The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1903-04-12

A horrible crime was perpetrated dur
ing Friday might, or rather after mid
night, perhaps between 3 and ! o'clock
Saturday morning, in home where a
number Of people resided, in two
story dwelling at the corner Of Crockett
and Common streets. where the neigh
bors' houses are within easy touch, in
we may say, the very heart of the city.
1t was not until about 8 o'clock or a
little later that he crime was discovered
by the cook, Mary Wells, and the house
maid, Jennie Stems, who came as
usual to begin their work of the
day. AS the kitchen door was reached
there was a startling footprint in blood
and when the door leading into the
room of the victim was opened there
was a ghastly scene which shocked in
expressibly the cook, who with the maid
raised the alarm, when the household
were awakened asEswell as the near
neighbors.
1t was a shocking discovery, which
chilled the blood and for moment was
indescribably startling. In giving the
details of the crime no sensational,
imaginary picture or words can add to
its horror. 1t is a. crime which is most
revolving, the murder of woman,
killed in her own room, on her bed, and
the assault which may terminate fatally
to the little daughter Aline, aged about
10 years, who slept beside her mother.
The victim in this instance was Mrs.
Frank Matthews, who kept a first class
boarding house at which she accom1no-
dated with meals every day about thirty
FIVE people, married and single. The
first floor of this house consists of a
hallway in which there is piano. and
several pieces of furniture. Adjoining
the hall IS a spacious apartment which
was converted into dining room, and
in the rear is room whose back door
opens directly into the kitchen. The
rooms on the second floor were occupied
by number of well known people,
among whom was Mr.. H F.7Doll, Jr.,
who but recently married a daughter of
Mrs. Matthews, and Miss Patty Mat
tf1ews. daughter, and Porter Matthews,
her son, young man aged 2I years,
who is a salesman at Kaufman's book
store. From the kitchen an exit by side
door leads into the yard, where there is
a woodshed, and nearby is pile where
there has been coal and wood, and at
which an ak was left. A small gate leads
into the alley. from the yard f53 srir
s What was the motive of the crime?
The police authorities, the sheriff and
his deputies and men who have assisted
in ferreiing crime are baffied The best
trained dog was brought to, the scene to
take the trail, but this .sagacious animal
failed after repeated attempts to follow
the. trail, which was lost with others
who had treaded in the path of the MUIR
derer.
What was the motive? 1t was in our
opinion robbery and nothing more, al
though there has been ascribed another
motive. the thought Of which is blood
scurdling. -
$ Our theory is that the murderer con-
tetnplated robbery. As he came through
the alley and stepped into the yard by
the gate he saw the AK conveniently at
hand He seized it and walked on
through the kitchen, through the door
way against which there rested. a piece
OF stove wood asa prop to keep this
door from closing Without digressing
it may be said that before retiring for
the night Mrs. Matthews had stated that
she intended to leave rat poison IN the
kitchen with which to kill rats, and it is
reasonable TO assume that she left the
kitchen door opened with the prop of
wood against it. However, through the
opening the intruder reached the kitch-
en-. and BY turning to the. right he was.
at the door leading to the room of Mrs
Matthews Asthere are no indications
about this door Of its having been forced
open, the natural inference is that it was.
In this door was the key. with
the handle on the inside. This door be-.
ing opened the intruder had easy access.
into the room, but as he entered Mrs
Matthews was probably awakened, when
he struck her ! blow when there fol
lowed 4 brief struggle during which she.
eglIls a.aks ne oslterg ard dtring
which she was more Of less bruised