James Madison Carr
James Madison Carr was born 29 Dec 1844 in Kanawha County, Virginia, now West Virginia, the son of William and Eliza (Hanagen). He enlisted in the Union Army 1 Dec 1862 and served as a private in Co K 7th West Virginia Cavalry. He mustered out at the end of the war in 1865. He married Mary Scuggs after the war and they settled in Newport.
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Cincinnati Daily Enquirer, 4 September
1859, page 3
The Marshal of Jamestown, James Carr, brought down to the city
of Newport, yesterday a miserable specimen of humanity, in the shape of a woman, whose
dilapidated condition indicated that she might have been rolled through a brick
yard and then dragged over a harrow.
She was arrested as a vagrant and lodged in jail for an examination on Monday next.
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Kentucky Post, Friday, 5 February 1915, page 1
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 early Friday morning by Mrs. Samuel Mackinzie. 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. The police are making a thorough investigation which will probably result in an arrest in the immediate future. Enveloped in a deep heavy cloud of mystery, a poor dingy hotel at the foot of Southgate st. Newport, rested on the very banks of the rising river Friday morning.
James P Carr, 74, rag picker lay within the hut cold in death. He had been murdered. Sometime during the night someone had entered his poor dwelling and beaten his brains out. About 7 am Friday morning, Mrs. Samuel MacKinzie 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.
Mrs. MacKinzie, who living at 410 West Fourth st. was closely questioned by the detectives but was unable to reveal any new information. She stated that she sometimes came to the man's nut in the morning but she had no particular reason for doing so this morning. She claims 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. The body will be held for further investigation.
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Kentucky Post, Saturday, 6 February 1915, page 1
Investigation 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 McLaughlin as witnesses. After a search yesterday Detectives Burnsides and Howe arrested the two and placed a statuary charge again each. They are also being held as witnesses for the inquest.
Ella Owens claimed she was a distant relative of the man and admitted visiting his shanty often and kept house for him, cleaning his house and sometimes cooking his meals. The women absolutely denies visiting the house last Thursday. When the hut was searched a hat and other woman's apparel were discovered. 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 Ella Owens. Shortly after his wife died he built his meager hovel on the very banks where the Licking and Ohio Rivers 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 he received $54 pension money Thursday and it is said robbery was the motive of the murder, as not one cent was found on the person of the old man.
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Kentucky Post, Saturday, 13 February 1915, page 1
Funeral services for James Carr, 74, veteran, who was found murdered in his home at the foot of Southgate st. Newport, Feb 6, were held Saturday from Radel's Chapel, Newport. Interment in Evergreen Cemetery. The Amalgamated Association of Iron, Steel and Tin Workers was in charge of the funeral.