Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-07-20
THE BORDEN MURDERS AGAIN.
Joseph w. Carpenter and His Suspio-
iouS Letter.

Joseph w. Carpenter and His Suspio-
iouS Letter
Springfield, Mass, July 12-Josepla
w. Carpenter about whom much is
now being printed in connection with,
the Borden muderS, because of SuS-
plciOuS letter supposed to have been ad--
dressed to him in New York; formerly
worked for the Borden e Amy firm of =
furniture dealers at Fall River, OF
which Andrew J. Borden was the sen
iur member 1t was alleged 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 involv--
ca. and the stock proved valueless
Suit followed, but when both parties
were ready for trial Carpenter threat
ene,; something which several of the,
parties did not care to face, and the
proceedings were quashed. Andrew
Borden was most severe with Car
penter 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.
EIp married a daughter of Capt. Bar
ney of Fall River, and was in the city
last in May, 1892. When the Borden
ira gedies were heralded about the coun-
try last August every man who might
have had reason for enmity towards
Mr.. Borden was hunted down.
Among the unfortunate suspects was
Carpenter District Attorney Knowl-
ton felt satisfied from his talk with
Mrs. Carpenter and her little girl at
Fall River that her husband had not
been in that vicinity since the time of
the tragedy nor for some time before
it. Nevertheless, at the suggestion Of
Marshal billiard, who was urged Oh
by Mr.. Jennings, the now Capt. Har-'
ringtOn was sent out to run down Car
penter and to obtain positive informa-
ton of his whereabouts during the lat
ter days of July and the early days Of
August, 1892 Carpenter proved an
alibi by the hotel clerks and registers.
Because of Carpenters family cOnnec-
tons 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 Justification of
the books. He has not cared to visit
Fall River, although his relations WITH
his Wifes family are of the best pos
sible character so far as the police
know. One fact in connection with
the Carpenter matter caused Miss Bor-
dens lawyers to be persistent in their
search for him. 1t was positively stat
ed by one Peter DriscOu that he had
shaved CARPENTER in the barber-ShOp
at the Wilbur house a day or two be-
fore the murders were committed.
This story. the police say. was wholly
unfOunded
Mrs. Joseph w. Carpenter was found
at the home Of her father-in-law last
evening, where she was visiting with
her daughter. In answer to questions,
she said she wrote letter to her hus-
band several days 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 an
noyance at Fall River on account of the
murders, inasmuch as Miss Lizzie was
acquitted and the feeling in the matter
had quieted down. She wrote in this;
strain because her husband had been
diffident 9bOut going to Fall River on
account of having once been Swallowed
and had his name mixed up in the af-
fair. She said that her husband had
not been there since Memorial day,
1892, and that his whereabouts after
that date had been fully explained to
the satisfaction Of the police. She can
not explain how her letter was lost.
She wrote to her husband Saturday
and receives letters from him regularly.