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Submitted: 3/25/15 • Approved: 3/25/15 • Last Updated: 4/2/18 • R767059-G0-S3
3 July 1858 Harrison, Indiana
17 Dec 1897 Hanged Clay County Courthouse, Clay, Missouri
Burial Crowley Cemetery Kansas City, MO in an Unmarked Grave
Foster Mother: Mary Ann Robinson Fishburn
Married Susan Elizabeth "Bettie" Brost Stephens, 18 Feb 1896 Clay, Missouri, his second wife. His first wife was Sarilda Jane Robertson d. 1895, who was the mother of Belle ( Age 3, murdered 1897), and Mae (Age 5 in 1897).
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"The Kansas City Times" (Missouri) Saturday, November 27, 1897
SEEKING A HOME FOR MAE CARR.
Mae CARR, 5-year-old daughter of William CARR, condemned to be hanged at Liberty December 17 for the murder of his 3 year old daughter Belle, is in the city, in charge of Rev. E. A. POWELL, a representative of the Children's Home society of Missouri. CARR consented to the adoption of the child by the society a few days ago, and the Rev. Mr. POWELL is anxious to secure for her
a home in a good family. Mae is a pretty and intelligent child, and exhibits none of the traits of her inhuman father. She is said to resemble very much her mother, who died two years ago, and who
was, according to her acquaintances, a woman of unusually lovable traits of character.
Rev. E. A. POWELL will be in Kansas City for several days. He may be seen at the office of D. ELLISON, Beals building, Ninth and Wyandotte streets, president of the local branch of the Children's Home society.
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Child Murderer Pays the Death Penalty
Executed at Liberty, MO.
Strange Conduct of the Condemned Man and Wife on the Last Day and Night – Laugh and Joke to the Time of Parting – Execution is Witnessed by Many Sheriffs
Liberty, Mo., Dec. 17 – William Carr, the child murderer, was hanged this morning at 10:20.
Prayers on the gallows were offered by the Rev. Mr. Ewing and Professor Love, who have been every attentive to Carr since his confession.
The noose was placed around Carr’s neck by Deputy Sheriff Ed Cave, the black cap by Deputy Sheriff John D. Thompson, the trap was sprung by Sheriff Humer.
Carr’s body was given to his wife. It will be taken to the home of his wife, and buried Sunday near Randolph. Mrs. Carr bought black goods to wear in mourning of him.
The hanging was seen by nearly a dozen sheriffs from different counties.
The record of legal hangings probably affords no parallel in the conduct of the condemned man during his last night on earth to that offered by the child murderer, William Carr, last evening. He had been a sullen, ugly and morose prisoner. During the few visits of his wife it had been seen that she exerted a wonderful influence over him. She saw him yesterday afternoon for the first time in days. She saw him for several hours, for the last time, in the evening.
Yet this murderer and his wife sat and whispered and joked and laughed together during almost the entire time. They even joked about the stockade in which Carr was hanged, and styled it a “hencoop.” For his foster mother and relatives who called, Carr had only formal, sullen words. They say he was hypnotized. To everybody else he was viciously ugly.
The transformation of the man under his wife’s presence and influence has been startling. His conduct yesterday and last night has strengthened the suspicion that Carr has never told the truth as to his little daughter’s murder. In Liberty there is an intense feeling against Mrs. Carr.
Carr’s actions since his arrest, his mad, fierce, earnestness in shielding his wife from suspicion in every possible way, her powerful influence over him as shown yesterday, open the door to wide speculation.
The woman herself is a wonder of assurance and defiance. She walks the streets with head up, her black eyes snapping defiantly into the faces of people she meets. She slams the door of her home in the faces of people who call to see her out of curiosity. She says:
“If Carr is guilty, let him hang. He ought to be punished for it.”
Carr said in his confession that he murdered his child to please his wife. She could not get along with the little girl, and threatened to leave him unless he got rid of it. That’s why he threw her in the river. Those confessions were made in Kansas City before Carr had seen his wife. Since he was brought to the Liberty jail and saw his wife, he refused to talk about the crime to anyone.
(The Guthrie Leader; Guthrie, OK; December 18, 1897. Transcribed by Dale Donlon)
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Liberty, Missouri
Carr’s Body Buried
Interred in the Old Crowley Cemetery Without Ceremony
Liberty, Mo., Dec. 20 – The remains of Child Murderer Carr were taken from the residence of Mrs. Carr at 9 o’clock yesterday morning to the old Crowley burying ground, one and a half miles north of Randolph, where they were interred without ceremony. Brief services had been held the day before at the house, conducted by Professor James Lowe. The remains of Mrs. Carr’s first husband, Walter Stephens, and several other relatives repose in the Crowley cemetery.
(The Guthrie Daily Leader; Guthrie, OK; December 21, 1897. Transcribe by Dale Donlon)
See also an additional entry for a newspaper article.
William Carr
Contributed on 3/25/15 by tslundberg
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Record #: 767059