New-York tribune., 1912-01-28
SUSPECTED Of DOUBLE
MURDER, ARRESTED AGAIN
Negro FeIIs Woman, Grabs Her
Mesh Bag, FIees, Fights Cap
tors, After Long Chase.
HAS A CRIMINAL RECORD
Police Recognize Prisoner as
William Carter, and Recall Kill
ing of Two Servants in DR..
M. D. Cannon's 8 Home.

\ SLIM understood negro, whom tne pune
of the West l2jth street station recOgniZeo
at once as man who was under suspicion
at the time of the double murder OF an
aged housekeepcr and a Hindu butler, IN
the home Of Or. Mott D. Cannon, Of NO
13l West ICED street, on May 9, l91O was
locked UP in the West 125th street police
station last night, charged with assault
and robbery.
The complainant in the case was Mrs.
Jacob Schwartz, wife Of clothing manu-
facturer. OF No. 523 West l43d street. The
negro attacked Mrs. Schwartz last evening
as she was about to enter her home, strik-
ing her on the head with an iron fur-
mace shaker. and then running, after grab
bing her mesh bag.
The prisoner, william Carter who. said
he was cauvasser for an employment
agency and that he lived at No. t27 West
1880 street. was arrested only after he had
offered desperate battle to half dozen
men who tried to catch him lie was sui
len after his arrest but denied he had, at
tackled Mrs Schwartz or stolen her bag.
According to Mrs. Schwartz, she was re-
turning to her home after having been
downtown yesterday afternoon, and While
walking In 1880 street from the subway
station, two blocks above. felt that some
body was following her. She hurried her
pace, but the person behind also quick
ened his. keeping few feet away.
When Mrs. schwartz was just about to
walk up the steps at her home she turned
quickly about to face her annoyer. She
had waited until she reached the seeming
safety OF her own house before doing this.
she did not reckon on the desperate char
acter Of Carter. however, who was so close
behind her then that she touched him as
she turned.
Before Mrs. Schwartz could put up her
arm to ward off the blow, the negro raised
tho iron weapon in his right hand and
brought II down with stunning force on his
victims head Mrs. SchwartZ's heavy hair
saved her from a fractured skull. yet she
reeled under the blow and fell 10 the side
walk
Instantly Carter reached outsan arm and
grabbed the mesh bag which Mrs. Schwartz
still held. lie wrenched 1t from her nerve
less hand and then turned and ran cast
lie had done these things I'm plain view Of
persons passing through the street, but IL
was a few seconds before those who wit
messed the assault could grasp the fun
meaning of what they had seen.
Charles Lahden. OF No. 24o Mount Hope
Place. The Bronx, saw Mrs Schwartz fall.
He ran after the negro. who went east.
Lahden began 10 cry stop thief.' when
he saw the man was gaining on him, but
Carter was rescourceful and took up the
same cry himself. fclening that he was
chasing a thief After a race Of block
Lahden caught up with the man and tried
10 trip him up. Carter instantly swung his
paper covered weapon. Lahdcn duckcd just
In time to avoid the blow.
Chauncey l.. Moorehcad. of No. 81 West
li2d street, Joined In tho pursuit. which
stlll led cast. carter then turned south
md ran 10 Convent avenue and lNst street.
where Fireman Seaman. OF Hook and Lad
der "a, was standing. seaman heard the
shouts Of those chasing the man and saw
tho desperate look in Carter's eyes as he
ran.
Seaman swung heavy blow At tho
negro's Jaw. but the little man jumped
aside and threw his iron weapon at Sea-
mans head. just grazing IT, He then re-
doubled his speed
At 10th street Detectives Birmingham
and .Morrell. OF the West i2Jth street sta
tion. were walking up the avenue. They
took I'm the situation at a glance and ran
straight at the negro. Carter displayed an
amazing agility in doing battle with tho de-
tcctlves and seemed possessed OF sinews OF
steel After a desperate fight, however, he
was overpowered and made a prisoner.
In the station house Carter was searched.
and the mesh bag was found i'm his coat
pocket. He affected surprise, and said It
must have been placed there by police
man.
The police reminded Carter that he had
been under suspicion In the murder OF Mrs
Mary Meehner. the housekeeper and Will
lam Benan, the butler, in the home OF Dr
cannon. The negro scowled and refused
10 say word
The police then went over Cartcr's crimi-
nal record. and found he had Clashed with
the law on several occasions Detective
Birmingham had twice arrested him In the
last few months for carrying concealed
weapons. Each time the negro escaped
without penalty He was also arrested
recently for stealing some shoes. and was
sent 10 the island for thirty days. At the
time of his connection with the double
murder in the Cannon home Carter was
said to have been represented by Barlow
5. Weeks, as counsel
Detectives found steel ',Jmmy" wrapped
up in paper and twine In the Cannon home
after the murder. The weapon used by
Carter yesterday was padded In similar
manner.
Mrs Schwartz was not seriously injured
IL was said. and after being treated by DR.
j. H. Potter, OF No. $50 West li3d street
WAS taken homo.