The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-10-01
HANK CARPENTERS END
Former Topeka Police Sergeant Died
as He Had Lived.

The story of r. H. Carpenter, for
merly sergeant of police in Topeka,
is one that might serve as a startling
example for young men, AS was told
in the Associated Press dispatches sew
eral days ago Carpenter who was a
saloon keeper at Clifton, Arizona, shot
and killed his wife and then himself.
While in Topeka Carpenter, who
had already served a term in the PEN
itentiary, got into the good graces of
Chief of Police Stahl. He had every
opportunity to be square" He was
given a good position on the police
force and was chief advisor to the head
of the police department. But he
couldn't be decent and it is doubtful
if he ever cared to be. Crime was as
natural for him as virtue is to others
and his tragic death was the inevitable
end.
Carpenter was a police sergeant I'M
der the Hughes administration, and
held on for a long time although he
was known to be crookeder than the
proverbial pretzel. While he was hold
ing second place on the police force
he maintained a gambling house and
kept a disreputable woman in money
to run a disorderly house. Carpenter
was so open with his crookedness that
the public knew it, but he continued
to hold his position Notwithstanding
the protests made to the mayor and
F. NJ. Stahl, who was then chief of
police. 1t was generally believed that
Carpenter was given a place on the
police force at the inStigation of Stahl,
but such was not the case. When
Tim Donovan, one of the best police
officers ever seen in Topeka, was dis
charged to make room for Carpenter
as first sergeant Chief Stahl says he
had nothing to do with the change.
and knew at the time that Carpenter
was not fit for the place. Carpenter
was a bad man" of the gun-fighting
kind, and acted as body guard to Chief
Stahl during the troublesome times.
The chief thought he was a brave
man and a good officer. but others
knew differently. At the time Hank
Carpenter was made sergeant, he was
under indictment for swindling a wild
ow, Mrs. Jones, out of $400, which
he calmly invested in a hotel of shady
repute.
Carpenter and another man ran
gambling house until Carpenter sold
out to the partner. A few days later,
after he was put on the police force
Carpenter let himself into the place
with key which he had retained, and
arrested his ex-partner. He was re-
peatedly exposed by the State Journal
and when he attempted to start a
road house north of town. the mayor
was induced to drop him. Carpenters
last act before leaving town was to
borrow $50 from Chief Stahl. He also
borrowed a large revolver which he
the murderous convict. Marcelle, and
subsequently presented to the chief.
From Topeka Carpenter went to st.
Louis, where he was for a time en-
ployed as a special policeman in the
stock yards district. Later he went
west and started a saloon in Montana.
Carpenter was not afraid of anything
as long as he could feel his big re-
volver near his hip, as he was a dead
shot from long cowboy experience.
About the only cOmmendable thing to
be credited to Hank Carpenter was
his treatment of a half brother, who
died of consumption after a lingering
illness. Carpenter kept him at his
house and cared for him with the
tenderness of mother until he died.