The sun., 1890-01-04
MURDERED, BUT BY WHOM?
HRG DIR. ENIFFLN CHJoROFORMBD TO
DEATH IN HER BED.

1rnnoo or Burglars Told by Miss Purcell.
who Also Was ChIOrOformed-Ths Two
Women Were Aione In the HOuSe-Dr.
Rnimn Net Allowed by the Police 60
Go Home Unth He Has been Questioned.
TRENTON, Jan. 9.-Mrs. Myra Kniffln the
wife OF DR.. Arthur 8. Knifln, ono OF the best
known dentists In the city. was chloroformed
By some one at late hour last night or early
this morning. Her dead body was found upon
the bed in her room at TN o'clock this morn
ing, and since the latter hour the police have
been working In vain to find the murderers.
No occurrence In Trenton in recent years
has 90 startled the community. Mrs. Kniffln
was good looking, 2S years old OF light COM
plexion. and OF ANAL figure. She had q very
wide circle OF friends. Her husbands office is
over Albert W. Patterson's drug store. 2O6
South Broad street. Their living apartments
are In the Same building South Broad street
Is o main thoroughiare, bright with electric
light. filled with stores and ofices, and regu-
lsrly pstroled by tho police.
Yesterday morning DR.. Kniffln left Trenton
for Broadway. village in Warren county. In
this State. He had been complaining lately Of
feeling unwell. and It is presumed he decided
20 take run up country for the benefit Of his
health. DR.. william II. Shannon. his partner.
took charge OF the dental parlor. and early last
evening he locked up the place for the day,
taking away what money there was In the office.
Dr. Knifiin's nine ye ar old son had gone to the
residence OF his grandmother, Mrs. Rostein
Murphy. in Cooper street, and there. 1t is said.
he was kept over night, owing to the fnct that
he had been frightened at homo in the latter
part OF November when burglars. during the
absence Of DR.. Knifin, entered the house.
Shortly before 10 o'clock Mrs. Knifln retired.
Miss Emma Purcell. young woman
10
cell 10 typewriter employed at the
Emuire pottery, and she has lived with tho
Knifins several years. She Is o cousin Of Mrs.
Kpifan. DR.. Shannon arrived at the office at
* O'Clock this morning. He was startled to
ind tho furniture In confusion, burned match
Os on the floor. and other evidences OF the in
trusion Of burglars. He called Mrs. Knif1n's
name but hs received no reply. This alarmed
him. Entering q smAn room directly facing
South Broad street he almost stumbled over
Miss Purcell, who lay In her night clothes In
the middle OF the room. like one dead. Dr.
Shannon summoned help and with two other
men quickly made thorough investiGSt ion.
Miss Purcell was not dead. but she seemed
partly unconscious.
"Oh. the burglars Run. Myra. run |" she
exclaimed. as Dr. Shannon and the other mon
lifted her from the floor.
Dr.. Cornelius Shepherd was called In to at
tend TO her. In tho mean time Mrs. Knifln
was found lying dead In her bed In an adjoin-
ing room, The corner OF quilt that still
emitted the odor Of chloroform was thrown
over her face. Upon Its removal her face was
pound swollen. About the mouth and chin 1t
vas blue. The chin was scratched as though
by finger nails. but except these no marks Of
violence were visible.
The police BY authority of Prosecutor Stock
ID antra akA &1A
found ohisel In one spot. o ahatohet In another.
and still other toels. but they say the toole do
not belong to@ burglars kit and they profess
70 be mystaed BY the circumstance Indeed.
the fact that bureau drawers were found pulled
out and articles Of furniture in several rooms
disturbed did not convince them that house
breakers Of experience had been at work. They
could not learn that anything had been taken.
9or did they find signs OF the forcing OF any
Miss Purcell was put to bed as soon as she
was found. This afternoon she was sufficiently
revived to make q statement. She said she
fhe floor. but she felt as II she were peralyzed;
She was unable to stir hand or foot She and
nisht. Both were chesriSi., and Mrs, ,Kni6in
EsmarFed that , che % Was not sleepy % M at All Miss
sSS sSon a eP MoW sbs fhe Was
f aWsfsned I By SG% puaoh % Rom mi ars knin. Who Who
said there was q burglar pushing open the
door sprang out OF bed. and ran to the front
TindoM calling for help at tho top of her voice.
the fioor and Q wet cloth pressed over her face;
That was all she kney until pr. Shannon and
AS hHr 5 R.n aS She sS of
After Miss Purcell had told her, story che was
informed that Mr.; Knifin was dead. She at
6pen t6o occasion Or the visit of burglars at
Dr. knidin's house in Eovsm6eE I,tP he was ABB
Miss Purcell We're In the p house Miss Purcell
then said that three men came into her bed
Eoom. and one Of them held drawn kniie over
that It would be used II she alte m pied to make
any ogtsry. The TWO other BURGLARS made 3
s@al sum oi monsy, but tho police never eve dis dis
animation Of Mrs; Kniffin will be made to;mor-
row forenoon, and Coroner Bowen will hold an
inquest op Monday: r
Mrs; ,Khlfhn, Detectiye Leahey. who has been
spnion no 10 burglars snteHe3 mt the house at It a a
Every door and window was fastened he says
STSS n,o aSf the en from % tie Re rear 5a Fl the
%es left unlocked BY Mrs. Knittin last evening.
The SEEK Pt sp9ll bottle was found in Mrs
Ry ehloroiorm or not could not be told. DR..
Kninin was sum9oned home by telegraph.
PonSsyiVsnia ' road si'aGrS at ss}!iSiSe s.! ton
night . Detectives PilGer and Leahey we're
hL the sIaL9n anu ~ soon as he aliRhted from
fhe train they asked him to accompany them !
TO Police Headquarters There DR. knlfin
was put through long examination as TO the
reason for his departure and a. to all his movo- ,
inepts since Yesterday morning He was frank /
10 all his answers, and no more agitated than
He said he bad gone to visit relatives Of Miss !
Purcell at Broadway, as RdjoininR their farm
was one which he thought Of buying. Miss
there, and he saw her In the depot at Phillips
burg yesterday, She was waiting for u train |
for Trenton. and he for one going In the op-
poeile direction. He spoke only q word or two |
Early to-day Constable Frank Wheeler was
said Wheeler went under the direction OF |
Coroner Bower. DR.. Knifin's statement was |
Matheson. Later he was taken to his own |
house. The Iolico Informing him that they
II burglars had stolen anything. Many
FIm2Ts haye been ahoRt all day connecting |
iS:n Ut: KGifdn's name 10 painful way with the