayor
FOrNOOd,

The Largest Funeral tn ihe Memory
of Delaware Countians-Fhe Hear
ing of Carpenter Before Mayor
FOrwOOd.
The funeral of John Sharpless, the
murdered Friend, which occurred Thurs
day from the old Sharpless homestead,
near Chester, Pa, attracted an unpreoe-
dented gathering of people. There were
at least 5000 people present.
Such funeral has never been seen in
Delaware county in the memory of any
one alive. There were over 100 members
of the Sharpless family present, some of
them from distant states. The body,
resting in plain but rich coffin, was
viewed by more than 1900 people, and
several hours were consumed in the
passage of the line through the old
homestead parloi. Old men, and young
men also for that matter, were seen to
weep as they passed by and gazed upon
the calm, peaceful face of the old man, a
face as we'll known and as well beloved
as that of any in Delaware county.
The interment was in the rear of the
little Orthodox meeting house at Shoe
makerville, where the Sharpless family
have worshiped for 100 years. Mrs,
Sharpless and her sister, Miss Pratt, h al
so far recovered that they were able to
attend the obsequies.
Early Thursday morning posse of
Chester police and Detective Mintzhouser
of Philadelphia headed by the Chester
Chief of Police, went out near Media, and
arrested John Carpenter, a colored man,
whose appearance SO tallies with the de-
wi fYtr,,sa1,aI h.
that there seems some probability that he
is the guilty man.
The coroner's jury, investigating the
murder of John Sharpless, was to have
met and rendered verdict Monday, but
the meeting was postponed as Mrs.
Sharpless is in critical condition, the
strain of repeating her testimony or at
tempt to identify the prisoner, it waa
feared, would be two much for her. A
report was circulated that she was dying,
but member of the Sharpless family
denied this, saying: "Her doctor thinks il
may be three four weeks before she re-
covers entirely. She is not worse than
she was last Friday. After a while she
will, no doubt, begin to strengthen"
Judge Broomall, who was the legal
adviser of the deceased, has written a
lengthy paper in support of his stand
that the culprit was lunatic, and the
paper will be printed in the Media Ameri.
can. He asserted Monday, in CONVEX
sation with reporter, that the police are
behaving like bloodhounds, and that
there is no evidence whatever against
Carpenter. He denied positively that
Mrs. Sharpless thought he was the man.
It is stated, however, that on Friday last
Judge Broomall told Chief of Police
Williamson not to let Carpenter go until
he was photographed, so that if he ran
away he might be followed.
Chief of Police Williamson of Chester
came to this city Monday evening to take a
look at Ellwood Ringgold, the colored
man, who was arrested by Sergeant
Money, as bearing striking resemblance
to the description given of the muir
derer. The officer of course was
unable to identify the negro and he will
probably be held until he can be taken
before Mrs Sharpless. Chief Dougherty
thinks if Ringgold cannot be connected
with the murder, he is guilty of some
crime, as he is exceedingly nervous and
tells wildly conflicting stories.
Carpenter was given hearing yester.
day and discharged