The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-12-25
NO Light ON
The MYSTERY
MRS. McDoNNELL's SLAYER DIE
HIS WORK WELL.
Not Even a Suspicion as to Who He
Is or a Glue That Would Be of Any
Service-Dislocatio of the Neck.
Coroner Roberts Believes Was
Done After Death, Probably While
The Body Was Being Slowed
Away Between the Rocks--Funeral
Took Place Yesterday.

"Who killed Mrs. Celia McDonnell?"
is IL question that everyone Is asking
in Dunmore Where the woman lived
for the greater part of her life aud
where she had hundreds of friends and
acquaintance.
AS told in yesterdays Tribune. her
body was found Sunday wedged be-
tween rocks near the Speedway hotel.
Around her neck a shawl was 50 tight
~ wound as to strange her and. be-
sides this, there was a dislocation of
the neck.
County Detective Thomas Leyshon
secuted the idea of murder. when seen
by a Tribune man yesterday. He said
the shawl was drawn tightly about the
neck. but not more tightly than she
could have drawn it herself. had she
desired to quill the ends. He believed
that 1t was possible for Mrs. McDon-
nell to have crawled into the crevice
In the rocks where she was found
Coroner j. j. Roberts believes the
woman was murdered. He said yes
tertay: 1T Is almost impossible to
believe that q woman could have
drawn the shawl about her neck so as
to produce the condition of strangu-
lation / found upon making my exam
ination. 1t would have required won
derful strength to do it.
THE DlSI.OCAT1ON OF NECK.
"'rhen there is the dslucation of the
neck. How are we to account for that,
If we agree that Mrs. Mcdonnell could
by any chance have strangled herself?
! am of the opinion that death was
due to stranguation and that the dis
location of the neck occurred after
wards. possibly while the body was
being placed between the rocks where
it was found. So far as I can learn.
there was absolutely no reason why
any person should desire the death of
Mrs. Mcdonnell. but from the condi-
tion of the body and its position when
found, am certainly of the opinion
that she was unlawfully dealt with"
Undertaken Golden. who removed the
body from the mountain. is of the same
mind as the coroner why, it would
have been utterly impossible for any
person to get themselves unasssted
into the position in which Mrs. Nc
Donnell was found 1t was a small
gorge and the BODY was refged be-
tween the rocks with the lace down.
ward. The body was almost standing
on the head So tightly was IL wedged
that we had to use straps to pull it
out. ! don't believe she could by any
possible chance have crawled or fell
into the place where she was found
She had to be crowded into it,"
INQUEST TOMORROW NltiHT.'
Coroner Roberts was in Dunmore
yesterday. looking over the ground
and announced that he will hold an in
quest tomorrow night at O'Clock in
Golden'S undertaking establishment on
Chestnut street. So far as could be
ascertained. no special effort is being
made by anyone to ruE Gown the per-
petrator of the terrible crime, and the
affair is as much involved in mystery
as when the body was found.
\ small Italian boy was the last per-
son, so far as known, who saw Mrs.
Mcdonnell alive. He was on an errand
for her and left her in the house about
o'clock Thursday evening. None of
the neighbors remember having seen
her outside of the house after that
hour. The spot where she was found
is only a short distance from Mrs. Nc
Donnells home on Donegal street,
Bunker hill. The latter is the little
hamlet on the mountain side east OF
the Delaware, Lackawannu and West
ern track at what was formerly known
as No. 6.
The funeral of Mrs. Mcdonnell took
place yesterday afternoon from her
late home and was attended by Il large
gathering,of her friends and neighbors
At st. Mary's Catholic church services
We're conducted by the pastor. Rev. NJ
B. Donlan, and interment was made in
ST. Mary's cemetery. The pall-bearers
were Michael Corcoran. Michael Nc
Donald, James O'Hora, James Nc
Cam, John Mccain, NJ. Mcdonnell.