The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-02-21
The KunkeI Poison Trial to
Begin at Lawrence,
Is a Most Sensational Case,
Full of Interest.
DEALT IN POISONS.
Charged With Numbering His
Wife Last September.
Her Life Heavily Insured
Other Alleged Crimes.


j. Kunkel for the murder Of his wife
begins in the district court here tomor-
row morning. Kunkel is accused Of US
ing poison in accomplishing the crime.
The best lawyers in this section Of
Kansas are interested. Colonel John
Q. A. Norton and George J. Barker are
kunkePS attorneys.
The state is represented by w. B.
Brownell, Alex. Mitchell and Sam
Bishop.
Kunkels wife died, in agony on the
morning of September 27, 1898. She had
been an invalid, more or less, for months
and she gradually lost her strength and
vitality. According to the testimony of
witnesses at the coroner's inquest, it
was suspected that her death was due
to arsenical poisoning. 1t was claimed,
by intimation, if not directly, that the
poison had been administered to her in
food and medicine, and that Kunkel,
who had been aSsiduouS in his atten-
lions during her illness, was RESPONSE
BILE. At the inquest Professor Barlow.
Of the chemical department of the Kan
sas university, expressed the opinion
that the poison had been used and at
the preliminary examination he sworc
positively, that, after a series of chemi-
cal analyses of food, vomit and certain
organs of the deceased, which were OBJ
tanned after the remains had been con-
signed to the grave, he had found traces
of the poison. NeighbOrS of the Kun
kelS who had visited Mrs. Kunkel dur
ing her illness, Mrs. KunkeFs nurse,
physicians who attended her, and a col
ored servant of the Kunkel household,
by their testimony, added to the chain
of circumstantial evidence, and when
Justice Charlton held the defendant to
answer to the charge of murder in the
first degree no surprise was manifested
in the community.
The peculiar death of Mrs. Kunkel re-
vived suspicious that had been dormant
for years, and also recalled the sad
-11g- ler1 rl,% Ofv-7fA
Comingore only two months before. She,
too, had a wasting illness and a painful
end. Kunkel was also her chief nurse,
according to report, administered her
food and medicine to her, and at all
times acted as a devoted father should.
But the claim was made that she was
being poisoned and the peculiar taste
of matted milk, prescribed for her by
her physician, first aroused suspicion.
The suspicion was communicated to the
physician by Mrs. KunkeI and later, af-
ter Mrs. Kunkel's death, it was sub
mitted to an analytical test, with the
result that it was, according to Profess
sor Barlow, strongly impregnated with
arsenic. Birdie died on July 29, 1888,
and while the body was still warm Mrs.
Kunkel it is said, ran exciteGly into a
neighbours house and denounced Kun
KEEL as the murderer of her child.
The two deaths started the tongues of
gossip to wagging at a record-breaklng
rate.
The story began. with the death Of Eb-
enezer Root, the father of Kunkers first
wife's demise in December, 1894, and the
death of his 3-year-old son, Freddie, in
tongues the crime of arson was also laid
at Kunkefs door. -
Roots death was due to neglect and cruel
treat and that Kunkel was the re-
Mrs Kunkei was said to have been at
tended with mysterious circumstances. A
saw Kunkel put powder which tasted
for Sc CO., which KunkeI collected without
difficulty and subsequently, invested in the
Little Freddie's death followed. He was
a cripple and far from strong The claim
his removal by his father, during an IN
ness, from warm room to another which
was as cold as retrlg erator hl!ed with
ice. The claim was also G. made mad that ta the
was disproved by Kunkel when he testl-
fed at his preliminary examination.
RaT 6en wben MT Kn9Res sn de{h
was announced. Spurred on by the pro-
bounced opinion Of the public, the anthor author
al the suspicious Of the past t., and earried
fae er6 o h0F and Mrs. 'o knTke
Assisted by Sheriff Moore and Deputy
Alex Mitchell and his assistant, Sam Bish-
op. gathered every scrap of information
36fs e6hssHg of T. s. t Mason Geo4g
Flynn 4 sShai G A. Ef aPphysi, A Marks
Kunkei of the crime of murder.
Immediately after the verdict was rem
dered another jury, consisting of George
Wiliiam 1i't Orr. D. oBrien and I. L Baker
was impaneled to INVESTIGATE the cause
of the death of Birdie COmingore. The |
remains were exhumed and portions SUBJ
lnitted to analytical tests showed evil /
dences of arsenical poison. This jury de- !
cided that death was due ito poison ad-
by parties unknown"
An effort will be made tomorrow to Sc |
cure a jury, and the hearing of testimony
will not begin until Thursday on account |
Of WashingtonS birthday intervening.
The trial. it is expected. will last for a |
week at least, and possibly ten days. |
Judge Riggs is noted, however, for the |
with which he conducts his court, !
and the calculations of the attorneys may |
be amisS a few days.