The daily morning journal and courier., 1906-07-18
ATTORNEY GIBSON IS HELD
FORMER COUNSEL FOR MRS
 EINAN WHO WAS MURDERED.

In Default of s25,O0O Bail He is Com-
 mitteed to the TOmbs-TelIs of
 Transaction in Which the Aged Mrs.
 Stenton Was Undoubtedly Badly vic-
 timized in Sale of Property--TeIIs of
 Whereabouts on Day of Murder.
 New York, July 17,-Burton ". Gib- son, formerly counsel for Mrs. Alice Khan, who was mysteriously murdered on the night of June in the old home- stead in the Bronx occupied by her mother, Mrs. L. M Stenton, and her self, tonight was committed to the Tombs, by order of Coroner McDonaid, in default of $25,oOO bail. This action followed the close of the coroner's in- quest tonight, when the jury brought in verdict that Mrs Khan was mur- dered by person or persons unknown, and recommended that Gibson be held for examination by the grand jury.
 Gibson himself occupied the stand during the greater part of to-days ses- sion. Questioned about his business re- lations with Mrs. Stenton and her daughter, at first he declined to answer on the ground that the matters referred to were confidential between lawyer and client. On Mrs. Stenton being call- ed to the stand and relieving him of all obligations of secrecy, Gibson said that he came into the case several years ago, when Mrs. Stenton engaged him to de- fend "squatter" proceedings which had been instituted against her property, and to establish her right to title. For gent fee of 40 per cent. of the value of the property, Mrs. Stenton 10 pay all taxes and assessments. Gibson said that he learned that no assessments or taxes had been paid since 1868. Later 8 lawyer named Ashton became associat- ed with him in the case, the under standing being that they were to di- vide the 40 per cent. fee. After prolong- ed litigation the property was sold in September, 1895, for $65,0Oo, ostensibly to Archibald M. Mcfarland, but in real ity to Gibson, and nine months later was resold for $90,000. Of the profit Gibson admitted $20,000 was to go to himself and the remainder to his fath- CT, Mcfarland and John Kelly, who were associated in the deal. It appear ed that the only money received by Mrs. Stenton was $6,O0O given to her by the lawyer, Ashton, and that Gibson himself held a lien on the property for more than $2000
 Gibson admitted that after the mur- der he had visited the Stenton house and had removed certain documents and articles of value This he claimed he had a right to do, and declared that he had notified the police at the time. Describing in detail his movements on the night of the murder, Gibson said that he had been in cafe in Nassau street up to g o'clock and had then gone to Brooklyn, where he visited the Kings County Democratic club, remaining un- til Il 30 o'clock. Two witnesses testified to having seen Gibson in the Nassau street cafe, and Howard Chapman, re- porter, testified to having seen him at the Democratic club at 10 o'clock
 This ended the hearing and the case was then given to the jury, who, after an hours deliberation, returned their verdict. After an application by Gib- son to be paroled in the custody of his counsel had been denied delay of two hours was granted to enable Gibsons friends to procure bail During this time the lawyer was closely guarded, and as it became apparent that no bondsman was forthcoming he was talk en to the Tombs and locked up The specific charge on which Gibson is held is being suspicious person"