The Detroit times., 1909-06-03
FIND NO MOTIVE
FOR CRIME IN MRS.
C0RYE0N' SAFE
Prosecutor Opens Strong Box in
Presence of Counsel for Roland
Rich, Accused of Killing
His Grandmother.
No Damaging Documents Found
Doctors Testimony Fails to
Bring Out Anything Definite.

BAY CITY. Mich, June 3.-The po'
lice court examination OF Roland
Rich, who Is charged with numbering
his aged grandmother. Mrs. Christine
Coryeon. was postponed until this af-
ternoon at 2 o'clock. The session yes
terday was occupied by the testimony
OF physicians who gave their views as
to the probable cause and manner of
the wounds sustained by Mrs. Coryeon,
who was found dying by young Rich,
made TO the police. Adjournment was
taken late yesterday afternoon.
The small safe in which Mrs. Cor
yeon kept her valuable papers was
opened yesterday afternoon, II had
been expected that a motive for tie
crime, II Mrs. Coryeon was murdered,
would be found in this safe, which is
about Is inches long and IL inches
high. II was almost filed with pa
pers relating to Mrs. Coryeon's estate.
These documents showed that the ag
woman practiced unusually keen busi-
ness methods. No motive, however,
was found.
The abstracts and deeds OF every
house and lot which were owned by
Mrs Coryeon were found in the safe.
There were some notes with mortgage
collaterals, Her Are insurance pol
icies and receipts We're carefully laid
away In one compartment. One note
reads for $4,000 and $4,000 has been
paid on II, Certificates OF stock IL
several corporations were also found,
including one for 500 shares In beet
sugar factory, This stock is valuable.
Thep rosecuting attorney opened the
safe In thep resence of Attorney Cou-
mans, counsel for Roland Rich. and
several newspaper men, AMI 1t was &C
cepted that the safe revealed no mo-
tive for ~ crime.
DR.. McI.urg, who assisted in treat
ing Mrs Coryeon after abe had been
found In q dying condition. and who
also conducted the post-mortem exam
iaation, testified at yesterday after.
Moons session In the police court, He
said that Mrs. Gorgeous brain was
slightly disturbed Notwithstanding her
skull was broken into SIX or seven
pieces He declined to answer q Ques-
ton as to whether she was killed by
. blow from a human hand or by aoct-
dent. holding that he was not testify
ing as an expect. Justice Kelly said
10 had no authority to allow expert
fees and Dr., McLurg was excused.
Dr Ccrafford was also asked IL he
was prepared to say II Mrs. Coryeoa
was killed BY assault or accident and
be said he was note
Alfred Reese, the hackman. who
drove one of the four carriages en-
gagged for Roland Rich's wedding, tes-
tiaei that he did not see window In
the room where Mrs. Coryeon was
found dying. Mrs. Tierney had testl.
iiod that there was one window In this
bedroom and that the curtain was
half way up II is believed today that
the testimony Of Assistant Fire Chief
Champion will have an important bear
Ing on the case. The fire official said
he found three burned matches on
the floor In the corner of the bed
room. Thed efense contends that Mrs.
Coryeon lit matches to look for Ro-
lands wedding suit in this corner.
The defense is not expected to offer
any testimony at the police court ex-
animation. The prisoners name, so
far, has not been referred to In the
police court in connection with the
caSa