Waterbury evening Democrat., 1893-07-10
THAT CARPENTER CHEW
His Name Connected With the Borden Murder Once Before.
AN NALIBIwAs PRovENATTHBTIM

He Did Not Return to Fall River Because l
 He Dreaded Publicity, and That was
 Why His Wife Wrote the Letter Which |
 Was Lost.
 FALL RIVER, Mass, July 1o-Anothel | supposed olew to the Borden murder has been hunted down and found to be false and worthless
 Joseph W. Carpenter, Jr., about whom much is now being printed in connection with the Borden murders because of a sus- picious letter supposed to have been ad- dressed to him in New York, is no longer suspected He formerly worked for the Borden & Amy firm of furniture dealers, of which Andrew J. Borden was the senior member. It was alleged against Carpen- ter at one time that he falsified the firms books. Some Sagamore 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 care to face, and the pro ceedings were quashed. Andrew Borden was most severe with Carpenter, but the latter never had serious trouble with him.
 Carpenter left the city shortly afterward and became a drummer for inks, 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.
 Was Suspected Once Before.
 When the Borden tragedies were heralded about the country last August, every man who might have had reason for enmity toward MT. Borden was hunted down. Among the unfortunate suspects was Car penter. District Attorney Knowlton felt satisfied from his talk with Mrs. Carpenter and her little girl here that her husband had not been in this vicinity since the time of the tragedy nor for some time before it.
 Nevertheless, at the suggestion of Mar shAl Hilliard, who was urged on by Mir.
 Jennings, the now Captain Harrington was sent out 10 run down Carpenter and to obtain positive information of his where abouts during the latter days of July and the early days of August, 1892. Carpenter proved an ahbi by hotel clerks and regis ters.
 Because of Carpenters family connec- tions he was very much chagrined at being followed by a detective, also at being again troubled by the resurrection of the old story of the falsihcation of the books. He has not cared to come this way, although his relations with his wife's family are of the best possible character; so far as the po- lice khow.
 One fact in connection with the Carpen- ter matter caused Miss Borden's lawyers to be persistent in their search for him. It was positively stated by one Peter DriscoIl that he had shaved Carpenter in the barber shop at the Wilbur House day or two be- fore the murders was committed. This l story, the police say, was wholly unfounded. Why She Wrote It.
 Mrs. Joseph w. Carpenter, who is now
 at the home of her father-in-law, where 1 she is visiting with her daughter has been | interviewed. In answer to questions, she l said she wrote a letterto her husband some l 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 annoyance here on account of the murders, inasmuch as Miss Lizzie was ac- | emitted and the feeling in the matter had | quieted down. She wrote in this strain because her husband had been diffident
 about coming to Fall River on account of | having once been shadOwed and had his name mixed up in the affair.
 I She said that her husband has not been here since Decoration day, 1892, and that | his whereabouts after that date had been | fully explained to the satisfaction of the l police. She cannot explain how her letter
 was lost. She wrote to her husband Sat
 urday and receives letters from him regu
 larly. She requested that Captain liar | rington's detailed statement be given tht
 broadest publication. The officer says ht
 cannot talk at present, but will have a con
 sultation with the marshal today.