The evening world., 1906-05-02
Trunk Shows Clothing
Husband Says She Wore
When She Disappeared.
IS YEARS HER JUNIOR.
Mitchell Held in Court While
Police Complete lnvestiga-
ton of Mystery.

Although every foot OF ground about
the house OF mystery at Utica avenue
and Fernaid street. Brooklyn. has been
dug up to-day by detectives no trace
has been found OF the BODY Of Mrs.
Matthew Mitchell. aged wife OF q horse
dealer and trader IN horseHklns. Capt
Reynolds and his con had a theory tnat
she was murdered and the body buried
somewhere about the house. The most
important discovery. so far. IS a trunk
containing the hat and clothes that
Mitchell said his wife wore when. ac-
cording 70 his story. che left him a
month ago. The police have also seized
pair OF Mitchelrs trousers that bear
stains resembling blood. They were
hidden under the barn.
Mitchell was held on technical
charge OF vagranoy in Fiatbush Court
to-day. pending the outcome OF the in
vestigauon By Capt. Reynolds. While
he was locked Up Detectives Haines.
Lawlcss. Brook and Fallon went 10 the
house ana with crowbars and shovels
dug up the cellar and the lawns. Floors
were ripped out partitions broken
down. and every corner OF the garret
and the barn searched.
Trunkful Of Clothes Found
10 watch the police a, work When the
trunk OF Mrs. M.tche.rs clothes was
found several women who knew her
wei said tha, all her street clothes
were included In the collection. Mitchell
had previously told the police that the
last time he saw his wife she wore n
black hat and veil and q brown coat
These were in the trunk and the
neighbors said that :. Mrs. Mitchell
went away she must OF necessity have
done so with nothing on but her house
wrapper.
The trousers that are looked upon rs
possibly OF Importance in the case were
found under tine floor OF the barn. The
stains on them may be blood. the de-
tectives think, and they are also sus-
plcious because the trousers We're hid
den. They viii be turned over TO n
chemist for examination.
Mitchell married the old woman four
years ago. He was then fortv-one
and she was nearing the three-score-
and-ten mark The aged bride had two
daughters. one MIS-. Annie Heunst a
middie-aged woman. who lives at Aque-
duct. L. l.. with Mrs. Franklin. and the
otAer Miss Kinney. whose home is at
Brnaio N, enue and Eastern Parkway.
Brooklyn.
Had j int Bank Account.
According to information received by
the police. the couple pooled their
money. making n combined bank ac-
count OF several hundred dollars.
1t Is also said that the home life OF
the couple was not long happy. soon
came STRIFE. and often there were fights.
Three months ago the aged woman went
TO sec Mrs. Heunst. At that time she
was cut and bruised about tho head.
and she said that she and her husband
had been lighting.
The last seen OF Mrs. Mitchell was
more than a month ago. 1t was re-
ported to the police by the two daugh-
ters OF the missing woman that she
and their stepfather had another fight.
and that he had again beaten her. II
is said that there were moro cuts and
bruises about her face and head.
When the complaint was made TO
Capt. Reynolds he ordered the arrest
ofNMitchell. Mitchell wus brought 10
the station-house last night. lie
seemed TO regard his arrest as a Joke.
Il don't know anything ABOUT that
old woman" ho said. She left me
after quarrel about one month ago
and said that she was going out to
become servant let her so. She
was old enough 10 know her business.
few nights later l was passing IL
dance hall known as Benefits Casino
and / saw her como out OF the place
with an Italian. was with a friend
and asked him what l should do
He advised me TO let her so about her
business took his advice"
do you mean bo tell me that I
woman OF seventy and a woman a.
feeble as your wife was would 10 I,
dance hail?' asked the Police Cap
tain.
You don't know my wife" rcrlie,
Mitchell. ''Shu is about sixteen IN he
feelings. She never VIII be too old t,
Then n question was put to Mitchell
by Detective Fallon which FOR a lin,
stumped him. The detective asked.
Took q. ndle Away
where did you so to about n montI
ago when you drove from your h,ml
with puJulo IN the rear OF youl
wagon? You went out at night nn,
you were away a long time
For time Mitchell could not recall
making such a trip. Then he remem
bercd that one night about a mont
ago he did take a bundle OF harness
out in a wagon
II sold st for one dollar to an Italian
he explained. II don't know who iii
Italian was. just made tho sale an
drove back home.
The Two daughters OF Mrs. Mitche
offered the theory that their. mother
body was either hidden In the house o
else buried In the rear yard OF tn
home,
Mitchell told tho police that abou
year ago his wife left him and wa
gone for two months Al that time
according TO his story. they had
dispute and she threatened never &
Mrs. Mary jensen, who lives aeros
the street from the Mitchell place. sal
TO an Evening World reporter to-day.
'"rhe last time | saw Mrs. Mitchell
she was uuarrcllng with her husband
He had iken some chickens In crnt
and was about to start for market whe
she ran out OF the house and told hir
10 nut the chickens back In the cooi
He refused and they quarrelled for
long time. | heard him yell. 'You'v
lived too long. You're no good II