Bridgeton pioneer., 1889-12-12

this city, in the wild chase for Mill
vile, Saturday morning, and he was
in the Coroner's office full hour be
fore the other reporters arrived. Mill
vile was all excitement. The people
talked of nothing else, and merchants
did not seem to realize that there was
absolutely no business. Everybody
wanted to hear the latest, and the
newspaper men and police officers
were piled with all manner of questions
wherever they could be found. The
centre of interest was about the build
ing occupied by Coroner Miller. When
the PIONEER man arrived there he
found it impossible to effect an en-
trance, owing to the stairs being
blocked with people. When it was
found that the office would not be
large enough for the hearing and in
quest, unless the spectators were re-
moved, the police seJ about clearing
the room, and when the Coroner's
jury were in their seats, they found
sci and reporters present.
The inquest was commenced Friday
afternoon, and was continued again
Saturday morning at half-past nine
o'clock. But through some mistake,
the Prosecuting Attorney had,not been
notified The first thought OF the
necessity of having the Attorney pres.
ent was suggested by the PIONEER re-
porter, who carried him the Lews that
the Prosecutor would be there in the
afternoon. The case was Immediately
adjourned until two o'clock.
Meanwhile the excitement continued
to grow, and when the two stout Off
GERS escorted the prisoner John Knox
from the City Hall to the Coroner's
office, there was following very large
crowd, but they could not enter the
Office, and until the inquest was ended
did they stand in front of the building.
The Prosecutor, accompanied by
County Physician Thompson, arrived
in Millville about two O'Clock, and as
soon as he reached the office, he per-
sonally took charge of the case
THE STORY OF THE MURDER.
1t is needless to tell the names of all
the witnesses who swore before the
jury, and the story will be plainly told,
as shown by the evidence before the
Coroner. Last Thursday John Knox,
William Warrington, August Letchi
and Augustus Schuch, we'll supplied
with liquor, started out in the woods
for a drunk. Drinking copiously the
party proceeded out on the Malaga
road, about three miles from Millville
where they stopped at the mortar
brick house in which the woman was
murdered. Here the party joked with
the old woman, and shortly after went
over to the house of Fred Roedle,
where they were treatedto some sauer
kraut. The party went back to the
house of the colored woman and later
all excepting Knox returned to Roe
dies, and afterward went away.
Some time after the party left Fred
Roedle went out into his yard to
wood. His daughter ran out to him
and said there was man in the house.
Roedle hurried in and found Knox
standing there. Knox told him he
would kill him and started for him and
a little scuff1e ensued. Roedle noticed
on Knox's left hand some dry blood.
This blood was also on the wrist. I'm
mediately afterward Knox left the
house.
While this little bout between Roedle
and Knox was occurring, Mrs. Roedle
was away, but she came home later.
The next morning she desired the col
ored woman, Mrs Annie Biard to do
some washing for her and almost nine
O'Clock went over to the house and
called her three times. There was no
answer, and finally Mrs. Roedle opened
the door, and there lying on squalid
bed of straw, was Mrs. Biard, dead.
Mrs. Roedle screamed and ran from the
house. The cries attracted the atten-
tion of Mr.. Roedle and the son, and
they hurried to the house where the
same horrible sight met their eyes.
Mrs. Roedle Immediately told a
neighboring woman and they at once
went to Vineland and notified
Coroner Bidwell. The coroner made
an investigation and turned the Case
over to Coroner John P. Miller, and
DIR. Bidwell made pos.-mortem. 1t
showed that the woman had died from
peculiar treatment. There had been
no knife or other instrument used, the
fatal work being done simply by the
hand. TT body when first found by
the physician was still trifle warm,
and the doctor thought the woman
had probably lived until midnight
Thursday. The doctor said the horri-
ole treatment had caused hemorrhages
which were the direct cause of death.
DIR H. A. Harkey. of Philadelphia, as