News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1890-01-16
SENSATIONAL CASE.
Trenton Excited Over Supposed
Murder.
DIR. Kniffen and q Woman Arrested for
Causing Death ofFormer's Wife-Appre-
hended In Court.

Arthur j. Kniffen and Emma Purcell are
locked up in the county Jail on a charge OF
murder, says a dispatch from Trenton, n. j.
They were arrested at O'Clock Jan. 8, while
the coroner's inquest touching the death of
Mrs. Kniffen was going on. This was by far
the most exciting episode in this sensational
case. Two thousand persons surged about
the court house when the news had spread
that the two suspects were at last in prison
cells. At 4.50 O'Clock Coroner Bower in
formed the jury that he had been listening to
the testimony all day, but that Miss Purcell
was present, and if the jurors were willing
he would call her and would continue the
session until O'Clock. "Call her, call her"
exclaimed several jurors at once. Her en-
trance created stir In the densely packed
court room. She was dressed in deep mourn
ing, and wore sable gloves and black crepe
veil. She raised her veil when the coroner
asked: "What is your full name, Miss Pur-
cellr' Mr.. Barton, her senior counsel, arose
and said: ''By direction of counsel, Miss
Purcell declines to answer"
This incident created an upIoar in court.
Miss Purcell stepped lightly down from the
chair. The next moment she was prisoner
ON the charge of murder. just as she re-en-
passed to reach the corridor of the building
leading to the street, Detective Leahy arrest
ed her She knew what was going to happen
and she di not blanch or utter word. Her
counsel hurried to her side. They had been
aware of the move, and were prepared or It.
Miss Purcell was taken into \ private room
in the building before Police Justice Mathe-
son. When she had been seated Judge
Mathesou handed a warrant to Detective
Leahy with instructions to go and arrest DR..
Kniffen. Ten minutes later DIR. Kniffen ar
r.yed in the detectives custody. 81 will ar
raign the prisoners" said Justice Matheson.
each of the defendants enters plea of not
guilty." said Mr.. Barton.
''They are entitled to anfxamination," said
the justice.
ssiY6 desire to waive exasnination,r was
the reply. The justice said that under the
circumstances he would have to commit the
prisoners.
The first witness at the inquest was Drug
glst Alfred Patterson. He testified that he saw
Mrs. kniffen alive for the last time at aquarter
to 10 on Thursday evening, Jan. 2. A boy in
the employ of the witness opened the store
on Friday morning. 1t was he who ran to
get DIR. Shannon when it was found that
something had happened In DIR. Kniffen's
apartments. The witness explained that
there was no direct communication really be-
tween his store and the Kniffen residence.
DIR. Shannon responded at once to the boys
call. He did not seem excited when he ar
rived, but beckoned with his finger to Gus
Reid. who was in the store. They went up
into hniffen's house together and the witness
followed.
Miss Purcell was lying on her face. ''Let
me go; let go!" Miss Purcell exclaimed
when DR.. Shannon took hold of her. He
raised her from the floor, and she shouted:
Run, Myra, rum ''The sight," said the
druggist, "paralyzed me. / said nothing;
neither did the other men. l went down
stairs shortly thereafter and had not yet seen
Mrs. Kniffen." The witness said the doors
up stairs were all open. DR.. Shannon, so
far as witness knew, was the first person to
enter the Kniffen apartments on Friday
The curtains of all the windows
were down. The witness perceived
no odor Of any kind In any of
the rooms. The witness saw Mrs.
Kniffen dead In her bed when he went up
stairs the second time. He did not think the
bed presented any evidence of a struggle
having taken place. Witness noticed that
DR.. Kniffen's money drawer had not been
listurhod