New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-01-09
TWO ARRESTS AT TRENTON.
DIR. KNIFFEN AND MISS PURCELL LOCKED
UP ON THE CHARGE OF MURDER.
AN IMPORTANT STEP TAKEN TOWARD THE soLu.
TIoN OF THE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
BEFORE THE CoRoNER's JURY.


Trenton, n. j., Jan. S.-Dr. Arthur s. Knifin
and Emma Purcell are locked up in the county
Jail on charge Of murder They were arrested
at p m. while the coroners investigation touch
ing the death of Mrs. Kniifin was proceeding. 0f
all the sensational incidents Of the case this has
proved the most exciting. Two thousand people
gathered about the Court House when the news
was spread. AT IL minutes 10 Coroner Bower
informe.. the jury that Miss Purcell was pres.
ent, and if they wished, he would call her and
remain in session till p. m. Call her," ex-
claimed several jurors at once
She was dressed in deep mourning, wearing sabe
gloves and a black Grape veil DR.. Palmer and
his wife escorted her from the witness room into
the COURTROOM. She raised her veil when the
coroner asked the first question, but the audience
was disappointed, for it did not hear her voice.
nardly had the coroner spoken, before Chauncey
Reasley son of Chief Justice Beasey, sprang TO his
feet.
wait moment Miss Purcell" he said, "and
please make answer"
Mr. Beascy explained TO the court that he
was Of counsel for Dr. Knihin and Miss Purcell
and was acting in that capacity.
Miss Purcell" he went on, has been in
custody ever since this horrible event took place.
For some reason she was not arrested, but was
to show that the Chief of Police and Police
Justice Matheson have prevented her from leav-
ing that house. We have an affidavit showing
that on one occasion when she attempted 10 do
so an officer forced her back. She has been
under constant police surveillance. and for that
reason claim that she need answer no ques-
tors here. Inder the law person under ar
rest cannot be forced upon the witness stand.
Our client will refuse TO be inerrogated nOw?"
This was all of the counsel's speech and he sat
down.
What is your full name, Miss Purcell?' the
coroner asked again.
Mr.. Barton, her senior counsel said Under
direction of counsel, she declines to answer
Miss Purcell stepped lightly down from tho
witness chair. Just as she entered the witness
room, through which she was to pass to reach
the corridor Of the building leading to the street,
Detective Leahy took her into custody. She knew
what was going to happen and did not blanch
or utter q word. She taken before Pocs
Justice Mateson. who handed a warrant 10 De-
tect!ve Leahy, with instructions TO get DIR.
Knifin. Ten minutes later Dr. Knifiin arrived,
$50 prisoner on the charge of murder. DR..
and Mrs Palmer and David Purcell, Emmas
brother present.
Il will arragn tie prisoners said Justics
MatLeson
All right said Mr.. Barton Justice Matheson
then read the complaint, which sworn to by
Detective Charles Pilzer. The prisoners by their
counsel pleaded not guilty. waived examination
and were committed for trial
Miss Purcells composure during the ordeal was
the subject of remark. She had removed her
gloves and veil. Some color had come into her
cheeks, and she chatted and laughed like girl
who did not know the meaning of the word
trouble DR.. knifin looked like anything but
a man who was suspected Of having had hand
in the murder Of his wife and within fortyeight
hours had made his will and attempted TO end
his own existence Mr. T.. Beasley sought a
Justice of the Supreme Court, to make application
for a writ of habeas corpus. Unfortunately for
his clients not Of the four Justices, Beasley,
Scudder. Van Sycke Reed all of whom live
in Trenton, happened to be in town. He was
forced to return and to inform his associate Mr.
Barton. that DR.. Knifin and Miss Purcell would
have to be locked up for the time being. The
prisoners took the matter coolly.
The inquest to-day began with the testimony Of
the druggist Alfred Patterson. lie said that
when he went into DR.. Knifiin's house after the
discovery of the murder he saw DR.. Shannon lift
Miss Purcell from the floor. She exclaimed:
Let me go let me go." and then shouted.
Run, Myra; rum
lie said the doors were all open. While pretty
much all the drawers in the rooms were pulled ouu
and ransacIed, the witness noticed that Dr. Knif-
fms money drawer had not been touched This
drawer is in his instrument case.
Charles Augustus Reid was the next witness.
He is secretary and treasurer of the Trenton Water
works Company. When lie was called into the
house on Friday by DR.. shannon Miss Purcell was
lying on her side. Her hair was dishevelledi
-. bar,, Irass md har fepfW
Inc witness noticed no peculiar odor as OF choro-
form or ether in any OF the roons.
MISS Purce,i continued IN seeminShs
heard Dr. Shannon when he called out that no
believed Mrs. kniilin was dead, but her only re-
mark was oh. no, no.! Dr. shannon 'esSi-
fled that he had known DR.. knlnin since tho
spring of 1881. On Friday morning he was
brought hastily TO mis- office by his once ooy VINO
reportcd that something had happened. lie re-
lated how he found the drawers III the lhsTu-
ment-caScs. bureaus. etc, ransacked and Miss
purrell inc on the floor. lie rushed DOWN
stairs. got Gus Reed TO accompany him. and
then he picked Miss Purcell @ Sp Bs @ one Ss WSS "sI Sbe
STRUGGLED i'm his arms, but made no outcry or eN-
clomation. The first words that She did utter
aftcrward were on, my; Nheh ne reached
Mrs Knnin's bed he saw the corner OF counter
nane over her face. He smelled no chloroform
or ether The bed was nearly in the centre ot
tho room Al the doors were open. some Ot
them wide and some of them Just aJar. MISS
purcell with his assistance, entered an adJoin.
;rr room and went 10 bed. She said
nothinr To witness about the robbery. He
said that no instrument or other article belong-
ing 10 his Office was missing as result OF clthcr
of the alleged burglaries. Chloroform and ether
might have been used in the house during the
night without leaving an odor that would be
perccptibe several hours later. The doors being
open. the odor would pass away soon. Mrs.
Knihin. after the alleged burglary in November.
said in the hearing of the witness that the burg
lars had turned the gas in her room, shd
-, for Ian, Of SItfOcatluT her. MIS-
Miller. the charwoman said that Mrs. kniiiin had
told her after the November affair at the house
that the burglars had turned the gas on In her
room without lighting it,
Counsel for Or knihn and Emma Purcell mada
energetic efforts tonight 10 secure Their reeas 50
from the county jail on bail but failed IN every
ATTEMPT Justice SCuddcr declined 10 act on the
ground that this county is not in the circuit over
which he prcsidcs Chief Justice Beasley was