Saturday, 27 March 2021

1909 Kinrade Murder Part 8

 

“The Kinrade murder mystery, which has captured public interest as no other crime has done since the celebrated Birchall-Benwell case, near Woodstock, twenty years ago, will be more than a nine days’ wonder. It is just nine days ago since Ethel Kinrade, the daughter of a wealthy and prominent citizen, was foully slain in her father’s home in the heart of the city’s fashionable district, and the interest that prevails in Hamilton and the surrounding country, is if anything, more tense now than the afternoon the details of the shocking tragedy were first given to the public.”

Hamilton Times.    March  06, 1909

For the first time since Ethel Kinrade had died in her own home, the victim of gun shots, the Kinrade murder had to share the front page of the March 6, 1909 Hamilton newspapers with another sensational shooting.

Hamilton Police Constable Smith, while investigating a robbery in progress, had found the burglar, exiting the rear of a house. The policeman only had time to order the burglar once to stop, before he was shot multiple time, fortunately not fatally.

Over in Toronto, where the Kinrade family had gone to escape the intensity of the public interest of the case, the news of the Hamilton shooting actually made them feel somewhat better as it seemed to bolster Miss Florence’s claim that Ethel had been shot by an intruder.

The Kinrade family was contacted by reporters the morning after P.C. Smith was shot . He was at the City Hospital and his condition was still considered to be life-threatening:

“The change of surroundings, as was expected, has benefitted the members of the Kinrade family. Yesterday, Mr. Kinrade and his son, Earl, Miss Florence and her younger sister, left the Arlington Hotel, Toronto, where they are registered, and had a long walk in the bracing air. Miss Florence Kinrade is said to be recovering nicely from the terrible strain that has weighed on her since the murder of her sister. She was with her fiancée, C. Montrose Wright, yesterday, when he talked to reporters about the case, and she seemed in a less melancholy frame of mind than at any time since the tragedy.

“Miss Kinrade was present when Mr. Wright made this statement to a Toronto reporter:

‘Last night’s shooting in Hamilton will only corroborate Miss KInrade’s first story of her sister’s murder, that a tramp was the murderer. This story is undoubtedly the correct one. The family believe it, as I do.’

“He added that this morning the family were given courage by reason of the affair in Hamilton last night, as this would go far to establish beyond doubt the truth of Miss Kinrade’s first and authentic account of the murder, the tramp story.”

Hamilton Times.  March 6, 1909.

The Hamilton public were able to learn from the local press on Monday, March 8, 1909, that Miss ‘Flossie’ Kinrade had not been hysterical for some time and it was predicted that she would indeed be present at the Inquest scheduled for the following Wednesday:

 “It is announced definitely today that Miss Florence Kinrade will be able to attend and give her evidence at the inquest over the death of her sister Ethel on Wednesday night. Care has been taken to keep her mind off the tragedy as much as possible. In order to ascertain if it would be wise to have her give evidence on Wednesday evening, an examination was made by two eminent physicians from the Mimico Asylum yesterday – men accustomed to dealing with mental troubles of all kinds – Drs. Clark and Smith. They examined Miss Kinrade in the presence of the nurse, Miss Walker, and Detective Miller, Provincial Officer, was also in the Kinrade apartments at the Arlington. The physicians were quite satisfied with Miss Kinrade’s condition, physical and mentally. The ordeal through which she has passed has been a terrible one, but rest, quietness and good care have benefitted her greatly, and she will be here on Wednesday unless something unforeseen happens.”

Hamilton Times.    March  08, 1909.

While the Kinrade family was staying at the Arlington Hotel in downtown Toronto, they were under constant surveillance both by detectives and the press:

“Toronto, March 8 – Sunday passed quietly for the KInrades at the Arlington Hotel. None of the members left the building, but all remained for the greater part of the day in their apartments. Both Mrs. Kinrade and Miss Flossie Kinrade are able to come down to the dining room for their meals, instead of having them served in their rooms. The condition of Miss Florence continues to improve.”

Mrs. Kinrade, mother of the shooting victim, Ethel, was the focus of much attention by her family, fearing that she was not improving as was Florence:

 “There was a pathetic scene in the Arlington Hotel, Toronto, when Mrs. Kinrade was made aware of the fact that her daughter had been murdered She had been kept in ignorance of this fact all the time that the body of the victim remained in the Kinrade home, while the detectives were questioning Florence and while inquisitive people were haunting the neighborhood. “

Hamilton Times. March 9 1909

Mrs. Kinrade first was told that Ethel had met an accident, and had been taken to the hospital. Then she was told that Ethel was dead, but was not told the details of what had happened. :

“That terrible news had been broken as gently as possible and “the grief-stricken mother burst into a flood of weeping. Mr. Kinrade feared to break the news to his wife, lest the horrible details of how her daughter met her death might shatter what reserve strength the mother maintained. It became apparent, however, that the truth could not long be kept from the mother, and they decided  to try to pave the way for the final admission. This was done in as skillful a manner as might be.”

Hamilton Times. March 9 1909

Details of Ethel’s death were given to Mrs. Kinrade by the family’s nurse in attendance, Miss Walker:

“Mrs. Kinrade seemed crushed under this fresh grief.”

Hamilton Times. March 9 1909

As for Ethel Kinrade’s father, the toll of the matter of his daughter’s murder was very noticeable:

“Eleven days of constant mental and physical strain have told upon Mr. KInrade also. From the very first he has tried to look upon the fearful tragedy as calmly as possible, and has given every assistance in his power to the police in an effort to get at the bottom of the tragedy. He has given his consent to every suggestion made by the detectives, even at times when the condition of Miss Florence might have furnished him good reason for refusing. But the strain is telling. An intimate Hamilton friend who saw him in Toronto yesterday says the lines on his face have deepened and he has aged quite a bit. No one is more anxious than he to have the mystery solved and the good name of his family vindicated.”

Hamilton Times. March 9, 1909.

A reporter with the Hamilton Times managed to hold a brief interview with Miss Walker, the nurse who had been hired by the Kinrade family:

 “ ‘You can imagine what kind of condition Miss Florence Kinrade was in when I tell you that soon after the shooting of her sister, when she was being questioned in Hamilton by detectives, she suddenly identified one of them as being the man that forced his way in and shot her sister.

“ ‘I think she became nervous at the number of tramps that, just prior to the shooting, came around the house and, so far as the face goes, I think Miss Kinrade has got their features all tangled in one visage so that as yet she might not be able to identify the man if she did see him. But she is recovering her health and her shattered nerves are much stronger, and doubtless her recollection will become clearer also.

“ ‘What story will Miss Kinrade tell at the inquest in Hamilton?’ Miss Walker was asked.

“ ‘Just the one that she has always told, in the main. I am quite sure she is keeping nothing back, and that she is not attempting to hide anything. I think some of the rumors that some of the newspapers have printed are disgraceful. It is hard enough for members of the family to have this blow come on them without having anything else to bear. If Florence knew some of the reports in circulation, I believe she would lose her reason.”

Hamilton Times.           March 9 1909


 

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