The evening world., 1890-01-13
CROWNER'S QUEST.
Neither Miss Purcell Nor Dr.
Kniffin Present.
Rumors Of Heavy Insurance on
the Murdered Woman's Life.
Justice Mntheson's story OF the Dis
c cry of the Crime.
,sprc,A. TO THE EVENING WORLD,

TRENTON, N. D., Jan. III. -hb curly IN q
o'clock this morning a crowd began to as
semblo about the Courthouse, in which
the Knifin inquest is held. The building
stands back about fifty feet from Brond
street, the principal street in tho city.
The residence Of DIR. Kniffin. and the
house in which DIR. Shannon, his partner.
boards are almost directly opposite.
A rumor that DIR. Kniflin was imp'i-
Gated in the murder of his wife IN order
to obtain heavy insurance on her life
Ind obtained great credepce and created
much talk.
An EVENING WORLD reporter, endeav-
oring to find out for how much her life
was insured, If at all. asked his lawyers,
Beasley and Barton.
They declared that they did not know
whether Mrs. Kniffin's life was insured
David Purcell. Emma's brother. was
asked for information and replied
IT really cannot say whether ,Myra,s
life was insured or not. do not think 1t
was. The rumor, 1 believe, ID only q
sensational one."
Coroner Bowers had heard the rumor.
He smiled knowingly when spoken TO
about it and said
IF there is anything in it we will make
IL known at the proper time"
Public Prosecutor Stockton, i'll md pale
after his severe attack OF the grlp, WIZ
into the courtroom at q few minutes after
10. and declined to say whether he knew
that the dead woman's life was insured or
not. an
Although scheduled TO begin Mt 10
O'Clock, understood Coroner Bowers did
~-. .,~Itl IN IN linen he
called the jury roll. They were oil
present.
JUSTICE MATH EsoN's STATEMENT.
John Matheson, the gray-haired, gray
/, bearded Police Justice, was the hrst Wit
ness. and instead of waiting for .ques-
: tions TO be put to him, said he would give
a statement from his notes. which was as
: follows: -
jan, 8 word came 10 me that burglars
lind entered DIR. Kniffin's house.
- went there and entered the large
, bedroom, with Chief of Police McChes.
new. The gas was burning. A closet
door was open. A mass of clothes lay on
he closet floor. On the bed was another
i, lot of clothes, a pair of shoes TODD at the
' end of the bed.
1.-THE bureau drawers were open ana the
contents missing, but the toilet articles
on the bureau were not disturbed.
BURGLARS TOOLS. SURE ENOUGH.
"There were cold chisels and o hammer
> there. There was a radiator near thu
. door, At the base of 1t was q piece oil
afterwards learned from Miss Purcell
o that this was used AZ q prop against tho
8 door in addition to the bed.
a S'There were also a number OF matche:
lust burned at the edge, as If lighted ant
then blown out. m
. Mrs .Knitfin lay on the bed dead. INT
g face was calm and peaceful. the lips wer'
swollen. There was no sign OF Q struggl
about her person except that the hngeri
If of her hands were slightly cllnehed.
= ut was found that n door leading int
IN alcoye room could be opened but abou
three inches. not enough to permit an!
. one TO enter.
o oBsTRUcTID by DR.. SHANNON
"Chief McChesney asked DR.. Shannon
10 see Miss Purcell, !" said the witness. ''bu
the doctor refused to permit US to do 30
and let Inc say here that DR.. Shannon ma
opposed us at every point, whereas Mr.
Palmer has aided US in our investigator
ri in every way. -
1t brought us to Miss Purcell. She was Il
le bed. While questioning her l had TO a.
DIR, Shannon to cave the room. as Il
suggested to her, and ! though
= his presence had some restraining inhu
ence ON her.
SOMETHING HELD BACK.
7. This is all the police.haye to give q
present, as we do not want to give GU
case away at present. II we ana SO "
might ruin our case, and i Think we hRV
a good case against the suspect"
The antiquated Police Justice wa
or laughed at while giving his testimony
A juryman asked
Was Mrs. Kpifiin's life insured 2"
q flow do | know Z" IL.
or "You don't know anything" was IN
Of prompt reply, and every one laughed
him again.
INDIGNANT AT pr. SHANNON.
Then the witness burst forth ID
I. shannon has publicly stated that l CAV
q him permission to go up the road to me'
q DIR. knihin. That is a lie. / did net CIV
~ shannon permission TO go to Washingto
Crossing to meet Dr.. knitin, but b
y The little Police Justice fairly dehe
q the Coroners jury. II one OF them aske
RI a question and he saw mt not TO answer l
~ would scowl and answer im~pertinently
~ and so get out of giving a decisive ansWel
n This was poticeaoiy SO whtn JnIymIia,
N was insured or not. Only two men OF q
~ Jury were capable OF getting decisiN
81 answers out of the Justice.
~ CLASH OF oRcEs.
n At noontime a clash occurred betwee
~ the witness and the jury. Justice Aath'
IIs son refused TO give all the evidence /
III said he had. JuTyman Pierson insiste
III that vital questions should be answered
and there was a question raised as
whether the impeTtinent little magistfai
: should be committed for contempt
30 Court or not,
Z Foreman Sterling finally said TO hin
sA 4" Justice AathesOn, you have treated q
~ CoroneF's Jury very improperly. Don
= YOU think you had better answer the
i5 questions. or at least that you had bett
SO consult with the Public Prosecutor befoi
a. you refuse 10 answer our questions Z"
~ THE JUSTICE WON.
~ aA'ter twenty minutes Of wranglinR 4
~ JlAtice got OF without answering Il
ts aursiiuns, and the Coroner did not hA'
the nerve TO lock him up. He was Tia
TX exeusel and Druggist Patterson was !
o. called.
IA I-NTEREsrING ETE1fs-
~ He said that the day after the murd
p nc heud pe'esjyes Leaey aud PllseT .