Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1916-08-04
MISSOURI MURDER
 REMAINS MYSTERY

St. Joseph Mo-, Aug. 3.-Wlth llt- tie prospect of the development of any new facts of an important nature, the coroner's jury reconvened today to make another attempt to throw light on the sensational murder or Mrs. Oscar D. McDaniel, wife of the prosecuting attorney of this county Friends and neighbors of the slain woman, together with other persons who might possibly be able to throw some light on the case, are to be ouizzed again in an effort to unearth some clue that might put the authorl- ties on the track of the assassin or assassins.
 Slain on Friday night, July IA. Mrs. McDaniel's body was found, clubbed almost beyond recognition, in the bedroom of the Mcdaniel home ih the heart of the city. Tine authorities still hold to the belief. that the murGer of the woman and the attempted assas- sination of her husband were due to a deep seated enmity toward McDan- iel, planned long in advance and so carefully that the numerous inves'i- gators at work on the case have failed to find any clue.
 The theory has been advanced that the murder was only one step III a plot for wholesale jail delivery and revenge upon the prosecuting attor- ney. The threatening letter received by McDaniel about two weeks before the crime, and the later discovery of a kit of tools which could be used for
 o;fo fo i1, support of this theory. On the other hand, it is pointed out that there was no actual attempt at jail delivery and that if such a thing had been planned the carrying out of the plans would have been sufficient to occupy inc time and attention of the plotters without adding the complications of an outside murder.
 Three weeks have passed and SO far as is known not tangible clue has been brought to the surface. no a suspect is being watched, and the authorities apparently are at an en- tire loss as to what trail to follow. Immediately after the discovery of the crime dozen or more persons were 'aken into custody on suspicion, but all were released when investigation failed to show any grounds for con- meeting them with the murder.
 The authorities have found nothing in the personal lives of the dead wo man or her husband that would point 10 tho possibility of personal ene- my. Tho investiga ors, therefore. have been forced to fall back on the theory that the murder was committed by some person or persons whose enmity Mr. MCDaniel had incurred in his off cial capacity of prosecuting attorney The deepest prohe, along this line, however, has failed to bring to the surface any facts that might lead to a solution or the mystery. An ex- haustive investigation has been made of the movements of all persons who might be supposed to bear 9 grudge against the prosecuting attorney as a result of his official activities. Ev- cry suspected person has been able 70 give a satisfactory account CT his movements and whereabouts on tho night of the crime And there the case rests, with the authorities ap- parently facing blind wall.
 The only fact clearly established in connection with the murder is tha' it was not the work of burglars discOv- cred at their work and forced to slay in order to escape capture. Ev- erything connected with the case tends to establish the fact that the crime was carefully planned and as carefully carried out
 A telephone call, which summoned Mr. Mcdaniel down town on the night of the murder and which. on investi- gation proved to have been faked, of fered opportunity for entering the house uneuarded. As McDaniel was driving home and stepped from his car 10 open his garage door, a shot was fired at him from around the corner of the building. McDariel, who had carried gun since he began receiving threatening letters some time back, returned the fire, shosting at the flashes. Each shot five tim.s, when his unknown enemy disappeared in the darkness. Rushing into the house and upstairs McDaniel found