The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-12-30
GOSSIP OF A DAY.
One Of a Few UnSOlved
Murder Mysteries.
Parmenter'S ASSailant Never
Convicted of the Crime.
The New Movement on Part of Hack
Owners and It's Results.

Thus far the police detectives, although
they have worked industriously, have
ia lied to find the person or persons con-
cerned in the Canal street tragedy ON
Christmas night This, however, Is no
indication that they will not succeed
ultimately. Indeed, there is every reason
TO believe that their industry and clever
ness will eventually result in a solution
of the present mystery and the apprehen-
sion and punishment OF the guilty. 1t
is fact worthy of note that the list OF
unsolved murder mysteries in Providence
is very short one. Most of those ante
date the organization of the police de-
partment under the present system. The
only case of the kind within the last two
decades which can be recalled was that OF
Permenter, who met death in his barn
through the blow of a robbers club and
the subsequent tIampling OF his horse.
Air. Parmenter mad gone into the barn
as usual 10 put up his horse In the
evening. 1t was dark and he used a
lantern. That was the last seen OF him
alive, for he was found dead q few hours
later.
The Investigation subsequently made
established the fact that Mr.. Parmenter
had been knocked senseess by blows OF
a biudgeon and then robbed OF what
money was on his person. These blows
did not kill him outright, but his horse
becoming restless backed out OF the
stall tefore which the senseless man lay.
In doing this the animal ether kicked or
stepped upon him, crushing in the skull,
in Which the indentations made by the
calks of the shoe Were plainly observable.
The very day on which the assault was
committed man went TO Eogman's wood
yard and obtained siick OF wood from
which he sawed off a part. This stick, with
handle Whitfield on 1t, was the one
touud in the barn and was the one with
which MIR. Parmenter had been knocked
sengeless Several persons saw the man
who obtained the stick OF wood at the
wood yard. but curiousiy enough not one
OF them was ever able to give verv deb"
mite description Of him. The police have
always felt however, that one of the per-
sons arrested by them was the perpetra-
tor OF the crime, bat they were unable
to do anything with him as Mr.. Pogman
could not Identify him when he was
brought before him at police headqusr-
ters. Moreover. Mr.. Bogman made his
statement In the presence of the prisoner
which OF course placed that individual in
a position TO thwart any effort made 10
lead shim into damaging admissions.
Therefore the Parmenter case has come
down as one OF the lew unsolved murder
mysteries in the criminal annals OF Prov.
idencn.
So the hackmcn have organized and are
going 10 raise the price OF carriages for
attending funerals. Their argument is
that they Will bc able TO give better SER
vice at an Increase OF about 80 per cent.
on the old rate. That is to be expected.
man doesn't pay four dollars Tor SER
vice he ha ususllg pad three dollars for
without trying 10 get something addi-
tionai for the extra dollar. But in what
way ia this better service to be renderedY
Are the horses TO receive an additional
quart OF oats a day. the harnesses an
extra cleaning, or the carriage one moro
washing than is Customariiy given it?
Oc are tho drivers TO be the ones bene
fited; are they TO get more money for
their services, or viii they receive an
extra allowance OF bright buttons for
their coats? This extra dollar AZ 1t is
going TO improve the service must GO for
one or the other OF these purposes or
else he clear additional profit Tor tho
carriage owners. Which 4; Is Will he
known when 1t Is determined whether
this rom .scd improvement in service Is
n rcSAty or only convenient bgurS oil
speech.
Here IN Providence ihs number o. lnng
funeral cortcg.s is undoubtedly lar ger
than IN any city Of similar size in he
country. II il no uncommon thing TO
see nearly n hundred carriages following
the remains OF some departed private
citizen to their last r'sting place. while
frequently the funeral trans Ct children
have been known TO number more than
fifty harlSs. All this IL a testimony TO
the worth OF the derartef and he esteem
in which be was held. Such an indica-
ton OF sorrow and such tribute OF
mum bcrs must OF course be somewhat
soothing 20 tho grief OF tho relatives
OF the decreased, but after all
Il must be admitted that in many cases
persons attend funerals 4, carriages who
can al afford the outlay. Three dollars Is
no insigniHcant amOunt TO a man whose
wages for n week probably do not much
exceed three times that sum, and yet II
Il among this poorly paid class oil citizens
that the custom OF attending funerals In
carriages. whether the deceased may have