The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-08-31
Stories Told by Minnie Totten, a
Young Daughter, and Mrs. Benz.
Carr, Both Eyewitnesses.
TOTEM WAS VERY DELIBERATE
HE CAME TO INDIANAPOLIS WITH
MURDER IN HIS HEART.
The Crime Committed at the Home of
Mrs. BENJAMIN Carr, ZIG East
New York Street.

Insane from jealous rage, Calvin P. Tot
ten. who came here with his family from
Johnson county several years ago, mur-
dered mis- wife, Cora Totten, and killed
himself yesterday afternoon at $50 o'clock
in front of the residence of Benjamin Carr
at PIG East New York street.
Rapidly but deliberately Totten walked
east on New York street. pushing through
the crowds OF Saturday afternoon shop
pers gossiping merrily their way home,
until he came to the Carr home, a plain
two-story house that for lack of front
yard projects little square porch nearly
to the sidewalk.
Three women were sitting on the small
veranda chatting sociably. They were
Mrs BENJAMIN Carr. Totten's daughter
and his wife. Mrs. Carr was sewing. and
been shopping down town, were talking to
her about Johnson county people, the
county fair at Franklin and recalling hap
penings of other days when the two older
women were neighbors and friends in the
little village of Providence, in Johnson
county. Except for the rush of people
up and down Massachusetts, avenue a
short distance 70 the west there
noise. and the street was quiet and peace
ful The women were laughing among
themselves as they recalled instances of
he
ME was relating some of her experiences
at the Franklin fair. from which she had
just returned. Nothing could have been
further from the thoughts of the little
group than the tragedy that immi-
nent.
SCREAMED WITH FEAR.
Calvin Totten stopped short when he saw
the three women. Mrs. Totten arose from
her chair and gave suppressed scream of
fear She turned to Mrs. Carr with her
hands stretched toward her as IL for pro-
lection. In her fright she could form no
words Totten stepped briskly across the
sidewalk 10 within six feet of the women,
who were standing clustered together al
most in touch with each other. He reached
in his hip pocket and. without a word,
pulled forth a revolver that glittered evilly
IN the rays of the sun. Mrs. Totten
screamed and tried TO run, but before she
had taken two steps Totten pulled the trig-
ger OF the revolver and fired five shots.
after another. Mrs. Totten fell instantly
with four bullets in her back and right side
and never moved again. Mrs Carr ran
into the house, pulling the dazed girl with
her. both unable from their terror and
horror to make an effort to call for help.
Tctten stood for as long as one could
count ten. looking the body of his wife
as II lay In the little passageway near the
porch and watching the thin streams OF
blood discoloring the bricks of the walk.
He saw at the same time that the noise
OF the shooting had aroused the neighbor-
hood and that people were running from
every direction toward the spot He raised
his revolver, brandlshed il in the air and
called out in a voice that could be heard for
half a square: II will kill the first person
that attempts to stop me-" Those who
were in the van stopped at the threat and
watched him turn and run toward Ala
bama street AT the corner of New York
and Alabama streets he stopped again.
looked back toward where the crowd had
gathered In front of the house and then,
a
volyer to the right side of his head, with
the muzzle pressed against the temple. and
fred. The bullet crushed into his brain
and he never recovered from the uncon-
sciousness that followed. At the city Hos
pitaI. an hour and half later. at o clock
he died.
MOTIVE WAS JEALOUSY.
The motive for his crime was jealousy
Seventeen years ago in Providence. John
son county. he married her. She was then
Miss Cora Kiphart. a member of a family
well known and respected in Johnson
county one Of her brothers is at present
a commissioner OF johnson county-Henry
Kiphart: and another brother is a town.
ship assessor in the county-George Kip
hart Totten was then thirty-ive years
old and his wife nineteen. She was. it is
said by Mrs. Carr. pretty woman when
she married and one OF the gayest and
NEST fun loving OF the county young peo-
ple. Totten himself at that time was said
20 be what is commonly called a good fell
low and no trouble arose between him and
his wife until several years after their
marriage. Then Totten developed jealousy
OF a particularly unpleasant nature. He
suspected. IL Is said. that his wife had
ceased 10 give him her affection and he
began 10 make her life series OF quar-
rels and reci.sninations. He accused her of
unfaithfulness and amount OF denials
on her part served TO dull the edge Of his
Jealousy
After they had lived in indianapolis a
while things came to such a pass in the