Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-01-09
THE KNIFFEN MURDER.
Miss Purcell Would Not Testify and Shs
and the Doctor were Arrested

There was another big sensation In Trenton
last night when, after refusing, by advice Of
counsel, to testify before the corners inquest
Emma Purcell was arrested by Detective
Charles Pilger, charged with the murder o,
Myra Kniffen. DR.. Arthur S. Kniffeu, the hus
band Of the murdered woman, was arrested 9
few minutes later on the same charge.
There was Q stir in the jury room as Coroner
Bower and the jurymen had q consultation and
the whisper went round that Miss Purcell wa
to be put upon the stand Every man in the
court room seemed to feel that the most i'm.
portant event OF the day was about to take
place.
There was long wait, and then slowly there
came up through the stairway from the grand
jury room the figure of Miss Purcell. She wa
dressed from head to foot in black and a heavy
crepe veil concealed her face from the curious
crowd, which rose in their seats to see her a
she came in.
By her side was the sister Of DR.. Kniffen, Mrs.
Palmer, and she supported her a. she walked.
They were followed by DR.. Palmer and De-
tective Leahy. Miss Purcell was conducted to
the chair and seated herself facing the jury.
There was short pause. during which Coroner
Bower and Prosecutor Stockton held whis-
pered consultation. Coroner Bower stepped to
Miss Purcell and in q low voice requested her
to raise her veil This she did with firm hand
and 1T could be seen that, although not as rosy
checked as before the murder, she had good
deal of color In her cheeks. She looked fear
iessiy about and did not seem to be at all at
fected by her position. She was sworn by the
coroner and then again reseated herself.
what Is your name?" asked Coroner Bower.
Before she could answer Chauncey H. Beas-
ley her counsel, arose and said: Il instruct the
witness not to answer and 1 think the law up
holds me in it. While she has not been ar
rested, yet ever since the terrible murder was
committed she had been under surveillance
She has had an officer with her everywhere she
turned and she was not allowed to leave the
house when her friends desired to take her
elsewhere. She has been q prisoner of the
county to all intents and purposes and in
struct her not to answer"
Mr.. Beasley presented affidavits to substan-
tia to his claim.
Prosecutor Stockton directed Coroner Bower
TO put the question again and Miss Purcell re-
Piled: by instruction Of counsel refuse to
answer"
As soon as Lawyer Beasley took his seat
Prosecutor Stockton approached him. They
spoke few words and then the prosecutor
turned to Justice Matheson. and he in turn
made rush for Detective Harry Leahy who
stepped forward and placed Miss Purcell un Ter
arrest. Detective Pilger rushed out OF the
court room and down to the witness room,
where he found Dr. Arthur Kniffen, the hr,s-
band OF the murdered woman. and placed him,
the grand jury room and here the formal COM
plant was read to them, in which Detective
Charles Pilger swears that he has reason to
suspect that Miss Emma Purcell caused the
death of Mrs. Myra Knitfeu and that Arthur s.
kniffen Was an accessory to the crime"
This complaint was sworn out last Sunday
This was done SO that the suspects could not
have their objections sustained II they made any
against the officers accompanying them at the
funeral During the read ng OF the complaint
Miss Purcell looked the justice straight in the
eye. She sat all the while with her left hand
i'll that OF Mrs. Ella Palmer, DR.. Kniffens sister,
who occupied q seat on her left
On her right sat DIR. knffen. He was dressed
in black Prince Albert coat and about his
neck he wore handkerchief, presumably to
hide the wounds on his throat In his white
shirt bosom he still wore the large diamond of
which he is passionately fond. But once did
his gaze turn to Miss Purcell, and then her
eyes met his, her lips twitched. and for a mo
ment it looked as though she would burst into
tears.
which charges but suspicion" against the
prisoner, and waived the usual preliminary
hearing. Then / will have to commit them
to the county Jail without bail" said Justice
Matheson. "Oh, can't go with her!" cried
Mrs. Palmer, as the prisoners were es ,orted to
cell, while their lawyers jumped into cab
and started out to secure writ of habeas
corpus and have the prisoners released on bail
From the court house Lawyer Barton drove to
the residence of Judge Scudder, but he refused
them the writ of habeas corpus.
They then tried Judge Van Sickle and here
again were refused. AS last resort they
called on Chief Justice Beasley and stated their
case. 1t was after 10 o'clock when they LETT
the chief justice, but they did not have the
writ. The chief justice said the charge was a
serious one and that he would not interfere in
the case in the absence of the prosecutor and
while the coroner's inquest was going on.
He promised, however, that they could renew
their application after the adjournment of the
inquest If the jury does not fasten the crime
on the prisoners he will read the testimony and
consider their application for q writ. Miss
Purcell is comfortably arranged in the juvenile
department of the old court house and Mrs.
Palmer is permitted to lie on a bed she has
made on the Jail floor outside the cell. DR.,
Kniffen is in cell "B'' on corridor No. a.