Daily Republican., 1890-01-04
A TRENTON MYSTERY.
A WIFE AND COUSIN CHLORO.
FORMED.
A Theory OF burglars Fails, and the
Dead Womans Husband Sus-
pccted by tho Police Of
tho Crime,

TRENTON, N. j., Jan. 3.-One woman
chloroiormed and lying dead In bed and
another unconscious on the floor from
me same drug, while the contents OF
drawers and closets we're Uttered about
the room In disorder, this morning seen-
cd At first blush to show that burglars
had been in the house occupied by DR..
Arthur knitien, on Broad street, and
that they had added murder to what ap-
peared to be robbery.
The dead woman was DIR. Kniffen's
wife; the other was Miss Purcell, his
wife's cousin. The robbery theory.
which was at first advanced, was decided,
ly modified tonight when DIR. KnifIeu,
who was away from home last night, was
taken in custody, and 10 suspected OF .
crime In connection with the aiiair.
There are the widest kind OF rumors
connected with the murder. 1t is def.
nitely stated tonight that nothing was
taken from the house, and that DR.. and
Mrs. Knifien have lived unhsppily 10
gesher for some time owing to alleged
relations between the Doctor and Mrs.
hniffen's pretty cousin, Miss Purcell.
Dr. kniiien went away yesterday, leav-
Ing bis wife and her cousin. Miss Purcell,
who Is q typewriter, In charge of the
house. The Two women OCCUPIED the
same apartment, and retired about 10 o.
clock.
What tran splred after that time is told
by Miss Purcell, who was unconscious
when found, but vas resuecitaied through
the timely ministrations OF doctor. She
says she was awakened about 8 O'Clock
IN the morning by the screams of Mrs.
kniffsn, who cried out that there were
burglars in the house Miss Purcell ran
TO front room, intending TO throw open
u window and call for assistance, when
she was grabbed from behind and held by
"A man, who applied n damp handkerchief
to her nose aud mouth. She felt herself
losing consciousness, aud at the same
time said Mrs. kntIen, In the room, en-
gagged In a struggle with . man. That
WAS all she could remember.
DISCOVERY OF THE DEED.
DR.. Shannon, employed as an assistant
by Dr. knifieD, went TO the office this
morning TO assume charge In his employ
ers's absence. He reached there only TO
find all the drawers In the operating
room wide open, and the tools and other
Implements scattered about. lio called
up stairs TO Mrs. Kniifen and Miss Pur-
cell, but receiving no reply, he went up
and raped violently on the door. As he
did not receive any answer he opened
the door and saw Miss Purcell lying on
the floor in her night robe. He called to
her, but she did not reply, and he ap
preached. He saw that she was uncon.
scious, and that general disorder pre-.
vailed In the room. On going into the
next room be saw the body of Mrs. Knit
fen lying ON the bed. 1t was stiff and
GELD. BE then hurried to the police sta.
tion, notifying the authorities of wha,
lad happened.
ABSENCE or MOTIVE.
Chief OF Police McChesney made o
careful examination of the rooms and the
house generally. The back doo-, leadinp
to the yard, was open. On the bed beside
Mrs. Knifien's bo,ly was found email
cork which tasted of chloroiorm. The
odor of th,s drug also permeatei the
rooms. There was no money secreted In
the house, so far as Miss Purcell knew,
and the absence Of a clearly defined mo-
tive for the crime leads up to some very
unpleasant suspicions DIR. Kninen's ar.
rest on returning from Warren County
has excited the widest rumors In this
city, and suspicious against him appear
to be very strong.
kNiFBRN TELLs HIS STORY.
When he reached the depot he was at
once placed under arrest, and tho police
suspected plot to put Mrs Kn.fisn out
OF the way. With regard to his absence
from home, he WAS at first inclined TO be
uncommunicative, but finally stated that
he wont to Broadway, Warren county,
buying. He was met at the ststhieistsa ststieoins 90
night by Detectives Heilger and Leahv
aud escorted to police head quarters.
where he was subjected to = rigid cross,
examination by tho Chief Of Police and
Judge Natheson.
AT THE SCENE OF THR MURDER.
From the police station he was taken
to the scene of the murder. lie exam.
iped the house, but was unable to state
whether or not anything had been taken
from the house. He was left alone with
bis dead wife, aud was completely
broken down when he emerged from the
r0Sm,
Bargains IN Hoods.
Hand nit claude hAa1e