The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-04-15
4 YOUNG WOMAN MURDERED
Her Music Teacher Arrested-The
Evidence Against Him.

Detroit. Mich, April 10.-What the
nolice consider to be a strong link IN
the chain OF circumstantial evidence
that they are weaving about Professor
Joseph NJ. Miller, aged AZ years, a mu-
sic teacher and a married man with a
family. who is under arrest on suspi-
cion of brutality numbering Miss Carrie
NJ. .Jennet on Thirteenth street. Just
before midnight last night. was discov-
cred this evening. 1t is a blood STAIN
ed hatchet which was found in the
drawer of a table in Miller's kitchen.
There is now the following circum-
~stantial evidence against Professor Mil
Ter. who was the girls music teacher
and had paid her such marked atten-
tions that her father had asked him 20
keep away from the house:
When he was examined at the Grand
River Avenue police station this mOrE-
ing what are supposed to be blOOdstainS
were found on his shirt sleeves. trous-
eTs. shoes. hat and overcoat; a towel
was discovered in his kitchen with
what are supposed TO be blood stains Oil
it: when he was asked for an e~XDlana-
ton of the stains on his clothing he
CAV none and finally tho Dloodstatned
Ratchet was found tonight.
Miss Jennett who was y years OF
e and would have become a mother
in a lew months. was most brutality
done to death Just before Il o'clock
last night. She was felled by a terrific
blow on the head which broke her neck
n her throat was cut from ear to ear.
y blow from some instrument made &
hole in the middle of her forehead, and
behind her left ear was q deep stab
wound, evidently made by the same in
strument that was used to cut her
throat. In addition to these CHASTITY
wounds a heavy blow had been struck
OF the side of her face. fracturing the
cheek bone. Her mutilated body was
found in this condition in a lonely spot
On Thirteenth street. 1t was taken tn
the morgue and not identified until this
morning.
Miss Jennett left her home last even-
ing to attend a meeting of the RebekaIl
odge. of which she was a member Sh-
left the meeting about 10 o'clock ami
was not seen again alive. Her parents
were alarmed at her not coming home
and when they heard of the murder be-
came fearful that it might he their
daughter. Mr.. Jennett hurried to the
morgue and there identified the mutt
lated
The police were working on the caS9
and questioned him as to he girl. He
told them of her infatuation of Pro-
fessor Miller and the teacher was pl"c-
ed under arrest. Miller look the stu
alton very cody when he was examined
at the station. Nothing could he learn
ed from questioning him. He was then
ordered TO take OF his clothes and or
the shirt. the police oun blood stains.
Miller offered no explanation of them
More stains were found on other gar
ments Miller still maintained absoluf.
silence. 1t was then decided To lnck
him I'D. While he was being registere I
on the blotter. the music teacher col
lapsed n tainted. He was revive.
only to faint again as the officers con
Quoted him TO a cell.
Miller left his house last evening to
attend a lodge meeting or Baf"- 8
ard returned about 11:20 o'clock m
parently cool and undisturbed. He al
leges that he did not leave rhe meetins
until IL o'clock. but several persons whu
were there say that he left between 10
and 1920 o'clock. The murder wa
committed at five minutes after II
o'clock as neal as the officers can learn.
Tonight Miller is sleeping like a child
in the Grand River police station.
While tie police have strong cir
cuEstantial evidence against the sus-
pect they admit that they are still far
snort of enough to convict him Of the
murder. Nothing ear be gained from
Miller by questioning. He simply IN
sists that he knows nothing Of tbs
murder