The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-02-07
SUSPECTED OF MURDER.
CLEARING UP THE MYSTERY OF
MAMIE TOMPKINS' DEATH.


William Love Arrested and in Jail to
Await the Development of Further
Evidence The Finding Of the
Drowned Girls Body-Loves Suspi-
cious Acts-The Evidence Against
Him.
On Jan. 81 the body of a negro woman
was fished out of the river at the Savannah,
Florida and Western railway wharf. 1t
had been in the water several days and. was
the BODY of middle-aged woman, short
and of stout build 1t was neatly clothed
in calico dress with black jersey waist
The shoes were nearly new and the hair
was carefully plated.
Coroner Dixon made diligent inquiry
as to the identity of the body, but without
success. No negro woman was known to be
missing and no one remembered to have
seen this one in life. The Coroner ordered
the body buried, after taking a full de-
scription of it. which he had published, with
the idea that some clew 10 the drowned
woman'S identity might be obtained.
CIEW TO THE DEAD.
In few days negro woman named
Caroline Pines came to his office and said
that the description fitted a girl named
Mamie Tompkins, who had lived with her
up 10 a short time ago on the south side of
Jones street, west of East Broad. She said
that the girl had a sweetheart named Will
lam Love, a negro who worked on the
stea ner Katie, and that Love had been
to see her on Sunday night, Jan. s.
He insisted on her going TO his
room with him, but she refused and urged
him 10 take her to church. They argued
the matter for some time, and he finally
lost patience and attempted to strike
her. She broke away and ran from
him, and he grabbed up lamp
and hurled it after her He pur-
sued the girl out of the yard, into the street
and out of sight The Pines woman said
since. The description of the body found
in the river exactly suited Mamie Tonp-
kins, as she was dressed ready to go to
church on the night of Jan. s.
LOVE KEEPS SHADY.
Love was not seen at the Pines woman's
house any more until the night of Jan. ID,
when he appeared and asked for Mamie's
trunk.
What have you done with Mamief' the
woman asked.
shes living in the 'Craw with me now.
I've rented house there and Mamie and
are living together" was the reply.
Il think that's mighty strange" remarked
Caroline. "She went Off without any
clothes except what she had on, and bare
headed"
"Mamies all right I've got money and
have rugged her up in style" was Loves
reply.
The Pines woman was suspicious and did
not turn the trunk over to Love, notwith-
standing he made threats aud begged for it
alternately. She waited for Name Tomp-
klns' return day after day, until hearing If
the drowned woman and her description
she went to Coroner Dixon with the story.
ON TRACK OF THE RIGHT MAN
The Coroner was satisfied that Love was
the girls murderer, and he accordingly
swore out a warrant before Justice Molina,
and it was intrusted to Constable Endres to
execute. The name of William Love could
not be found in the list of the Katie's hands.
but John Love was there The Constable
went on the boat as she lay at her wharf
yesterday morning. and arrested John
Love
He at once began protestations of inno-
cence, and objected to accompanying the
Constable, but he was finally carried before
Justice Molina. When he was first asked
if he knew Mamie Tompkins he denied all
knowledge of her.
Caroline Pines was sent for and before
she arrived Love confessed that he did
know Manic TompkinS, but had not seen
her in some time As soon as the Pines
woman laid eyes on Love she identified him
as the man VINO had frequently visited her
house to see Mamie Tompkins, and had
chased her away on the night of Jan. s, re-
turning a week after for her trunk.
NEVER KNEW MAMIE ToMPKINs.
Love denied any acquaintance with the
Pines woman and all she had said of him,
contessing nothing more than the slightest
acquaintance with Mamie 'rompkins. The
Magistrate ordered him TO jail and the
Baiiiff approached him 70 put on n pair of
handouts. Love drew back and said he
would not allow the bracelets to be put on.
He is a man of medium height, with
strong and athletic frame, and a fight with
him was not exactly the sort of thing that
would be enjoyed by a man singe-banded,
and the Constable called in help. BY quiet
force the nippers were put around his wrist.
and he was shortly on his way to the Jail
Another party is in or about the city who
saw the flight of Mamie Tompkius and fol-
lowed her and the pursuing Love for some
distance He has not been found, but il is
probable that he will soon turn up and fur
nish additional evidence that is needed to
clear up the mystery of the woman who was
fshed from the river, as well as of the dis.
appearance of Mamie Tompkins