The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-01-13
BURGLAR S TOOLS FOUND
More Evidence of Police IN
justice in the Kniffin
Case.

TRENTON, Jan. 13, 1890 The Kniffin in
quest was resumed at half-past ten.
John Matheson, the gray-haired, gray
bearded Police Justice, was the first wit
ness, and instead of waiting for questions
to be put to him, said he would give a
statement from his notes, which was as
follows
About eight o'clock on the morning of
January word came to me that burglars
had entered DR.. Kniffin's house.
II went there and entered the large
bedroom with Chief of Police McChes-
ney. The gas was burning. A closet door
was open. A mass of clothes lay ON the
closet floor. On the bed was another lot
of clothes; pair of shoes stood at the end
of the bed.
THE bureau drawers were open, and the
contents missing, but the toilet articles
on the bureau were not disturbed.
There were cold chise1 and a hammer
there. There was a radiator near the
door. At the base of it was a piece OF
yellow pine.
I afterward learned from Miss Pursel
that this was used As a prop against the
door in addition to the bed.
There were also a number of matches
just burned at the edge, as if lighted and
then blown out.
Mrs. Kniffin lay on the bed dead. The
At&NS W oSo NGSlhi clulA pCdCc1ult Luc ups w .
swollen. There was no sign of struggle
about her person except tat the fingers
of her hands were slightly clenched
1T was found that door leading to an
alcove room could be opened but about
three inches, not enough to permit any
one to enter
'tChief McChesney asked DIR. Shannon
to see Miss Pursel, " said the witness, 'sbut
the doctor refused to permit US to do SO,
and let me say here that DR.. Shannon has
opposed us at every point, whereas Mr..
Palmer has aided us in our investigation
in every way.
upon our insisting, DR.. Shannon
brought us to Miss Pursel. She was in
bed. While questioning her had to ask
DIR. Shannon to leave the room as he sug-
gested answers to her, and | thought his
presence had some restraining influence
on her.
"This is all the police have to give at
present, as we do not want to give our
case away at present. If we did so we
might ruin our case, and think we have
good case against the suspects"
The antiquated Police Justice was
laughed at while giving his testimony.
a Juryman asked
''Was Mrs. Kniffius life insured?"
How do know?'
'sYou don't know anything" was the
prompt reply, and every one laughed at
him again.
Mr.. Barton, defendants counsel, was
asked by reporter what the effect would
be If the Coroner's jury charged the per
sons out on bail with the crime. He said
that the Coroner would then be invested
with the powers of commit
ting magistrate and might again cause
the arrest of his clients, but that the same
bond would answer for their release in
second babeas corpus proceedings.
Detective Pilger expressed Indignation
at the charges people were making
against him with respect to having for
mally charged Miss Pursel and DIR.
Kniffin with murder without sufficient
evidence.
He said he knew what he was doing.
People should not think that all the eVi-
dence in the case had been brought out
before the Coroner's Jury, or that they
were fools enough to permit it to be
brought out.
What are all these rumors with re-
spect to the arrest of DR.. ShannonW was
asked of the detective.
There's nothing in them" was the re-
II have heard it stated that warrant
has been made out and is ready to serve
at any time-iS that true?"
IF it were true | would give you no
satisfaction" the detective replied, ''but,
as fact, it is not true"
"Then there is no intention formed to
cause the arrest of DR.. Shannon?"
mo; there is not"