Perth Amboy evening news., 1910-05-12
VAIN SEARCH
Is MADE FOR
MURDERER

New York, May 12-While theories
multiply concerning the mysterious
double tragedy in the home of DIR.
Mott D. Cannon, little headway has
been made toward clearing the strange
case. Many of the early theories have
been abandoned, and all the "elews''
seem worthless.
Pawnbrokers who received from the
police a long list Of stolen jewels and
other valuables understood that they
had been stolen from DR.. Cannon's
house, where a double murder was
committed ON Monday. Judging from
the description, the value Of the lot
approximates $4,000.
Discarding all such theories as the
one that the aged housekeeper and the
Hindoo butler were killed by members
Of Hindoo society, the detectives at
work on the case are directing their
endeavors toward locating a man who
knew that DR.. Cannon ON last Satur-
day morning had $4,000 in drawer In
desk in his library
One person who could have known
that DR. Cannon had a large sum Of
money In his desk on Saturday, but
might not have known that the doctor
deposited the money in the bank be-
fore noon of that day, is under close
surveillance. This person was familiar
with the doctors affairs, knew every
nook and corner Of the house and
might have been in possession of key
which would fit one of the rear doors
Miss Meehner had been in DIR. Can
mons employ as housekeeper for more
than twenty-five Years. Benam entered
the household only last Saturday. He
succeeded William Carter, a negro,
who quit DR.. Cannon's employ on Fri
day night to work for Dr. Ruben Cron-
son, who lives next door to DR.. Can
mons residence.
Carter says that at the time Miss
Meehner and Benam were shot he was
in the front parlor of DR.. Cronson's
residence. He has been closely ques-
| toned. He did not hear the sound of
pistol shots, he says, ON Monday after
loon and observed nothing suspicious
about persons entering or leaving DIR.
Cannon's home that day.
DR.. Cannon, it appears, like many
professional men. was not regular in
banking his fees He was accustomed
to let money accumulate in his desk
for days at a time before taking 1t to
the bank. On last Saturday morning.
when Benam entered the household
and was introduced to the housekeep-
er, Or. Cannon had $1,000 In the draw
er of his desk in the library ON the
parlor floor.
Although Benam's recommendations
were Of the highest order the doctor.
with natural prudence, concluded that
there was too much money in the
house with a new servant around.
Accordingly he took the $4,000 from
the desk and carried it to his banE.
One of the most puzzllng features Of
the case was the result of the autopsy
DR.. Cannon's revolver, which was dis
covered lying close to Benam's body
] on the scene Of the crime, had had
three cartridges discharged, and 1t was
believed that these three shots were
lue only Oue5 HIeu at Tue llHlc u Tue
murders. In the autopsy, however, one
bullet was found III the body Of the
Hindoo and three bullets in the body
Of the housekeeper. Three of these
bullets were of 81 caliber, the same as
that of the revolver found beside the
buffers body. The fourth bullet was
so much splintered that it was difficult
to determine Its caliber. The presence
Of the fourth bullet leads the detec-
tives to believe that the person or per-
sons who came to DIR. Cannon's house
Monday afternoon came armed and
prepared for trouble of some sort and
did not merely chance upon the physl-
cian's revolver in ransacking his bu-
reau in search of plunder