New-York tribune., 1890-01-05
THE TRENTON MYSTERY.
NO CLEW TO THE PERSONS WHO CHLORO.
FORMED MRS KNIFFIN TO DEATH
SURVEILLANCE - THE DEAD wOMAN'S
RELATIVES HOLDING TO THE BUR-
GLARY THEORY-A STABLE
rBr TELEGRAPH TO THE 1RlBusE.I
BOYS STORY.

Trenton, y. j., Jan. 4.-Ihe house IN SOutn Broad
st. occupied by Dr. Arthur 5. Knifn. the dentist,
whose wife chlOrofOrmed to death on Thursday
night. or early Yesterday morning, surrounded
all day and this evening by crowds Of people
nOrbidly eager to learn the mnutest details OF tho
mysterious tragedy. A policeman has Kept passage
way the sidewalk clear, but has not been able o
drive the crowd away. The body Of Mrs. Knhn lay
on ice in the dental parlOr When her body was
first discovered the eyes OPEN with wild. staring
look and her fingers cenched but TO day her eyes
were closed and her hands peacefully folded across
her bosom. That she struggled for life was shown
by the swollen condition of her face and the
scratches and bruises on her chin
The question who killed hero has been asked a
thousand times in the city since she found dead
but no will give the The police
silent. Detective Leahey, when asked to-day
what the latest theory of the police, answered
that no new theory had been formed We may
have IDEAS he added. but they ought not to be
made public, because future developments may pos
slby show that entirely wrong. We do not
wish 10 make any mistakes in 50 important matter
The officer intimated that search for burglars was
going on.
Louis Zclley, butcher boy employed in a shop
in the rear of DR.. Kniffn's house, said that he
at work in the stable up to midnight Thursday, but
heard noises Of any description. When he left
the stable of the horses in his charge was SICK
and he visited the stable about a. m. TO look after
the animal. To a reporter the boy Sald tlldt upon
returning at the latter hour. he heard a strange
noise in the stable as if moving
about in the hay. He was alarmed, but went into
the stable, looked at the horse, then slammed
the door and home. The stable
doors, he added, were open all night.
The boys statement may possibly afford the police
clew 10 work upon.
deep air of mystery prevailed around the Knifn
home throughout the day. Reporters were told there
tod, md that hp 4d
nothing TO say and would not be seen. A sister Of
Emma Purcell. the young woman who slept with Mrs
Knilin the night 0f the murder, arrived here last
night from Broadway, the Warren County village
where DR.. Kniihn visiting at the time. she an
swered the doorbcll several times to-day, but would
give information regarding matters inside the house
II was reported about town that Miss Emma Pur
cell extremely III, and reporter inquired Of her
sister whether not the report was true.
b." have nothing 10 say wa, the answer.
How is DR.. knfin i he about, or IN bed ,"
!" You will excuse me, please. / have nothing to
say" concluded Miss Purcell she closed the door
in the face Of the reporter. While the latter was
receiving the report at the door that Dr. kniiin was
completely pro>tratcd and unable to talk Of the case
he could hear the voice, of several people upstairs
busly and loudly engaged I'm conversation.
Miss Emma Purcell is said Ia have passed through
a trying ordeal thl, morning. one m the house
told her that many people about town werr >ay!iE
that She had placed the 'holoroiorm on Mr.. knhns
looked at her informant IN amalement for Jew
momcUs. and then went into Mysteries. She remained
in this state for about am hour Mis- Purcell IN
dlgnantly denied the accusation ana appeaea EealIH
surprised that any chance circumstances should be
construed by the publ, aN connecting her with the
murder
several members of the coroner's jury visited the
house this morning and the entire premises.
They refused 70 talk about the case tuIlhcr uan 10
press their indignation the action Of the police
bun gngly hut do not point ont what has been 'il
undone by the detectives or IN what particular there
ha, been m>manarement.
County Physician Leavitt assisted by Doctors Cole
man and Stuhlc, made the pO~tmOrtem eNmnauon
this afternoon. DR.. knlitn, not caring 70 stay IN
the house while the physician, were at work, went
ont for drive with Roscoe Murphy, a brother ot
his dead wife The examination revealed the fact
that every organ was healthy: ana thst no Viol.nce
was used in causing Mrs. knfhn'1 death further
than the application Of chI)roform. The stomach
wall of Princeton College. for analv,S. Prosecutor
stockton has forbidden the physicians 10 give the
press any account Of the examination, directing th,l
10 withhold their Information until the ndle>t i hed
The fact that Mrs. Kuiiln'N relatives believe the
burglary theory and standing by the Doctor IN lis
trouble far 10 strengthen the public belief mat
burglars really committed HE decd ponce 0hccr
will be kept on duty AZ the house all night.
The police acknowledge 10 night that they have
suspicious touching the identity Of the murderer. but
no evidence whatever TO warrant them in making an
yclance Police Justice Mathe,on said tonight that
the officer guarding the house instructed to pre-
Detective Pgcr. who visited the house this after
noon to question a charw0man employed there asserts
tlat Ut. NldnNpU, llF partner VI ~ hll''' i''s
fered and prevented the interview. DR.. shannon. he
adds informed him that by advice of counsel no one
I'm the house would say anything. except in the
presence of the attorney. Dr. knifen has retained
H. y Barton the leading criminal lawyer Of Trenton.
why have You people mrcd counsel asked ue
detective.
To help the authorities.~ answered Or. Knifcn, |
who was standing near hy.
WHY We are the authorities said PilCer. we !
expected your cooperation and the help of every
body I'm this house In fcrrctng ont this mystery bun
We are meeting with obstacles. IT, strange
Justice Matheson said also that while he was /
questioning Mis-, Purcell Yesterday. Dr. shannon in
sisted on being present and interfering replies to
Questions, which Mis-, Purcell did not answer. The
Interference was marked that Justice MatheSon
threatened to eject the dOrtor from the room. HE
police intimate that they working clcw that
NAV lead to some arrests next week Their intima-
tons amount 10 - little, however. that the people
have already .gased tO expect that the mystery Will
Doe cleared up
OBITUARY