New-York tribune., 1906-07-17
GIBSON KEEPS MUM.
ON RACK IN KINNAN CASE.
Former Counsel of Murdered
Woman Refuses to Tell of Fees.

Burton w. Gibson formerly counsel for Mrs.
Margaret Stenton and her daughter Mrs Alice c.
d. Kinnan. who was mysterlously murdered on the
porch OF her home In The Bronx about month
ago was called 70 the witness stand yesterday az
the inquest being conducted by Coroner Mcdonald
He fatty declined 20 say what retaining fee ne re-
eeived from the two women for his services IN
connection with litigation over the Stenton estate
His refusals based the ground that It
privileged conversation between lawyer and
client" even though Mr.. Winter. Mrs stenton's
present lawyer said that he waived for her all
rights In the premises M Gibson then doubted
that Mr. Winter her counsel, although Il IS
said that he was recently served by Mr.. Winter
with papers IN a suit brought by Mrs. Stenton 70
recover property from him (Gibson). All EFFORTS
70 bring ans statement from Gibson regarding
his fees proved fruitless
Robert j. Fiaherty, a real estate expert proved
the most communicative witness yet called ne
denounced Gibson III no uncertain terms. calling
him "a rascal" and saying that he believed ne
(Gibscn) cheated the old woman (AiTs Stenton) out
OF her property.
Flaherty said he first met Mrs Stenton IN 1899.
but had no dealings with her until January lseo'
when he spoke to her about her unpaid taxes she
directed him 10 see her lawyer, Gibson whlch ne
did, and talked the matter over with him Ihe
witness said Gibson wanted MIN 10 arrange loan
for $4,000 or $4,000 on the Senton estate FlaheTty
did not make the deal. becauseS he said, Gibson
told him that he owned the property, but that ne
would make the mortgage out in somebody eise's
name
Flaherty then explained the deal whereby he al
Ieges Mrs stenton lost her home and in addition
was 5000 in debt while Gibson and his partner.
Aston. gained about $4,000. He said he went to
see Mrs K!nnan after the real estate transaction
and told her how she was cheated cut OF her
property. She gave him the power Of attorney, the
witness asserted, and he retained Adams & NC
Mahon help him in the fight TO regain the prop
erty. Two weeks later the witness said clerk
from Gibsons office gave him paper signed oy
Mrs Kinnan, revoking his power OF attorney. he
testified that he again saw Mrs Klnnan and that
she told him that she and her mother were IN the
hands Of damned rascal"
When asked why he had gone to so much trcu-
BILE. Flaherty said he wanted 20 show there was
a rascal in the transaction; to show motive for
the murder" While he the stand. Fla
herty looked continually at Gibson. He testified
that he had no personal grudge against Gibson
but that he wanted TO justice done Coroner
Mcdonald asked him IL he knew that Gibson had
had private detectives following him. TO which the
witness replied in the affirmative
Michael scud. an investigator for the Metropolitan
Street Railway Company testified that a friend.
a Mr. Bennings. cashier of the Fire Department
in Brooklyn, had asked him TO have talk with
Mrs Schippo the Italian woman who lived in the
basement Of the Stenton home. He met her. ne
said through the arrangement OF a Mrs. Mary
Perone, who keeps a saloon at nsth street and
Avenue A The result OF his conversation, he said,
he reported to Bennings and Gibson at the Brook
lyn Democratic Club. When asked II ne nao oIIeFeu
her any inducements 20 leave the country. he said
he aueried her as to how long she had been away
from Italy, and asked her II she wasn't getting
homeSlck. The witness said his only motive IN
seeing Mrs. Stenton was that he was friend OF
Mr.. Bennings- His memory was faulty when ASKED
Coroner Mcdonald said he would subpoena MI
Bennings and Mrs Perone.
Gyibson then went on the stand. He couldn't re
member how he became acquainted with Mrs. stem
tom would tell what arrangements ne
made for fees when he was retained as counsel
Sometimes ne didn't meet Mrs. Stenron Tor
month but generally he saw her about twice a
week He said he had noticed that her memory
had been falling for some time. He said that MIS-
Stenton had asked him that his partner, MI AstSh
ha also retained. He said IL was done against MS
xrishes 10 many questions Gibson replied that he
could not answer as II was privileged eonversa-
SSon Coroner Mcdonald was examining Gibson
when an adjournment was taken until 10 O'CLOCK
this morning.