The sun., 1890-01-15
SHE WAS CHLOROFORMED.
DOCTORS PosITITB As TO now SRS
KNTFFIN WAS MURDERED.

L
KNIFFLN WAS MURDERED.
Dr. KnImn's Case HELPED BY the Testiu,ou,
| of his Mother-in-LaN-Interest Testi
nony Given By Miss Fursers Brother.
TRENTON, Jan. 1.-The inquest touchinS
the death Of Mrs. Myrs, Knifln was continued
to-day. Mrs. James Murphy, the aged mother
OF Mrs. Knifln, was the first witness. She was
dressed in deep mourning. According to her
testimony the relations Of DR.. Rniffln and his
| wife were always pleasant and Mrs. Knifin
and Miss Pursel were like sisters. They were
| frequent visitors at the house Of the witness.
She knew nothing Of the murder OF her daugh-
| ter further than what Miss Pursel had told her
| and what she has heard from the police and
read in the newspapers.
Have you any reason to believe that DR..
Knifln or Miss Pursel had anything to do with
the murderH" asked Juror
II have not" replied the lady.
"Haye you any reason 10 believe that DR..
Shannon had anything to do with II"
II have not"
Have you any reason to doubt that burg
larry occurred at DR.. Knlffln's residence on Nov.
sop
Il have not. 1 always believed there was
burglary"
WAS DR.. Kniffin q good provIder for his
familyp'
"One Of the best My daughter made me
confidant and II there had been any trouble
she would have veinformed me-"
"Is 1t not fact that your husband was op-
posed to the marriage OF your daughter and
Dr.. Kniffln2"
"Inever heard any objection from my hus-
band"
He never made any objection at all. do you
sayp"
mo. he never did. DR.. Knifan and my hus-
band were distant to each other because the
Doctor and Myra never asked his consent to
their marriage"
WAS your consent asked"
mo. They were married two weeks before
knew It."
How came It that they were married in that
way2"
well, they considered that they were both
Of age and had q right to do as they pleased"
did they give that excuse?"
"Myra did"
did DR.. Knifiin ever ask forgiveness for his
eonduct2"
He asked mine. but not that OF my hus-
band"
WAS that the reason why they we're distant
to each otherF
"Yes. SIR"
Was your daughters life insuredT
mot that know or"
County Physician Chas. B. Leavitt described
the condition OF Mrs. Knifln's body when he
saw It first and what the post-mortem examina-
tlon revealed. He and the other doctors came
to the conclusion that Mrs Kntffin had not
died natural death. An irritating volatile
substance had been applied to her nostrils and
mouth. The odor OF ether is persistent. and
since i was as, not g p perceptibhle the phtseians
used. Suddenly applied and in concentrated
form. chloroform is fatal to all animal life. The
acts as o stlmulant to a weak heart chlorofornl
would oppress it From every indication the |
doctors believe that ehoroiorm had been used
oi the heart superinduced by its application. |
The stomach was sent away for an analysis Tor |
had been administered to Mrs knit1in 10 pro-
duce stupefying effect. The witness could |
rooTm eo had proved I fata sieepng G pesons
had been chloroformed successfully, but tho
greatest care was exercised in placing them
one Of tae Philadelphia hospitals, persons were
thus chloroformed. This was, while series OF
sons could be chloroformed. was being made.
There were no signs that Mrs. knittla had been
had hS Mnass fed S b1 that rs s
was not shadow Of doubt in his mind about
Dr. H. waldbure Coleman the next witne IS,
said he had listened attentiveiy to DR.. Lenvitt
and that he agreed fully with his, Testimony.
|
1ad been made by q small hand. ON ono side
'i tho face the scratches ran upward in an
hem. still they might have been made
oy her while she was under the partial inlu-
lave been made after death. and the chloro-
orm. II given by an expert would not have
'eep y AL aloWed to come in contact with the lace.
.. Why do you think the chloroform was in
contact with the faceF
'vtdently in large quantities, and the more con-
entrated the anesthetc is the greater tho
" What quantity would he required to kill q
'erson OF Mrs. Kniflin's condition."
" Her heart was small. and It would take a
uently killed men In less than two minutes"
Gould Miss Pursel have been under the in
luencO Of chloroform for four hours 2"
Yes. IN some cases patients remain in
Nih sthhargy y f9r % along long time. 1t depends alto
q. Was now called to tho stand. He, was
sked II he believed that burglars entered tho
ouse and murdered Mrs. knithn.
Yes. do" he answered. !
Have you employed detectives in the case ?"
II aays you any evidence that burglars en-
II have. The shutters of the window OPEN !
ried omen with some instrument. / have
'und by Investigation that the bolt was In {
Sond ana after 9einG PER fastened that e
% Have you any other evidence 7" I
II found chair In the dining room with the Il
ane seat broken As though person standing e
q II had put his heel through It. 1t might have G
ben done by short stout man while endeav- c
ling to light the gas. The chair had recently 9
sen recaned." I
" Did you ever say anything to Shannon 4
oout obstrncting the authorities in their in II
,stigation 2" o
" Yes. 1 told him Justice Mattheson did not 4
80 his curt answers. and he excused himself "
r II by SAYING that my sister was in no condi- E
on to be examined" /
g Have you any reason to believe that Dr. d
lanpon u knows anything about this caseI"
y have not"
y Independently OF the advice OF your coun-
stify2" 4.
: She was, and she expected to. Her counsel II
one are responsible Tor her refusing to tes- m
Leon Hutchinson. house furnishing dealer -
North Warren street. testified that Or,
littn frequently camo to his place of business d
ID spent the evening there. Il have known 81
IN good while" said Mr.. Hutchinson. II -
n say that he never had q fast horse in his