New-York tribune., 1906-06-17
CORONERS CALL HALT.
Mrs. Stenton's La7cyer stopped
from Examining Papers.

No progress toward the solution Of the kinIan
murder mystery made by the police yesterday.
and one line OF search was discontinued because Oh
the attitude of the coroners. who stopped the ex-
animation of all papers and documents Of the deao
woman by Burton w. Gibson. her lawyer as Wen
as Mrs Stenton's The Public Administrators VIII
be called in take charge of all the efects III THO
stenton house Detective Sergeant Price and the
coroners themselves will resume the examination
of the house and its contents to-day but Mr- GID
son will rot be allowed take an active part
though he may be present For moment yesteF-
day he was placed under arrest by the coroners-
Various clews have been run down without result
and many theories tested. until the detectives prac-
tically are at standstill Their sole hope is that
the great mass of material of all sorts within the
house will yield some key to the mystery Whle
many different opinions have heen advanced no
real indication of motive for the brutal murder
has been found. and the police themselves know
that they are working in the dark. They know
mother and daughter were eccentric and quarreleo'
they know Mrs. Stenton was almost a n1onoinahlac
as to money affairs: they have acquired miSceiane-
of other information. but out OF IL all not
lead has Coroner Mcdonald however,
said last night that. while he expected no imnedi-
ate arrest. he had strong suspicion against GER
tain person.
Mr.. Gibson. who Mrs. Stenton's lawyer has
been going through the of papers and doeu-
ments IN the old house with Of Sergeant Prices
detectives. ready TO resume the work yester-
day. when he was stopped BY Coroners Schwan-
necke and Mcdonald. They told him that he had
exceeded his authority in taking papers from the
house. Mr.. Gibson has been working at all times
with the knowledge of the police and DR. Mcdonald
also. but the coroners suddenly came to realiza-
ton of the necessity OF accounting for the eff
fects and determined not 20 allow the lawyer 10
continue his work.
Coroner Schwannecke read Mr. Gibson a lecture
the legal aspect OF the case from his vew de-
claring that Mrs Stenton was non compos mentis
and was in that condition in 1902 when she signed
the agreement in compliance with which the law
yer obtained settlement of her difficulties as TO
the sale of the Washington avenue house. That
agreement and all subsequent proceedings would
be thrown into court. he declared, Meantime II
was declared. Mr.. Gibson had standing in the
case until he produced credentials. and under
circumstances should he have taken away papers.
The lawyer protested that he had been recognized
by the police and DR., Mcdonald as Mrs Stenten's
lawyer. and such was entitled to guard her in
;erests and for her property. He was willing
10 have the Public Administrators take charge at
any tme he said.
His replies did not satisfy Coroner Schwapnecke.
however who thought Mr.. Gibson was trying to
argue with him. He demanded the return of what
papers had been removed. to relieve the eoFo-
ners from any responsibility. Mr. Gibson said that
the police had an account of whatever papers he
had taken but he would return them on Monday.
A little later Coroner Schwannecke. somewhat
irate. resumed his talk. and demanded that they
You are under arrest" he shouted Mr.. Glib
son. i will designate officer TO accompany you
and take note of any remarks you make. until You
produce those papers
Sergeant Price intervened with the declaration
that Mr.. Gibson had been working In perfect good
faith often telling of the taking OF papers or which
otherwise the police would have known nothing.
IF he is to be under arrest. remarked Price, II
must enter IT on the blotter. What is the charge TO
be?'
Then the coroner cooled off Bit saying that he
did not doubt Mr.. Gibsons good faith. but that be
had exceeded his authority He determined that
the lawyer should not be arrested but should be
accompanied by Detective Connolly to his office.
where Connolly should get the papers. giving a re-
ceipt for them.
Acting the orders of Captain Price, Detective
Connolly went last night to Burton w. Gibson's
house in Brooklyn and brought back large bunch
of papers and letters taken by Mr.. Gibson from
Mrs. StentOns home They will be turned over
this morning to Coroner Mcdonald.
This tempest in a teapot effectively shut off any
opportunity for further light the murder until
the search is resumed to-day. Only the police and
the coronerS will have access to the house now un-
less order Is obtained from the coroners.
Detectives from Prices Office had interview
with Martin Egan who leased the house In Second
Place, Brooklyn, from Mrs. Kinnan. This house
sold for taxes but the city neglected to perfect its
title TO the property Considerable trouble arose
between the Egans and Mrs. kinnan after IL was
leased the police heard. but gained information
bearing the murder from their visit TO Brooklyn
yesterday. Egan said he Mrs Kinnan early
this month, and she told of trouble regarding the
house. He. the police had thought, might have
been the visitor the women expected the nigtS
Of the murder, but he explained his movements on
H,, serLN sl,Af- V,To3