Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-06-29
Did She XIII Her Husbnntle
THE TRIAL OF HENRIETTA LOUISA CARPENTER
FOR THE MURDER.

THE TRIAL OF HENRIETTA LOUISA CARPENTER
FOR THE MURDER.
This morning, in the Criminal Court, Judge
Macarthur, he trial of Mrs. Henrietta Louisa
Carpenter, indicted for the murder of her hus-
band, George w. Carpenter, on December %
1888, was resumed; District Attorney Worth
ington and Mr.. II. T. Taggart, assistant district
attorney, for the government and Mr. T. J.
Mackey for the defendant.
ATTORNEY TAGGART'S STORY OF THE CRIME
The jury selected last week were sworn, and
Mr.. Taggart opened the case for the govern
ment, stating they expected to prove that the
deceased was about 43 years OF age; that at the
time he was murdered he was in good health
that he was at the store of his employer, Mr.. f.
q. Davis, on Christmas day, and that evening
was at his house, but was not seen afterwards
till his body was found in May following be-
meath the house where he had lived covered
with debris and lime. The rear portion of the
skull had been fractured repeated blows hav-
Ing been given. They expected TO show that
Carpenter lived at the house, on II street, be-
tween 10th and IL tn northeast, with his family,
and from the nature of his business was not
regular i'll his hours; that he had no propensity
for other women than his wife: that on Christ
mas day he bought some presents for the chill
dren, and returning in the afternoon
day following, the Doth, a letter was received
by Mr.. Davis stating he lC1 had gone west
was the cause of his downfall. They expected
to show that the letter WAS not written by de-
ceased, but by the accused that she went out to
service givin. the name of Hattie johnson and
to the officer that of Hattie Parker. Mr.. Tag
CART then explained that the opening in tie
closet beneath which the body was found had
been made after the house had been built and
by inexperienced hands, and to get the body
out some Of the foundation had to be removed;
that the body was partially covered with a
piece of bed-tfcking.
OPENING FOR THE DEFENSE
Mr.. Mackey, for the defense, said they ex-
pected to show that the circumstances Oh which
the government win rely point away from her.
They would also put in testimony to show that
she was insane, but he did not put in this plea
as a special one, thereby admitting the killing
which he denied. They would show that in
1916, in Georgetown, a few months prior to the
birth of the prisoner, her father was adjudged
insane, having been a maniac for over year
and was SO violent that the roof had to be taken
from the house to get him out. He was taken
in 1858 to ST. Elizabeth hospital, where he
died in 1856; that sister OF the accused died
there in 1876; that the accused has shown
symptoms Of insanity, and that for seventeen
years she was devoted wife to the alleged de-
ceased, with whom she never had a cross wcrd
They would show that there was no motive
Whatever, and she was at that time an invalid.
HOW THE BODY WAS FOUND.
Levi BOwersox, carpenter, testified that in
May, 1888 or 1884, he put in a new floor to
the kitchen OF the house, &c. Hc also put sills
under the house. and in taking off the weather
boarding under the east side he noticed bad
out what it was. Witness noticed pile Of dirt
and quilt and took up a board in the closet
then found the dirt piled up. The colored man
was set to work digging and soon called him.
He went to the closet and putting down his
hand raised q mans foot; then telephoned for
an officer and the body, badly decosn-
posed on one side, was taken out. There was
some lime in q quilt which was wrapped about
it. The opening had the appearance of having
been covered roughly; 1t was about 10 inches
one way and IA the other.
John III. Hall testified as to helping to get the
body out, and rs to its decomposed condition
shoes with the body. One tooth was out There
was q wheelbarrow load Of dirt, about a quar-
ter of peck Of lime and five or six bricks on
W. II. Manley corroborated the testimony of
Mr.. Bo wersox.
CARPENTERS SKULL
DR.. d. c. Patterson testified to holding the in
quest He exhibited the skull and pointed out
the fractures and Indentations, some appear
ing as II done with q hatchet. There were eight
blows besides those made in making the large
opening. The blows may have been made by
person behind the deceased or when he was
lying down on his right side.
On crossexamination witness said II the in.
tent was to kill and the first blow made the
large opening the Others were superfiuous;
altogether they indicated that the party :nfiict-
ing them was terribly In earnest. In an inter-
view with her be had formed the opinion that
time, she was afterward. She was incoherent
In her talk.
After recess Joseph Manley and Warwick
Miner testified as 20 finding the body.
VIM. Green testified that he knew Carpenter
and was there when the body was brought out
and he recognized It as that OF Carpenter.
SICK JURYMAN CAUSES AN ADJoURNNENr
While Green was giving his testimony one OF
the jury, MIR. Henry e. Weaver, was taken sick
with summer complaint, causing q suspension