The morning times., 1895-12-30
ARRESTED ON SUSPICION
Did Albert KeIIis Murder Mrs.
John Runnett.
THAT MYSTERIOUS RAZOR
York Mystery Causes the Arrest
of Suspect-His Relations With
the Murdered Womun-Would Have
Killed Him.

New York, Dec. 29.-Albert A Nellis.
a real estate dealer, was arrested this morn
ing on an order of Coroner Hoeber on sus-
picion of having murdered Mrs. John AL
bert Runnett, OF 233 West Forty-ninth
street, who was found dead in the area
way In front of Neilis' house last night.
| After taking the statements of several wit
nesses this afternoon the coroner fixed bail
| for Nelis at 5000.
| Coroner Hoeber learned that Nellis had
, lived with Mrs. Runnett and had known her
for twenty years, although lie denied that
he knew the woman when the body was
found. Mrs Runnett he also learned. had
been annoying Neilis of late and had made
threatsagains; him. Thecoroner also found
that MIS-. RuDne;t had died from a fracture
OF the skull from blow on the back of
the head. There was a scalp wound above
thefracture as if the woma an had been struck
with some sharp instrument.
Theautopsy, which was made by Coruncr's
Physician Huber, showed that there had
been considerable hemorrlIage but there
was little blood where the body was found
and no wound was discovered until Il very
careful examination had been made.
RAEOh In HEX DRESS.
A razor was found in the bosom of the
woiuan's dress and some whitish powders
in her pocket. The autopsy showed. how
ever, that she had not taken poison and
it would have been easy, the coroner said.
FOR those things to have been placed there
after death to disarm suspicion. The
autopsy showed, however. that Mrs. Run
nett had been addicted to the use of
liquor to moderate extent.
This latter fact the defense is using In
argaing that Mrs. Runnctt fell down the
stoop accidentally.
Mrs. Runnett was the wife of John Albert
Runnett, who was at one time treasurer |
of Nibios Garden.
Neliis when taken before the coroner to-
day made a statement in which he said that |
he had known Mrs. Runnett for Il number |
of years and that during that time he had |
been on friendly terms with her md her |
husband. He said that shortly after S |
o'clocl; last night one OF his serya nts told him
that there was a drunken man lying in the
dreaway OF the house. He Immediately |
went down ard upon investigation found
that the object was n woman. He raised
the body to sitting position. and as the
'sk'tt st-i tii ttsCpfcIet iuit II
was MIS- Rurnctt. He sent for policeman.
who said the woman was dead.
MEANT TO KILL NELLIs.
Miss Lily Il. Harney, a niece of Mrs
l:uTncti. also made j statement today. She
said that Nellis had Mrs. Rnnnett arrested
A month ago for annoying him AZ his
office. This is also oorroborated by the
police records. Miss Harney said that her
aunt seft home only about an hour before
'he was found dead.
Capt. Friedenbcrg. OF the Sixty-eiehth
street police staten, VITO has Charge of
he case, is of the opinion that Mrs. RuHnett
went 10 Nelis' holse last night 10 see him
or the purpose of kiiiiug him. and possibly
herself as well, with the razor found UPON
Ter. ut is Tew razor" said the capiain
oday, ''and teiieve ste had bought with
such deliberate purpose"
AT Mrs. EnnEe;ts late residence aocsss.I
o her husbaHd, John AIbert Runnett, was
ienied, nor would any enc else in the house
lave anything TO say. ..-. |.
Nellis was admitted TO bail !ater lis |
wife going on his bond.