“Forty-eight hours have elapsed since the sensational murder of Ethel Kinrade in the heart of Hamilton’s fashionable residential district, and nothing new has developed, although the police have worked unceasingly to find a clue that might aid them in tracking down the suspect. Hamilton is still in a fever of excitement. There has never been a crime in its history that has stirred so much interest. The newspaper offices and police stations are constantly besieged with the query, ‘Have they got the man yet?’
Hamilton Times. March 27, 1909
The Saturday newspapers in both Hamilton and Toronto were filled with coverage of the death of Ethel Kinrade which happened during the previous Thursday afternoon.
Throughout Hamilton, in particular, the topic of the Kinrade murder featured in conversations at the Saturday morning Market, or drawing rooms, hotel lobbies, barber shops or even on street corners.
Theories regarding the case abounded. Did the intruder wear a false mustache which was disposed of as soon as he left the house. However, any real clues as to exactly what happened inside the Herkimer street house were dependent on what Miss Florence Kinrade could provide, but she was of little help as her stories about the matter had often conflicting.
A major assistance to the Hamilton police investigation came when the Province of Ontario as assigned its chief detective to the case.
Provincial Detective John Miller was very familiar with Hamilton as he once had served as a Hamilton policeman. He had so well that his application to become Provincial Detective was successful:
“When the police announced that Detective Miller would be here this morning, the people expressed confidence that something would quickly develop, not because the local officers are not thoroughly capable of handling the case, but because it may take considerable time to follow up and a good deal of money to run down clues. The local department cannot spare its men for any great length of time, and has not the necessary funds to hunt down clues. Miller, by his clever work on mysterious cases, both when on the local department and since he joined the Government force, has inspired Hamilton people with confidence of his ability.”
Hamilton Times. February 27, 1909.
Upon arrival on the 10 a.m. train from Toronto, Detective Miller immediately went to No. 3 Police station on King William street to confer with Police Chief Smith. Then, in company with Hamilton Detective Coulter and Bleakley, drove to the Kinrade home:
Miss Kinrade spoke to the detectives for only a brief time before the interview was brought to an abrupt halt.:
“Of course, the fact that Florence Kinrade has been in a state of hysteria since the tragedy must be considered.
“The discrepancies in the story told by Miss Kinrade to the detective yesterday as compared with the version she gave immediately after the tragedy, are probably due to the state she has been in ever since the crime.
“Yesterday morning she said she did not see the man after returning to the house from the back yard. When the detective pointed out the discrepancy as compared with the story told immediately after the shooting, Miss Kinrade readily recalled it. ‘Oh, yes,I forgot about that,’ she said, wearily, showing the stress of the nervous strain upon her.”
Hamilton Times. February 27, 1909
Reporters from various newspapers were on the Kinrade case, trying to get as much information as possible:
“Reporters have been denied access to Mrs. Kinrade and her daughter, Miss Florence, who are in a state bordering on nervous collapse.
“Several stories told by Miss Florence Kinrade last night while she was in a hysterical condition, led to much confusion, as they differed considerably in detail, but this morning, Dr. McNichol, who was on the scene very shortly after the shooting gave the Globe correspondent the following story of the affair:-
‘I was about to go out when I received a telephone call to go to Mr. Kinrade’s house. I at once jumped into my buggy and drove there. When I arrived, there was no person in the house but the body of the dead girl which was lying at the foot of the stairs. The room was full of fumes of powder and smoke was still there. I examined the girl’s body hastily and found several bullet wounds about her head, face and breast. She evidently died instantly.
‘Shortly after, I was informed that Miss Florence Kinrade was at the home of a neighbor’s, and I went to her. She was hysterical and was in a terrible state of mind. I gave her some sedatives and in a short time succeeded in calming her sufficiently to enable her to tell me about the affair. She informed me that while she and her sister were preparing to go out, they heard a ring of a doorbell. She went and opened the door to a man, who at once forced his way into the house. Inside, he pulled a revolver from his pocket, and putting it near her face, demanded what money she had, and threatened that he would shoot her is she made any outcry. She backed towards the dining room door, and, I think she said her sister Ethel, who had evidently come down the back stairs, screamed, upon which the man fired at her. Miss Florence, meanwhile, ran from the house and gave the alarm.’
Toronto Globe. February 27 1909
The coroner also shared with the Globe reporter that the inquest had been rescheduled:
‘”The inquest was adjourned until next Wednesday evening, as Miss Florence is still in a confused condition, and unable to give a coherent account of the tragedy.”
Toronto Globe February 27, 1909
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