New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-28

the club they had been audited and
found correct. He spent an hour play
ing billiards there on Friday, and ap-
feared to fellow members TO be IN good
spirits.
A large part of the funds he turned
in had TO do with the annual club ball
siven last night. 1t was first planned
when the tragedy was discovered, to
give up the affair, but as so many in-
vitations were out it was decided to 60
on with it, although an air of gloom
pervaded the festivities, as knell was
particularly popular.
Neiqh5or Finds Bodies.
Although the first act in the tragedy
occurred probably some time after III
o'clock, and Knell's own death with his
two children probably occurred early
yesterday morning, the bodies were not
discovered until noon yesterday. Then
they were found by Mrs William A.
Ellis. who lived on the first floor OF the
handsome three story brick home
owned by Knell
With Mrs. Ellis at the time was Miss
Helen Seeley, aged sixteen, to whoh
Mrs. Knell was giving free music 'es-
sons. she went to take lesson yes
terday about 8 o'clock, but when she
knocked at the door received no an
swer. She spent the morning WITH
Mrs. Ellis. and then about noon they
decided to ascertain whether any one
was home. When they went TO tie
door this time they smelled the odor
of gas. and Mrs. Ellis determined 10
break in the door.
Mrs. Knell W. found lying i'll bed US
if sleeping peacefully. At the foot OF
the bed lay Edith. aged two and one
half years, while in his crib was The
body Of the boy, Henry, jr., aged three
and one-half years. Knell himself lay
on the floor. dressed in his street
clothes. with the exception of his coat
The others were in their night CLOTH
ing.
4 towel was knotted about his throat
as though he had first attempted 10
hang himself, apparently to the chan
delier. but when the weight Of his bo1y
had pulled that out he had lain down
on the floor and allowed the escaping
gas to complete the work.
Bride Had Fortune.
Knell was twenty-nine years old,
while his wife was two years younger
Close friends said last night that when
she married him FIVE years ago she was
worth $4,000. Her maiden name was
Emke. and she came, they said. of a
family socially prominent in Newark,
n. J.
After shooting his wife Knell sat
down at a table and arranged his pa
pers in orderly fashion. With the pa
pers were several freshly written let
tiers addressed to friends. The police
did not open them, but forwarded them
10 the addresses.
knell's father is Henry knell, par
Der, at No. $40 Wyckoff avenue,
Brooklyn. With him and his wife lives
another son, Franz. When this son
went to the dead brothers home ne
exclaimed in agitation, Henry could
not live without love-" but later re-
fused to explain what he meant. Both
ne and his father said they believed the
dead man was happy i'm his home life
al at4 oh
Of insanity brought on by overworK.
In addition to his other activities
the dead man recently coached the
Palisades Dramatic Club of Glendale
for its presentation of The Finger Of
scorn' on I cember 0. working hard
20 have every actor perfect in his part
Knelrs heart trouble first caused by
athletics, was aggravated a few years
ago when he had a narrow escape from
death before train in Newark, ~ j.
Since then he had been in constant fear
that he would meet death suddenly.
Knell's brother said late last night:
1t is my opinion that the tragedy
was due TO mental arrangement result =
ing from my brothers Ill health. He
never recovered from the shock he sus-
tanned when he narrowly escaped death
~ railroad accident in New Jersey
three years ago.
Fearing death, Henry. believe. de-
cided to end his life and at the same
time kill mis- wife and children so that
they would not be separated"
CorOner's Physician w NJ. Nammack,
after viewing the bodies and making
an Investigation, said Knelrs act was
probably due to a "brainstorm."