Sunday, November 15, 2015

On This Date in Minnesota History: November 15

November 15, 1914 – The blood-stained imprint of fingers on the sword that killed Leaming Sharpless yesterday evening may be the principal means of determining the murderer. No motive has been discovered as yet, and the police apparently are devoting their efforts to unraveling the motive-mystery rather than to making further arrests.

Mrs. Charlotte Sharpless, wife of the slain man, is still in custody and a charge may be placed against her tomorrow. The Coroner, Dr. Gilbert Seashore, returned a verdict of “Murder” today.

Two finger impressions survived a hasty cleaning that was given to the lodge ceremonial sword. One is almost perfect, and experts will be called into the case in presenting it to the grand jury. The sword was wiped while it was still wet with blood along almost its entire length.

Mrs. Sharpless continues to maintain her innocence, and showed no emotion in her cell at the County Jail today. She made no inquiry regarding her husband and when relatives of the deceased called to see her about arrangements for the funeral, she showed no interest.

The police are convinced that Sharpless was slain while he was asleep in his apartment. They claim to have ideas as to the motive, but have not substantiated them. They say it might have been jealously; that it may have been due to a domestic quarrel over money, or it might have been temporary insanity.

As to jealousy, the police worked upon an assumption that there were callers in the Sharpless apartment while Mr. Sharpless was away on his “run” as freight locomotive engineer on the Omaha Railroad.

As to a quarrel, the police questioned the neighbors on their observations of the Sharpless’ domestic life. Neighbors say they knew very little of the couple, and could relate no instances of trouble.

Suicide was not seriously considered by the Coroner. He found that one thrust of the sword penetrated the aorta and then passed through the right lung. Penetration of the artery would cause instant death. A second thrust passed through the diaphragm and the left lung, and would have also proved fatal. A third wound was not serious.

The fact that the police found the sword standing behind the couch where Sharpless lay, half reclining on the floor, indicated positively that the man could not have wounded himself and then placed the sword in the position where it was found, according to Dr. Seashore.
Mrs. Sharpless, police say, showed evidences of being under the influence of liquor when she was arrested.

Sharpless was industrious and held an excellent reputation among his associates. Neighbors said Sharpless was at home usually when not at work and that Mrs. Sharpless was given a free hand in the home management.


Leaming Sharpless*


As an engineer, Sharpless earned from $180 to $200 monthly, and this was turned over to his wife according to his brother Louis Sharpless, also an engineer for the Omaha Railroad.

Mrs. Sharpless was at one time a vaudeville actress at Mankato. She told Acting Captain Weare she was reading a motion picture magazine the night of the crime and had studied to become a motion picture actress.


A second police observation of the apartment taken today showed that there is no door between the bedroom and the living room. The foot of the bed is less than three feet from the doorway, against the opposite side of which the lounge stood. Mrs. Sharpless claims to have been in bed reading when she first heard her husband’s groans as he lay on the lounge.

In the position in which Sharpless was found, his body could easily be seen from any part of the bedroom. The police will present to the Grand Jury the underwear worn by the dead man and thrown from a window to the street where it was found by detectives; the suite of woman’s underwear and a night gown found in a closet and the clothing they say was worn by the woman when they reached the scene. These are also said to be blood-stained garments.

The Minneapolis Morning Tribune
; “Finger Prints on Sword May Solve Killing. Mystery in the Slaying of Leaming Sharpless is Still Uncleared. ExpertsWill Scrutinize Telltale Marks on the Stained Weapon. Two Impressions Remain Despite Hasty Attempt at Cleansing. Motive Occupies Attention of Police—Coroner’s Verdict ‘Murder.’ Mrs. Sharpless Maintains Innocence—Displays Little Interest.”; Nov. 16, 1914; pp. 1 & 3.

*The Minneapolis Morning Tribune; Nov. 18, 1914; p. 1.


Leaming Sharpless murdered by saber; wife in next room hears nothing; see Nov. 14, 2015 blog.

               __________________________________________________________

If you are interested in finding out more about your family history in Minnesota, I specialize in researching  genealogical and historical records in Minn. and western Wis., including:
census records,  birth records,  death certificates, obits, grave site photos, ship passenger lists, marriage records and declarations of intent/naturalization records.  I will visit locations to research local history and county records, as well as take photos. Quick turnaround on MHS records.  Both short searches and family history reports.

Website: 
TheMemoryQuilt.com ®  click on Family History

Contact me at:
pjefamilyresearch@gmail.com 

No comments:

Post a Comment