Waterbury Democrat., 1902-08-13
ACT OF A CRAZY, WOMAN.
Threw Carbolic Acid IN tho Facas )

lWo Ioung People Last Night.
"A demented woman named Sarah
harpelman, living in Schlegers builds
ing, corner of North Elm and Kings.
Dury streets, threw carbolic acid In fhe
races OF Miss Regina Walezin and
Cnarles Berger as they were walking
On spark street last evening. Mrs
hafpelman is now in detention in the
almshouse, and the objects of her spite.
II spite was the motive Of her action.
are ia the care of a physician. The in
cldent occurred about 9:3O o'clock. and
10 less than half an hour later the
woman was 10 the custody of the po-
lice. Her victims were taken to Can
non & Upham's drug store on North
Main street, where they were given All
attention possible by DR. McLinden.
There Is the greatest mystery about
the incident, for it is generally assumed
tnat the most serious motive must be.
peh1nd such an act as this. Miss
Walezin and her brother Samson, were
walking on Spark street and a little be-
mind them was Charles Berger an EN-.
ploye OF the Jacques theater. Spark
street is one Of the darkest streets in
the city. Tt is impossible to recognize
one there at night. for the electric
lamps are so placed that very little
light is thrown on either of the side
walks. The young woman and her
brother We're going toward the clock
Factory, evidently going home, when a
woman, who seemed to have suddenly
sprung up before them, dashed some
thing toward their faces. Both Miss
Walezin and Berger. who was walking
behind, got the most Of the LIQUID.
Samson Walezin got very little Of it.
To- ~
that all of it was intended for the girl.
The biting effects Of the liquid told
them it was something dangerous, and
they fastened to the drug store mem
toned. Their wounds were found to
be not serious The left side of the
girls face and scalp and, it is thought,
her left eye, also We're burned some
what, the eye very slightly. Berger's
injuries were on the same side Of his
face and somewhat more serious. 1t is
yet too early to say If the sight of
either will be affected
When the news got out that acid had
been thrown a crowd quickly gathered
about the drug store, and officer Hick-
ey happening to be in the vicinity, as
certained who it was that threw it,
fastened to the woman's apartments
and began a search. Meantime word
81
found his son. Officer Dodds, doorman
at the police station. on the way to the
woman's house. While Officers Hickey
and Dodds were on the way with her
to the police station. Detective Dodds
searched her house and found bottle
bearing Cannon & Upham's label. con-
tanning about two teaspoonfuls Of car
boIic acid. At the police station the
woman admitted throwing the acid.
and DR. Poore examined her and she
was found to be mentally unbalanced.
She was Immediately taken to the
Brookside home.
No reason can be assigned for the
act, which is looked upon as one of
the most inhuman in the calendar of
crime. Mrs Karpe1man has been
looked upon as insane and unsafe for
some time, but this was the only act
that confirmed that idea. She has had
a great deal of trouble Some time ago
her marriage was dissolved. Her hus-
band alleged that she had misled him
into marrying her. He claimed that.
unknown to him; she had a husband
living when he married her, conse-
ouently he was not her legal husband.
Attornev Bradstreet represented the
husband Mrs Karpelman was not
represented The case was proved and
the marriage annu1led.
Another account has II that the acid
was thrown at Miss Walezin as she
was standing at her doorstep, 1t may
be said. Mrs Karpelman then went
up North Elm street and meeting Ber-
ger, who was alone on Spark street,
she attacked him. Mrs Karpelman
| did not Know either of her victims and
| her motive is said to be satisfaction
for the annoyance she has been sub
iected to by the small boys who live
| in her neighborhood.