The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-11
Married Man Suspected of Brutality
killing Miss Carrie VI. Jennett,
One of His Pupils.
CRIME AN ATROCIOUS ONE
GIRLS NECK BROKEN AND THROAT
CUT FROM EAR TO EAR.
Another Mysterious Murder in the
Same City-BOokkeeper Slain Not
Far from His Home.

DETROIT. Mich, April 1O.-What the po-
lice believe to be a strong link in the chain
of circumstantial evidence that they are
weaving about Prof. Joseph NJ. Miller,
aged forty-seven. a music teacher and a
married man with a family who is under
arrest on suspicion OF brutality numbering
Miss Carrie M. Jennett on Thirteenth street
before midnight last night. was discovered
this evening. 1t is blood-stsined Ratchet
which was found in the drawer OF a table
in Miller's kitchen
There is now the following circumstantial
evidence against PROFESSOR Miner, VINO was
the girls music teacher ana HAD paid her
such marked attentions that her father had
asked him to keep away from the house
When he was examined at the Grand
River-avenue police station this morning
what are supposed TO be blood stains were
found on his shirt sleeves, his trousers,
shoes hat ana overcoaI. ~ towel was dis
covered In mis- kitchen, with what are sup
posed TO be blood stains on it. When he
was asked Tor an explanation of the stains
on his clothing he gave none, ana finally
the blood-stalned Ratchet was found to-
night
Miss Jennett. who was twenty-five years
OF age, and who would have become d
mother in a few months, was murdered just
before u o'clock last night. she was 1eued
by blow on the head, which broke ner
neck. and her throat from ear 10
ear. A blow from some instrument made
a hole in the middle OF her forehead, ana
behind her left ear was a deep stab wound,
evidently made by the same Instrument
that was used to cut her throat. In addl-
ton TO these CHASTITY wounds heavy blow
had been struck the side of her face
fracturing the cheek bone. Her mutilated
ly spot on Thirteenth street. 1t was taken
to the morgue and not identified undl this
morning.
Miss jennett left her home last evening to
attend a meeting~of the Rebekah Lodge, OF
which she was a meg1ber. She left the
meeting about 10 o'clock and was not-ssen
again alive. Her parents were alarmed at
her not coming home. and when they heard
of the murder became fearful that it
might be their daughter. Mr.. Jennett hur-
ried to the morgue and there identified the
body. The father informed the police of
his daughters infatuation for Professor
Miller, and the teacher was placed under
arrest. Miller took the situation very cool
ly when he was examined at the station.
Nothing could be learned from questioning
him. He was then ordered to take off his
clothes, and on the shirt the police found
blood stains. Miller offered no explanation
of them. More stains were found on other
garments. Miller still maintained absolute
silence as to the murder. 1t was then de-
cided to lock him up. While he was being
registered the blotter the music teacher
collapsed and tainted. He was revived
only to faint again as the officers conducted
him to a cell
Miller left his house last evening to at
tend lodge meeting on Baker street and
returned about 11:20 o'clock, apparently
cool and undisturbed. He alleged that he
did not leave the meeting until IL O'clock
but several persons who were there say he
left between 10 and 1920 o'clock. The muir
der was committed at five minutes after II
o'clock. near as officers learn. 1t
would have been possible for Miller to go
from the hall on Baker street to the scene
of the crime in twenty minutes. This was
demonstrated tonight by a reporter who
made the trip in sixteen minutes. From
the location of the crime to Miller's home is
but a comparatively short walk.
Tonight Miller is sleeping quietly i'm the
Grand River-avenue Police Station. While
the police think they have strong circum-
stantial evidence against the suspect they
admit that they are still far short of
enough to convict him of the murder
Nothing can De gained from Miller by
questioning. He simply insists that he
knows nothing of the murder.
The blade and handle of the bloodstained
hatchet, which was found this afternoon
had been washed, but there were still
stains on the claw hammer end of the in
strument and on the handle where it en-
tered the Ratchet proper. 1t is the theory
of the police that the faint blood stains on
the towel found in the kitchen came from
the Ratchet, which was wiped on it after it
had been washed. The Ratchet was shown
to Miller this evening but he made no
comment on il.