The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-07-29
HE HAD LOCkJAW.
Carlton, Who Is Held for MUIR
dering His Wife,
Tells How He Knew So Much
About Tetanus Symptoms.
KNOWLEDGE OF GERMS
Considered Remarkable for One
Not Scientist.
Tells of Raising a Choice Col.
lection in Glycerine.
OF GERMS

New York, July 2s-Informatiou
which Police Inspector Cross believes
Will be of great use in establishing the
identity of Frederick E. Carlton, who ia
held by the authorities pending an in
vestigation of the death of two of his
wives, was contained in letter received
yesterday from Chief of Police Milliken.
of Cincinnati. The letter was in re-
sponse to appeals sent by inspectors
Cross to the police of many cities. Al
photograph was enclosed, which Inspec-
tor Cross says bears striking resem-
blance to the prisoner in Raymond
Street jail.
Carlton himself furnished a new de-
velopment in the case last night, which
is considered by the police to be OF
the greatest Importance. The theory
that ne may have caused the deaths
of his wives in order to collect insur-
ance on their lives, by inoculating them
with tetanus germs, is SO unprecedented
that the authorities almost despaired
of securing clues sufficient to establish
a case.
Carlton said last night that he had
knowledge of tetanus, because he was
once a sufferer. He made the state
ment in reply to a suggestion that he
possessed unusual knowledge of tetanus
germs.
There is nothing strange about that.
I had tetanus once myself" Carlton il
quoted as saying; 'I shot myself in thG
hand. and applied earth to the wound.
The tetanus germs were absorbed from
the earth. The attack did not prove
serious.
Because of this personal experiences
I recognized the symptoms when my
first wife was stricken and Informed her
physician. He said he thought she had
meningitis. 1t was not until three days
later that he agreed with my diagnosis
and prescribed an anititoxins but 1T was
then too late If the antitoxin had been
given three days earlier my wife would
be alive today
Significant facts along this line were
furnished yesterday by Mrs. Hattie
Sands street, Carlton lived while he was
courting Mamie Gordon, whom he mar
ried within two months from the death
of Jennie Smyth Carlton.
During the first three days Of his
acquaintance with Mamie Gordon he
gave her $500 worth of diamonds and
courted her with grim determination, :
Mrs. Schultz said. He declared that he
would have the girl within month,
and he did 1t was pitiful to see the
change that soon came over her. 1t was
while she was in her last illness that
Carlton told me of his knowledge OF
germs.
:" I have devoted a vast amount OF
attention to the study of germs which
are little understood by doctors or
chemists he told me. raise my
germs in glycerine, which furnishes a
." The simplest things in life are the
most deadly and effective. They leave
no trace, but you must know how to
use them"
Still another life insurance transac-
ton which the police will investigate
was revealed yesterday A policy for
$500 issued by the Prudential Life
Insurance company, of Newark, on the
life of Millie Peterson, of 346 Palisads
avenue, West Hoboken, was made out
to Frederick Carlton as beneficiary.
1t is believed that the policy was paid
after a dead woman had been imposed
upon the insurance officials as Miss
Petersen, who is still living. Frank l..
Boppe. manager of the claim depart-
1nent, said last night:
''1t is probable that this claim was
| paid to Carlton a year or so after he
examination made of the books and
send the result to the police"
Chief of Police Milhken wrote t0
Inspector Cross that Carlton was
proDa5lv a man first known to the
| police of western cities as Edward J.
| Martinez
'sEarly in 1894 he arrived in New
| York" Chief Milliken writes, "and on
| April 26, 1894, he married a Miss Wi-
eta S. Bird. Of your city; The cere.
| Quick Martinez on this occasion
| gave the name of J. Edward Nc
Candles. After the marriage they
| lived in New York until the money
" as spent. Then he and his wife went
j to Cornwall under the
name OF Charles and Letta Farley.
| He forged the name of Irving Oliver
| to $40 check on the Highland Ma
tional bank
The letter includes history of the
man up to March 25, 1900, when he
pretended to have a wonderful story
| in the Goebel murder case.