Tuesday, January 25, 2011

William Murphy, Co. H, 54 KY Inf

In Civil War Union Soldiers section at Evergreen Cemetery
William Murphy was a private in Company H of the 54th KY Infantry regiment. This regiment came together in September 1864 and participated in the George Stoneman's raid on Saltville, VA  (See a previous entry about William Sprague), another soldier who took part on that raid.) 


The 54th then spent time fighting guerrillas throughout Kentucky before mustering out in September of 1865. 

Rest in peace, soldier

Kentucky Times Star
September 11, 1914
War Romance Anniversary – Covington Soldier Left Bride to Go to Battlefield


Mr. and Mrs. William H. Murphy of 537 Main street, Friday celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of their marriage. The marriage took place during the stirring times of the civil war, the bridegroom joining his regiment immediately after the ceremony was solemnized at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Janice Tranier, on the Madison Pike, Mrs. Tranier, being a sister of Mrs. Murphy, who was formerly Miss Leolitia Worreoster. After the war was over, Mr. and Mrs. Murphy made their home in Covington, where they have lived ever since. Until his retirement from business, Mr. Murphy was connected for many years with the Mitchell Tranier Rolling Mill company. Mr. and Mrs. Murphy have three children, Mrs. Eva Murphy, Walter H Murphy and Leslie J. Murphy. 

(Please note that some of the names in the article may be misspelled - this article was hard to read on the microfilm.)

Friday, January 21, 2011

I did not expect this

There are some outstanding blogs mentioned in that list. For this one to be mentioned is quite a surprise and quite humbling. I hope I can continue to deserve such a compliment.



http://www.onlinecourses.net/best-civil-war-blogs

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

James Carr, part 6 (final) , investigation hindered

Below is the final installment of this series. I will likely go back to the normal once-per-week posting of headstones and obituaries soon. I have a few more multi-part stories to do in the future, but need to finish up some research and some editing of them. I have plenty of pictures though of these other headstones coming up. 
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Here is the last article I was able to find on this crime. It appears that the killer(s) got away with his/her/their deed.

I do sympathize with the police as it must have been frustrating not to be able to proceed, but I can't say I disagree with the law that requires evidence be obtained before a suspect is arrested.

If I ever find any more about this, I'll post it here.

Kentucky Post  April 29, 1915

Legislation Stops Police Work in Case

Newport Police claim the act passed by the 1912 Legislature, providing no officer may arrest a suspect in any case unless some strong evidence is secured against the suspect is hindering clearing of the case of James Carr, war veteran, found murdered in his shack, Southgate-st., Newport Feb 5.

Detectives Burnside and Howe say they know the slayer but unless the act is repealed their hands are tied.

The only possible way of securing conviction in this case, claim the police, is to obtain a confession.

Saturday, January 15, 2011

James Carr, part 5, funeral and burial

This entry does  not provide any new information on the case itself, but it is interesting that a local union took charge of his body, funeral and burial. This would have been an ideal opportunity for the local Grand Army of the Republic to step up and care for a fellow Union soldier, but it is possible that membership of that group had just about disappeared. I know it was active as late as 1909 (one of the first entries in this blog has some information about that) but maybe those next 6 years saw too much attrition for it to be very active. At least one local group did step up to take care of it, which is certainly a tribute to that union.




Kentucky Post 
February 12, 1915

Union takes over Body of War Veteran

The Amalgamated Association of Iron Steel and Tin Workers, of Campbell-co., have taken charge of the body of the late James P. Carr, 74, veteran of the Civil War, who was murdered at his home at the foot of Southgate-st., last Thursday night or early Friday morning.

The funeral service will be held from Radel’s Chapel Saturday morning. Interment will be in Evergreen Cemetery.

A mystery still hangs over the death of Carr. The case is now before the grand jury.



Kentucky Post
2-13-1915

Jas. P. Carr is buried

Funeral Services for James P. Carr, 74, veteran who was found murdered in his home t the foot of Southgate-st., Newport, Feb. 5, were held Saturday from Radel’s Cahpel, Newport. Interment in Evergreen Cemetery.

The Amalgamated Association of Iron, Steel and Tin Workers was in charge of the funeral.




Here is a link to part 4 of this series.


The 6th and final part will be published in another couple of days.

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

James Carr, part 4, investigation continues

Here is a link to part 3. Links to parts 1 and 2 can be found in that one. 


Kentucky Post       
February 8, 1915

POLICE ARE WORKING ON NEW CLUES
Police Continue Work Investigation Death of J.P. Carr. Newport Veteran

Hold Inquest Tuesday

Believe Gang of Thugs Committed Act, Hoping River Would Hide Crime

Testimony offered in the case of Ella Owens, 18, and Eugene Owen McLaughlin, charged with a statutory offense, and who may also be witnesses in the case of James P. Carr, a veteran of the Civil War, who was found murdered in his bed last Friday, will probably lend some light to the police in carrying out their investigation.

Mrs. Mary Taylor, residing at 310 West Third-st., testified that the two defendants applied at her house last Thursday night some time between 9 and 10 o’clock. She claims that they posed as man and wife and that she rented a room to them.

Both McLaughlin and the Owens woman were fined $35.

No New Information
Very little new light concerning the murder has been disclosed by the police, although they have been working day and night on the case.

Sunday a woman, was brought before Lieut. Lieberth and Detectives Burnsides and Howe and questioned, but she gave very little information.

To Hold Inquest
Coroner Digby has requested that the body of the murdered man be held until Tuesday at least, as he wished to secure a number of witnesses before he went into the Coroner’s examination.

May Be Illegible)
The initial impression reported (?)   by the police is that a gang of thugs murdered Carr and then robbed him.

It is said that this gang has been traveling through the country and had evidently located in Newport for some time, as the one who committed the deed seemed to be familiar with the actions of Carr.

To Cover Crime
It is evident that the gang may have tried to rob Carr and he offered violence,  that they then beat his brains out with a sledge-hammer, thinking that the river, which at that time was rapidly rising, would come up over night and carry the dead man and his shack away and cover up their crime.

No Money
An insurance policy, barely enough to bury the man, was the only object of worth found on his person.

Friday, January 7, 2011

James Carr, part 3, possible suspects, more information

Here are the first two parts of this series:   Part 1   and Part 2 

The next post will be early next week. 


KY Post     February 6, 1915

Two Held as Witnesses in Murder Case
Newport Police Place Statutory Charge Against Ella Owens and Owen McLaughlin, of Newport., Will Testify
Believe Pair Can Throw Interesting Light on Life of Jas. Carr, Found Murdered in Shanty in Newport

Investigations being carried on by the Newport Police Department in the case of James P. Carr, 71, a veteran of the Civil War, who was found murdered in his bed in his shanty at the foot of Southgate-st., Newport, Friday morning, have resulted in the holding of Ella Owens, 18 , and Owen McClaughlin as witnesses.

Held as Witnesses
After a search yesterday Detectives Burnsides and Howe arrested the two and placed a statutory charge against each. They are also being held as witnesses for the inquest as it is thought by the police both will be enabled to offer some information concerning the life of Carr, the murdered man.

When arrested yesterday,  McLaughlin and Ella Owens denied knowing anything about the murder. Both told their story and offered alibis, claiming that they could give an account of every place they had been on the night of the murder.

Stories Conflict
Their stories were taken separately.

The woman told Lieut. Lieberth and the detectives that she left her home, on Patterson-st.,, about 7 o’clock and went to Fifth and Isabella sts., that here she and McLaughlin stayed for several hours, the police say.

When quizzed by the police, McLaughlin claimed that they did not leave the Owen woman’s home on Patterson-st., until 9 o’clock, the police say.

Some one wrong
When confronted by the police with these conflicting stories, each claimed that the other was mistaken.

Was to Move
Further investigation on the part of the police brought forth that the Owens woman had hired a boy to remove a barrel of coal from the Patterson-st., premises to 207 West Third-st., where it is claimed she intended moving. The boy told police that she hired him after 11 o’clock Thursday night.

A Relative
Ella Owens Saturday morning claimed that she was a distant relative of the murdered man, and admitted visiting his shanty often. She stated that she kept house of him, cleaning his house and sometimes cooking his meals.

The woman absolutely denies visiting the house late Thursday night.

Hat Disclosed
When the hut was thoroughly searched, a hat and other woman’s apparel were disclosed.

Two Men Connected
Statements offered by a negro woman giving her name as Bassett, and who claims that she lives in the vicinity of Carr’s shack, added to the mystery of the case, (illegible), in all probability will make her one of the most important witnesses in the case.

She claims that about midnight Thursday two men knocked at her door. She stated that she was frightened at being awakened at that time of night and, instead of opening the door, she talked to them through the door. That is the reason given by her for not being able to furnish a description.

She stated that in the conversation which passed through the door, she concluded that the two men were looking for the Owen woman.

After securing this information they asked where Carr lived and she told them.

She states that shortly afterward she heard a crash, followed by a deep silence. Hearing no more, she went to sleep.

Was Hermit
From information secured, Carr has lived the life of a hermit since the death of his wife some 15 years ago, with the exception of an occasional visit from Ellen Owens.

Shortly after his wife died he built his meager hovel on the very banks where the Licking and Ohio River meet. Here he has lived and provided for himself and many others by the money he made from rags and other junk he picked from nearby dumps.

Being a veteran of the Civil War, having served under Grant, he also received a pension. The police and neighbors claim that he received $54 pension money Thursday and it is said that robbery was the motive of the murder, as not one cent was found on the person of the old man when his body was discovered.

Was Kind
Neighbors living about Patterson and Southgate-sts claim that the old man was extremely kind-hearted and that even though his dwelling was poor and his living cheap, he was always lending aid to the needy people living in that section.

It is said that every three months he received $54 pension and that with this he bought clothing and other trinkets for children and women.

Coroner Digby is arranging to hold an inquest in a few days. Numerous witnesses will be placed on the stand at this inquest.

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

James Carr, part 2, description of his hut

See part one here

This article included a front-page photograph of Mr. Carr's hut, but it was difficult to see much on the microfilm and impossible to print a quality image either, unfortunately. Still, this description below provides good detail.

Kentucky Times-Star   February 5, 1915


Hovel of Murdered Hermit

Even though James P. Carr, 71, war veteran, found murdered Friday morning, lived in a hovel, he was a lover of flowers. The yard of the shack in summer days was a blaze of color from flowers of all varieties. He also raised vegetables. The shack was built of discarded articles he had picked up at the dump. The fence that surrounded the house was made of mattress springs principally and in the yard was a collection of old stoves. The “house” is an eight by ten affair, was constructed of old pieces of wood, on which scraps of tin had been nailed. Articles of every description fill the abode. The pole which aided in supporting the roof looks like an Indian totem pole, as on it are nailed moccasins,  skins of animals, beads and many other things. A bed stands in the northwest corner of the room. The four dogs which guarded the hermit’s body sleep beneath the bed. The “home” stands on the brow of the hill that slopes towards the Ohio and also to the Licking. The battered little shack withstood the wear and tear of the flood of 1912, in which it was immersed. Carr had built his fences so as to make it appear that a thoroughfare passed through to the east of the place. He also had a path leading to the river front. The man was peace-loving, according to some of his companions. The place in which he lived was built 15 years ago, when he first exercised squatter sovereignty.

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Part 3 will mention some of the police investigation and names of a couple possible suspects.

Monday, January 3, 2011

The Murder of James Carr, part 1: His Body is Found

This may well be the saddest and most fascinating story I have ever found through my own research. It is hard for me to stop thinking about it at times and I still want to find out more about it.

For now, I am simply going to reprint the articles I found and add a few comments as I see fit. Maybe one day I'll rewrite it all in my own words, and maybe dig into census records of some of the names mentioned, but for now I will simply let the story tell itself, after a short introduction. I will post other installments every couple of days. 

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James M. Carr served in the 7th West Virginia Cavalry, which was formed in January 1864 out of the 8th West Virginia Mounted Infantry and participated in battles at Cloyd's Mountain and Lynchburg, both in Virginia, along with other operations. 

The newspaper articles seem to list a wrong middle initial for him. Perhaps multiple Civil War Veterans named "James Carr" lived in this area at the time, but that strikes me as being highly unlikely. The soldiers and sailors system lists the same initial as the headstone pictured above and one of the other articles lists Evergreen Cemetery as his burial place, which is where I found this headstone.

It is sad to think of a Union veteran living as he did (the next article will include more details), but this manner of death is simply tragic. A death-records list I found on a local genealogy site listed "concussion of the brain" as cause of death, which I guess seems a little obvious once you read the story.


Rest in peace, soldier.


Headstone in section 35, Evergreen Cemetery




Kentucky Post February 5, 1915
NEWPORT CIVIL WAR VETERAN IS ROBBED AND MURDERED
Woman Finds Body of James. P Carr in Shack on the Licking Bank
Head Had Been Crushed
Man Had Drawn Pension Thursday – Money Now Missing

Robbery was probably the cause of the murder of James P. Carr, veteran, residing at the foot of Southgate –st., Newport, who was found dead in his bed early Friday morning by Mrs. Samuel Mackkinzie.

The old man had received a pension of $54 Thursday, and, after paying several debts, is thought to have had in the neighborhood of $34 on his person

When the clothing was searched by the police Friday nothing with the exception of a life insurance policy, barely enough to bury him, remained in his pockets.


Expect Arrest
The police are making a thorough investigation, which will probably result in an arrest in the immediate future.


Mysterious Surrounding
Enveloped in a deep, heavy cloud of mystery a poor dingy hovel at the foot of Southgate-st., Newport, rested on the very banks of the rising river Friday morning.


Was Murdered
James P. Carr, 71, rag picker, lay within the hut cold in death. He had been murdered. Some time during the night someone had entered his poor dwelling and beaten his brains out. About 7 o’clock Friday morning, Mrs. Samuel Mackkinzie entered Carr’s hut and found the man lying in a pool of his own blood. Shortly after, she notified the police. Detectives Burnsides and Howe were assigned the case and began an immediate investigation.

Hammer found
A short-handled sledge hammer, clotted with blood, probably the one used in the killing, lay by the side of the bed. A stove lid lay by the side of the hammer.

The upper portion of the man’s body lay on the bed, his feet and legs extended, supported by a broken chair, allowing the body to sag in the middle.

The pattering of rain on the tin roof echoed and re-echoed throughout the cabin. Four dogs lay on the bed by the side of the dead man. One huge white canine lay within a few inches of his master’s shattered skull. The white hair on the dog’s back was dyed to a clotted brown, where his master’s life’s blood had escaped over his back, as it seeped from the ugly wound in his skull

Found by woman
Mrs. Mackkinzie, who lives at 110 West Fourth-st., was closely questioned by the detectives, but she was unable to reveal any new information. She stated that she sometimes came to the man’s hut in the morning, but that she had no particular reason for doing so this morning. She claims that when she entered the house, she saw Carr lying on the bed, apparently asleep. She called him. He failed to answer. Dawn was just breaking, and by closer observation she saw the dried blood on the side of his face. She hung over his lifeless form and cried “Jim, Jim, what’s wrong?”    

He failed to answer and she arrived at the conclusion that he was dead. She then notified the police


Note: the first image below is a Google Earth image of the area where Mr. Carr lived.  The yellow pin marks the current West Southgate St - Carr's home was somewhere near it, probably further north, closer to where the Licking meets the Ohio. The land between that road and the rivers likely looked much different in 1915.

The second photograph is a view from Cincinnati, looking south at where the Licking flows into the Ohio. Carr's house would have been on the left side of the Licking (the smaller river, which flows south to north), in Newport (Campbell County), from this perspective (on the right side in the top view)