The San Francisco call., 1898-07-21
Suspect in the Carpenter
 Case a Bad Man.
MISSILES CLOSING ABOUT HIM
MANY WITNESSES GIVE HIM AN
 EVIL CHARACTER.
Police Are Inclined to Think They Have at Last Caught the Fiend of the
 Alleys.

The police are working aSsiduouSly to find the murderer of Mrs. Sadie Carpen- ter, who was strangled in room 10 of the Hubbard House last Sunday morning, but evidence sufficient to fasten the crime on any individual has not as yet been discov- cred. Diligent search is being made for Henry Carpenter, the missing husband. Several officers are endeavor1ng to get some trace of him. but up to this time their efforts have been futile.
 That Joe Lochner, the man held under suspicion of knowing something of the tragedy, even If he is not the actual cHm- fnal is a confirmed degenerate of the worst type has been established. The po- lice have found several witnesses who will testify to his evil character if such evi- 'dence is needed. It has also been ascer- tsined that he is of a violent disposition, especially when thWarted in his inclina- tions. A woman, whose name is withheld by Captain Seymour, yesterday made statement to the captain in the presence of Lochner in which she declared that he had treated her with violence and that he is feared and abhOrred by all who know him. Lochner was very much agltated when confronted by the woman and she accused him of violence He trembled violently and could not sit still in his chair
 Testimony of a similar import was given last evening by another woman who lives in a Fourth street lodging house
 In both instances Lochner was present when the statements were made, and sup sequently he admitted that they told the truth.
 Late last night two experts on insanity carefully examined the suspect in the City Prison. They questioned him closely, and when they had finished declared that he was a man capable of any crime.
 He st gg9tfes%5s Is his innoGenGs Sd of tas his opinion that Carpenter is the guilty man.
 Captain Seymour is now inclined to be- lieve that Lochner is the strangler, but he viii not say so positively. Lochner 5 record has been dug up by the detectives. and he is known to be most despicab ble character. So far he has succeeded in repeating the same story when catechiSed by different individuals, but he Is get ting very nervous and Is laborlng under q great mental strain.
 lie is or the point of collapse. and If he is guilty of murder it is quite probable he will break down in short time and make a confession. His mind Is diseased, the result of e;lcesses and he cannot hold out long if he is kept on the rack He was under CrOsS-eEa imitation all yeSter- day afternoon. and last evening he was in such nervous condition that he could hardly talk.
 Another soldier was brought into the case yesterday by the perusal of a letter found in Mrs. Carpenters room. He is J. B. Williams. a Washington Volunteer. His letter Is as follows;
 FONTANA BARRACKS, June g. Dear Madam; In this mornings issue of the so1c.ting plain sewing and mending done at home Now, in answering your ad. would state that do not wish any sewing or mend .-E done at present. but being Q soldier in a strange city l would like to form the acquaint- ence or some lady, widow or Tnaiden-one I could call on occasionally or spend a pleasant afternoon or evening with and occasionally go out sightseeing Now will say that if this objection l shall be pleased to call on you if you vii naIne the day and hour that I may zCa nrf- mir have the pleasure of meeting you. I am. dear madam. respectfully yours,
 J. B. WILLIAMS,
 Company L. Washington Volunteers.
 Williams will be brought over from Angel Island where he is now stationed to-day. and asked what he knows about Mrs. Carpenter Williams is not suspect cd or the murder, but the police think he may possibly give them a clew on which to work, as he is known to have visited the woman.
 Detectives have visited all the harness and saddlery supply houses in the city in search of a lire on Carpenter, but have not found anything which might lead to his whereabouts. Some weeks ago he bought a small bill CT goods of Johnson G Co.,. and paid for them, but had not been heard of since.
 The police are nonplused if Lochner is not the man who strangled Mrs. Carpen- ter. They say the case Is the most difi- cult the department has ever had to handle. It is impossible to formulate any theory as 10 the motive of the assassin. He may have been q thief or he may have been a madman. If Lochner is the mar the question arises. What did he do with the watch and money the woman is known to have had? He left the room when the clerk went after the officer and then had an opportunity of hiding the coin and watch. But his room and cloth ing were searched and nothing incrimin aung was found He had no money wher he reached the prison. Another strange