James P Carr
Kentucky Post, Saturday, 6 February 1915, page 1
MURDER CASE
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 McLaughlin as
witnesses.
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 buildt 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 up from the nearby dumps.
Being a veteran of the Civil War, having served under Grant, he also received a pension. The police and neighbors clain 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 discovered. 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.