Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-03-17
ROMANCE AND PATH0S
Strangely Mixed Up in the Life of the
Dead Mrs. Purnell.
THEORY OF MURDER DISPELLED
BY the Investigation Into Her Death of the
Coroner's Jury.
A PROBABLE CONTEST FOR HER WEALTH
ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DISPATCH:

ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DISPATCH:
ATLANTIC CITY. n. j., March 16.-The
theory of murder in the Mrs. Clara Purnell
case was effectually squashed to-day by the
finding of the Coroner's jury, who returned
verdict that death was due to heart fail
ure. The testimony Of COUNTY Physician
James and ali but one of the witnesses amply
disproved even the slightest suspicion of
foul play. The one exception was ex-As-
semblyman James S. Beckwith, who first
discovered Mrs. Purnelps dead body in her
cottage.
He seemed determined to make it out
clear case OF cold-blooded murder, and
dramatically referred to what he considered
the tell-tale marks on her throat and face,
and the fact that her hair was entangled in
the rungs of clothes horse, which stood in
close proximity to the chair from which she
fell in her death throes. DR.. James, how
ever, had made an examination of her
heart, lungs and intestines, and his evil
dence was conclusive that the woman came
to her death through natural causes.
Story of Mrs. PurneIPs Life.
The veil of mystery surrounding the life
of Mrs. Purnell was lifted to-day by Mrs.
H. w. Thurman, OF Germantown. She is
a cousin of the deceased, and came here this
morning in company with John Ulip, of
West Philadelphia. another relative of the
unfortunate woman, and Mr.. William
Barnes, her lawyer. Mrs. Thu, mans story
of the dead .woman's S lie was full of romance
and pathos, and if told in detail would
prove a narrative of thrilling interest.
She said Mrs. Clara Purnell was the
daughter OF the Rev. Samuel Bertron,
wealthy Methodist Episcopal minister of
Port Gibson, Miss. Her mother, Mrs.
Ottillie Bertron, is an authoress of consider
able note, and is best known in literary
circles because of the brilliant scoring she
gave Bob Ingersoll and his religious notions
recently. She is still living in Port Gibson.
Clara was fayorite daughter and was sent
to the York, Pa, College to be educated.
When she returned South she created a
furore in social circles because of her beauty
and accomplishments.
Carried off by Cholera.
She had many suitors, but the success ful
one was j. E. Purnell, a wealthy and in
fuential native of Mississippi. While the
Civil War was in progress her husband
was stricken with cholera and died. Mrs.
Purnell was visiting at the home of her
uncle, Reading Bertron Porter, of German
town. at the time. and was badly prostrated
on receiving the sad news.
She led quiet life in her native city
until the fall of 1877, when a double
calamity almost unsettled her reason. Her
father and son were both taken down with
yellow fever and died on the same day. Her
son was a bright, intelligent youth, and had
just graduated three days previous at Avon
dale College. From that day on she became
a wanderer, moving from place to place, her
only companions being her pet dogs. She
had penchant for jewelry, and from her
girlhood days until the time Of her death
had been diligently gathering the rarest
gems she could find.
Wanted Someone to Love-,
Mrs. Purnell's recent advent in Philadel
phia was last spring, when she called at the
house of her cousin, John UIip, in West
Philadelphia, and informed him that she
wanted someone to love, and was going to
adopt child. Mr.. Ulip suggested that she
adopt someone OF her relatives children,
but she declared that she had already made
a selection. Mrs. Thurman further stated
that her deceased relative was very wealthy,
as she was left fortune, not only by her
father, but by her husband. She owned at
her dRth large plantation near Chase
City, Va, and another on the Yazoo river,
Miss.
msMrs. Purnell's relatives were visibly in
censed at the fact that strange infant
should be adopted BY her as heir, to the ex-
clusion of her blood relations, and if there
is a loophole through which the will can be
contested, there is but little doubt that they
will lose no time in doing so. Lawyer
William Barnes, the deeeased's legal ad-
wiser, was here to-day and made arrange
ments to have the body placed in tine re-
ceiving vault at Pleasantville, where it will
remain until arrangements have been made
with her relatives to have ID sent to her
Southern home.