Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-01-23
MEs. KNIFFnN NOT rolsosrD.
OF the stomach Reveals
EO Vkru0E-Dthcr EeEeIluOnv

ADDIysls OF inc stomach hScVeAID
No Drugs-Otncr Testimony.
TREaTcN, N. j., Jan. 20.--The inquest
into the death Of Mrs. Ayra Knitfen, wife
of DR.. Arthur B. Kniffen, dentist, who
was found dead on the morning OF Janu-
sry Sd, 1890, st her homo in this city,
and whose cousin, MiSs Emma Purcell,
the only other sdrlt in tho house, told \
story OF m .dnight atSeek BY burgl rs, who
oblornforned EN- b, vas resumsd
this morning. The story Of the burglary
was subsequently diaoredited and DR..
Knifen and Mss Purcell arrested for
murder. They ere now under $2O, 900
bail each.
Lenn.e Knifen, the 10. ysars.old child
of the dead woman, was tia first witness
examined to-day. Re narrated the cir
ouRis.anoes Of the burglary ~ told to
him by Miss Purcell the hext morning.
lie slept with Miss Purcell, but heard
nothing during .he night, though he wes
res.lsss. The next morning be found
tracks resembling footprints on newly
painted roof.
Miss Hattie oHsra, fellow type.
writer with Miss Purcell, nsxt testified
panying Miss Purcell to work, aud
thought nothing OF it. Miss Purcell told =
tda story Of the burglar, and was believed
by her companions.
pr. william d. 5sruols, who nssisted
at the LU.opsy, testified in corsoborGtioa
Of Other phYsicians that cblcroform pEob-
ably caused isGth. He was oross.exanl-
ine6 as 20 Ehs biisterB on Mrs. Knids1's
mouth caused by the irritation Of Chloro-
form aud the absence of such marks on
MiBs Purcell, though she claims TO have
been ohloroformod TOO. lie SAID II wss
natural 20 look for similar marks on Mas
Puru5li, but if the towel had not been
til oughly saturated ia her ca9s thu fluid
niight no. hGVe reached hsr lips 10 burn
tham,
MgH. Neliis Smith, another typeTrlter,
also testified in coErchorstion OF Miss
O'ARra. She proved herself an ardent
ftiepd Of Mias Purcell, and claimed that
Dr.. KniiTen would have beoa no gsusle-
man II, under all the c rcuustAnces, he
had failed to escort Hiss IuTosll to her
Office When both wore going in that direc-
tion. Hiss Purcell, she said, was o home
body, never going cut ia com any.
Prot. EsnEy 3 Cornwall Of PEineeton
College, who make the analysts OF this
dead wcmn1's stomach, next took tho
stand. lis onElJ sis, he aaid, had been
suggested Gor the possible discovery of
poisons. The analysis failed to deTe OPP
anything Of The kind ia the stomach.
There ives o slight rescsion indicating
tbs possible presence Of morohia, bus thia
wss not sustained by any further dis
closures.
Policeman O'IZara testified that he
found DR.. Euifisn's front door open one
October night hHi had to a! ouge the
family to lack It indicating carelessness
on their part in guarding against burglars.
David Parcel, JUlia Long, washer
woman, sn6 James e. KersRY, gave tesd-
mony which was of no special impof-
lance. Nr. Purcell SAID taAt among the
papers handled by the burglars but ct
stNlan, was note for S92d which DIR.
Knifsn holds against his partner Dr..
shannon.
George cooS, ons Of the proprietcrs OF
the rubber works where Miss PARCEL
was employed, testified that she was q
faithful enlploga, and hs knew nothing
6ercgstory 70 ner character.
Samuel Johnson, q scayeager, testified
that he cleaned the cuthouse OF the
Kaitfsn residence under the orders OF
Coroner Bowers last week, and found %
bottles, one blood stained towel and
handkerchief.
Druggist Albert Patterson being next
callnd identified one OF the bottles found
as four ounce medicine bottle ald said
he had filsd orc like ii with compound
byrup Of hypophusphite for Miss Purcell
las. September. TIE oork found in Mrs.
Knitfen's bed after the mu.das wculo TT
three opnce bottle and co1ld be
aqusezsh in q twO-ouncs bottle. Wiz
t,,c9 aofd bn ty,ok tf,o tn-,at
was the one which DE. Kuif'an used
| when he cut his throat AID ghich DR..
Shannon threw in tho vault. The bottle
was then produos5. II had no label,
al,d witness said it was ilnpos iihls TO say
what it last contained. Ths Inquest was
adjourned until Monday rext.