“Whether because of a weakened memory, a disabled nervous system, or any reason, Miss Kinrade has so materially altered her first accounts of the tragedy as to confuse the detectives and make it extremely difficult for them to proceed on any definite line of inquiry.”
Toronto Globe. March 3, 1909.
The day after Florence Kinrade was interviewed again for about two hours about the shooting affair. Some detail as to what happened appeared in the Toronto Globe:
“Reclining among pillows in the room where her prostrated mother lies, Miss Kinrade told her story to Provincial Detective Miller and City Detectives Bleakley and Coulter this morning….the moment when direct questions as to the shooting were put to her, the girl covered her face with her hands and sobbed hysterically.
“It is said that when the detectives were leaving the house, one of them made a remark to the effect that whoever committed the terrible crime would always be conscience-stricken. Miss Kinrade screamed, and would have fallen had she not been caught by a young man who put his hand over her mouth, and Detective Bleakley pulled it away.
“Generally little importance is attached to the divergence in the stories or the actions of Miss Kinrade on account of her excitable condition, it being unfair to hold her accountable for them.”
Toronto Globe March 3, 1909.
Interest in the Kinrade case was widespread. Reporters with newspapers other than the three Hamilton local dailies were chasing as much information about the matter as could be found:
“Although reporters yesterday were denied admittance, the doors being locked against all except the doctor and detectives, it was not because Mr. Kinrade did not wish to receive the newspaper men, but because he had been ordered by his physician to rest and keep quiet.
“Although it will be a week tomorrow since the shooting occurred, the terrible tragedy is still the leading topic in conversation in every walk of life. Not only in Hamilton, but also in the surrounding country. There is a large staff of special correspondents here from Toronto papers, and telegrams from newspapers all over the country for developments in the case continually pour in.”
Hamilton Times. March 3, 1909.
An incident which could have had an impact on the investigation surfaced. It was investigated thoroughly, not by the police but by a newspaper reporter:
“A clue that the police have overlooked so far was investigated this morning by the Times. It fits in clearly with the theory that a tramp did the murder, and just as clearly it fits with the theory that the police advance, that it was not a tramp.
“The accepted theory that the murderer left the house by the front way leaves a puzzle as to the direction he went. That he rode off in a car which he boarded at Park and Herkimer streets sounds probable, thought the police are inclined to doubt that this was the man. That he walked or ran away is quite as likely. If he took the latter means of getting away from the scene of the tragedy, then it is almost certain that the murderer called at the home of Harry Ogg, estate dealer, and partner of H.D. Retire, lawyer, who have offices in the Spectator building.”
Hamilton Times. March 3, 1909.
A visit was made by a Times man to a home on Charlton avenue:
“Mrs. Ogg was seen today and said that on Thursday afternoon, she was upstairs at her home at 323 Charlton avenue west, just two doors west of Locke street, on the south side of the road. Mrs. Ogg went downstairs to get some hot water, and returned again to her work upstairs. She had been there a few seconds when she heard some person open the storm door and ring the front door bell – ring it three times quickly. She made ready to go downstairs, but as soon as she reached the head of the stairs, there were three more quick rings at the bell. She started down the stairs which lead to the rear of the house, and when she was going from the kitchen to the dining room, she heard some person attempt to open the side door. The knob was grabbed and rattled violently. Mrs. Ogg went to her son’s bedroom on the ground floor and looked out the window that looks over the back door. There was so person in sight, and she went to her own bedroom in the front of the house. Just as she looked out of the window in her room, Mrs. Ogg saw a stranger cutting across the lawn of the next house towards Locke street. She saw only his right side. He was wearing a black overcoat, a black slouch hat and his moustache was rather rumpled, as if it was uncut and neglected. It was large and dark, and hung down over his mouth. The man had no glove on his right hand, and Mrs. Ogg had not time to notice other particulars as the stranger was travelling at a fast gait
“ ‘I don’t know that man,’ she thought to herself, as she tried to place him, and this morning said it never entered her head at the time that he might be a tramp. ‘He was better dressed than a tramp would be.’”
Hamilton Times. March 3, 1909
When Mr. Ogg returned home after work, he noticed that his wife was upset. On hearing her story about the man who tried to open various doors of the house, Mr. Ogg went outside to investigate. He found all sorts of footprints. The footprints led to an outside toilet, long disused. The door which had been nailed shut was ripped open. It was thought that perhaps a gun had been hidden in the outhouse, but nothing was found:
“ The man was watched by the thoroughly frightened woman till he reached Locke street, but she failed to see which way he turned. It is quite likely he turned south and reached the Beckett drive and mountain top. Constable Branson reported after Tuesday night’s search that a minister on top of the mountain reported having seen a man near the top of the Beckett drive who was pacing nervously around. This was about five o’clock and coincides correctly with the time it would take the man to get from Charlton avenue and Locke street to the top of the mountain.”
“This neighbourhood (of the Ogg house), is six or seven blocks from the Kinrade house. It could have been reached by anyone one of the streets connecting Herkimer and Charlton avenue, and it is not an unlikely thing that in passing the Cricket Grounds, the man would look for shelter in there if he was being chased. He became scared at hearing an imaginary pursuit or the bell on a patrol wagon which passed not far away at a good rate of speed, and left the park and gone for shelter in the house.”
Hamilton Times. March 3, 1909.
The opening session of the coroner’s inquest into the death of Ethel Kinrade was scheduled for March 3, 1909 at 8 p.m. Although most of the individuals were in place as that time arrived, one person was not there.
Coroner McNicol told jurors that he was sorry that proceedings could not go immediately :
‘I have a letter from Dr. James White stating that Mrs. Kinrade and Miss Florence are unable to appear at any inquest, and will not be able to do before the expiration of one week. We simply have to accept this.’
Hamilton Times. March 3, 1909
Jurors became quite angry on being informed about the delay. The anger intensified when it was learned that the Kinrade family had left Hamilton to stay in Toronto:
“ ‘I don’t see,’ went on Juror Wilson, ‘why, if these ladies could stand a railway trip, they couldn’t come here and give evidence. I know this much; if my sister had been murdered I’d have been trying to help the police catch the man that did it.
‘Supposing the family tried to leave Toronto, could we hold them on the subpoenas?’
‘I fancy we could arrange that replied the coroner.”
Hamilton Times March 3, 1909
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