Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-01-15
ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DISPATCH.

-
TRENTON, N. j., January 14.-The in
quest touching the death of Mrs. Myra
Knifin was continued to-day. Mrs. James
Murphy, the aged mother of Mrs. Knifin,
was the first witness. She was dressed
in deep mourning. According to her
testimony, the relations OF DR.. Knifin
ami his wife were always pleasant, and
Mrs. Knifin and Miss Purcell were like
sisters. They were frequent visitors at the
house of the witness. She knew nothing Of
the murder of her daughter, further than
what Miss Purcell had told her, and what
she has heard from the police and read in
the newspapers.
"Have you any reason to believe that DR..
Knifin or Miss Purcell had anything to do
with the murder?' asked a juror.
II have not, " replied the lady.
SHE BELIEVED IN THE BURGLARY.
"Have you any reason to believe that DR..
Shannon had anything to do with it?"
II have moi"
"Have you any reason to doubt that a
burglary occurred at DIR. Knifin's residence
on November 30"
II have not. 1 always believed there
was a burglary"
''Was DR.. Knifin good provider for his
family?"
One of the best. Ny daughter made me
confdante, and if there had been any
trouble she would have informed me-"
SIS it not fact that your husband was
opposed to the marriage of your daughter
and DR.. Knifin?"
81 never heard any objections from my
husband"
"Was your daughters life insured7"
"Not that know Of.
SOME PUzzL1NG SIGNS.
County Physician Charles B. Leavitt de-
scribed the condition of Mrs Knifin's body
when he first saw it, and what
the post mortem examination revealed.
He and the other doctors came to the CON-
clusion that Mrs. Knifin had not died a
natural death. An irritating volatile sub
stance had been applied to her nos
trils and mouth. The odor of ether is
persistent, and, since it was not perceptible,
the physicians concluded that it was not
ether that had been used. Suddenly ap-
Piled and in concentrated form, chloroform
is fatal to all animal life. The odor Of
chloroform disappears quickly. Ether acts
as a stimulant to a weak heart; chloroform
would oppress it.
From every indication the doctors believe
that chloroform had been used in the case,
and that death was due to paralysis of the
heart, superinduced by its application. The
stomach was sent away Tor analysis, for the
purpose of ascertaining whether any drug
had been administered to Mrs. Kniffin to
produce Supplying effect.
THOSE UPWARD SCRATCHES.
DR.. H. Waldburg Coleman, the next wit
ness, said he had listened attentiveIy to DR..
Leavitt, and that he agreed fully with his
testimony. He said he had looked carefully
at the scratches on the face, and was of the
opinion that they had been made by a small
hand. One side Of the face the scratches ran
upward, in an awkward way for Mrs.
Kniffin to have made them; still they might
was under the partial influence
of an anesthetic. The marks could not have
been made after death, and the chloroform,
If given by an expert, would not have been
allowed to come in contact with the face, as
it did in this case.
why do you think the chloroform was
in contact with the face?"
''The excoriaton indicates it. It was
used. evidently, in large quantities, and the
more concentrated the anesthetic is, the
greater the danger"
WOULD KILL HER EASILY.
"What quantity would be required to kill
a person of Mrs. Knifin's condition."
."Her heart was small, and it would take
a very small quantity. Twenty drops have
frequently killed men in less than two
minutes"
"Could Miss Purcell have been under the
influence of chloroform for four hours?'
"Yes; in some cases patients remain in a
lethargy for long time. 1t depended alto
gther on the person."
David S. Purcell, the brother of Emma,
was now called TO the stand. He was asked !
if he believed that burglars entered the
house and murdered Mrs. Knifin. "Yes, L |
do, !" he answered.
EVIDENCE OF BURGLARY.
"Have you any evidence that burglars
entered the house?"
II have. The shutters of the window |
opening on the porch bore evidence of hav- |
ing been pried open with some instrument.
[ have found by investigation that the bolt |
was insecure, and, after being fastened, that
, little force would spring the shutters
open."
Have you any other evidence?"
81 found chair in the dining room with
'he cane seat broken, as though a person
standing on it had put his heel through it.
It might have been done by short, stout
nan while endeavoring to light the gas.
The chair had recently been recaned.,.'
The inquest was adjourned until next
Mondav