Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1893-07-14
A FALL RIVER MURDER SUS-
PECT.
Some Facts About Joseph Carpen-
ter.


FALL RIVER, July 9.-Joseph W.
Carpenter, jr., about whom much is
now being printed in connection
with the Borden murders, because
of a suspicious letter supposed to
have been addressed to him in New
York, formerly worked for the
Borden & Almy firm of furniture
dealers, of which Andrew J. Borden
WAS the senior member. 1t was al
legged against Carpenter, at one
time, that he falsified the firms
books. Some Sycamore mill stock
was transferred to satisfy the claim,
but later the mill became involved
and the stock proved valueless.
Suit followed, but when both parties
were ready for trial, Carpenter
threatened something, which several
of the parties did not dare to face,
and the proceedings were quashed.
Andrew Borden was most severe
with Carpenter, but the latter never
had serious trouble with him.
Carpenter left the city shortly after
ward, and became drummer for
ink, pens and stationery. He has
travelled the most of the time in
New York state, and generally
makes his headquarters in Albany.
He married daughter of Captain
Barney, of this city and was here
last in May, 1892.
When the Borden tragedies were
heralded about the country last
August, every man who might have
had formerly any differences with
Mr.. Borden was hunted down.
Among the unfortunate suspects was
Carpenter. District Attorney
Knowlton felt satisfied from his
talk with Mrs. Carpenter, and her
little girl, here. that J ashland
had not been in the vicinitS
the time of the tragedy, nor
some time before it. Nevertheless,
at the suggestion of Marshal Hill
lard, who was urged on by Mr.
Sennings, Harrington was sent out
to run down Carpenter and to OBJ
tain positive information of his
whereabouts during the latter days
of July and the early days of Au-
gust, 1899.
Carpenter proved an alibiti by
hotel clerks and registers. One fact
in connection with tue Carpenter
matter, caused Miss Borden's
lawyers to be persistent in their
search for him. IL was positively
stated by one Peter Driscoll, that
he had shaved Carpenter in the
barber shop at the Wilbur House a
day or two before the murders were
committed. This story the police
say was wholly unfounded,
At s o'clock tonight, lIrs.
Joseph W. Carpenter was found at
the house of her father-in-law. In
answer to questions, she said she
wrote a letter to her husband some
weeks ago, in which she begged him
to come home as soon as he could.
She said, in substance, that nobody
could cause him any more annoy
ance here, on account of the murders,
inasmuch as Miss Lizzie was ac-
quilted, and the feeling had queted
down. She wrote in this strain be.
cause her husband had been dialdent
about coming to Fall River on ac.
count of having once been shadow.
ed and had his name mixed up In
the affair. She said that her hus.
band had not been here since Decora.
ton Day, 1892, and his whereabouts
after that had been fully explained
to the satisfaction of the police.
She cannot explain how her letter
was lost. She wrote 10 her husband
yesterday, and received letters from
him regularly. She requested that
Captain llarrIngton's detailed state
ment be given the broadest publiea-
tion. Tho officer says he cannot
talk until tomorrow, when he will
have a consultation with the