The copper era., 1904-09-29
A BLOODY DEED.
V. +. Carpenter Killed His Wife and
 Then Committed Suicide.

On Friday evening last at , o'clock W. H. Carpenter. q former. resident
 of the Blue. shot and killed hi, wife with q 4J-Calibre Colts siX-shOOter and then committed suicide. The
 killing took place in the rear of the
 Independent Assay office in North Clifton. where the couple were
 dividing their personal property.
 The cause of the rash act was family troubles. It seems that they
 quarreled about three weeks ago
 when Carpenter mistredted his wife
 and she secured q horse and fled from
 the ranch. which is about thirty miles
 above Clifton. Carpenter discovered
 her departure and chased after her
 but she succeeded in reaching Clifton
 and found hiding place with friends. ! Carpenter arrived in town and spent several day, searching for her. but
 hi, effort, were in vain. In the
 meantime he sold his business to Judge BOylc,. on whose place he was : living. In addition to the money he 1 realized from the sale he secured
 clOOO from hi, son. He left Clifton with about 5000 and went to Fl Paso. where he shipped all personal prop l crtv belonging to himself and wife. ! He spent few days there and then
 went to DOu@la, where 1t Is said he lost 9lJ00 gambling and drinking. l While there he heard that his wife Wa, in Clifton and returned. He sue Ceeded in locating her. They met at the justices office one day last week and it is said that Carpenter wept | like d child. begging her to live with him again, but she refused. It was then decided that they would separate and divide their personal property. which was shipped back from Fl PasO. upon the arrival of which Carpenter sent her word to come down to the assay office and get her clothes.
 She was afraid to go alone. and by the request of both, k. l.. Bailey, q former deputy sheriff, accompanied her to the house and remained in their presence. Mir. Bailey had no arms with him as Carpenter had told him d few minutes before that he would not harm hair on Mrs. Carpenters $ head. Bailey searched Carpenter and found nothing on his person in the way of arms. The couple were in the room about two hours, separating their clothing. Carpenter continued to plead, but her answer was mo. Geo. T. Millner was present in his ot- flee the most of the time and just as soon as he left the room Carpenter took advantage of the opportunity and quick as flash secured his pistol from the tray of q trunk and fired at his wife. the bullet entering the back of the head and coming out ust above the right eye. The bullet passed through the wall and struck Jimmy Dougan'S house. It went through the wall and door and lodged .l, little girls head. d very marrow escape. \ second shot was fired into the floor. The third shot entered his right temple, resulting in instant death.
 The murder and suicide was pre- meditatcd. as Carpenter left four letters, written at different times but practically the same in effect. stating that he loved her so much that it was impossible for him to live without her. He stated that he had worried d great deal since their separation and finally decided that the best way out of it was to do as he did. He also said that some people might insinuate that he was crazy. but he fully realized what he was doing.
 She was his second wife and they lived on the Blue several years | HtN NOl dlOll0 NlllOI NNlN NNIl except when Carpenter was drinking. It iS said that he was very abusive in such cases and that is what caused her to leave him. They were well known by all the people of the upper country and Mrs. Carpenter was well liked.
 It k said that Carpenter remarked while in an intoxicated condition that he was going to kill his wife. It is also said that Mrs. Carpenter told friends that he had threatened her life. but that she cared not to make q complaint against him. Just be- fore going to the assay office she spent considerable time in dressing and as she left remarked that it seemed as though she was going to her funeral.
 Harry. son of Mir. Carpenter. who had the misfortune to lose d foot about year ago. survives them.
 The double funeral took place at 2 o'clock sunday and was attended by Il number of friends and aCquaint- anccS. \ sister to Mrs. Carpenter came over from Douglas.
 There has been some unjust criti- ci>m of Mir. Bailey for his inability to prevent the awful tragedy. Mir. Bailey was present at the request of both parties aS a mutual friend, and after first searching MT. Carpenter did not realize that there was any likelihood of q tragedy being enacted in his very presence. The fact that Carpenter had previously placed the pistol in the tray of the trunk. that he might have it handy when he wanted it. shows that he was only carrying out the plan which he had pTpViOuSlV arranOPu
 A. $. RoSeCrans, manager of the Standard Copper mines, returned