1909 - Kinrade Murder Part 5b

 

 “One week more to work out old clues and try to find new ones is what the police now have before them in the Kinrade murder case. They had hoped that something would be brought to light at the inquest, last night, which would give them more definite information to work on than anything they have yet been able to secure, but the adjournment, without taking any evidence leaves them just where they were. They admit that the adjournment was the only course possible in view of the condition of the health of Mrs. and Miss Kinrade.

“Provincial Detective Miller had an interview with Miss Kinrade in Toronto yesterday, and found her more quiet than at any previous time. He returned to Hamilton this morning to work out some details of the case, and in speaking of it said he was quite hopeful of obtaining an ultimate and complete clearing up of the mystery, although it might take some time. He is following up every possible clue, and, while he has his own theory, he is taking no chance in neglecting any other.

                             Jurors Talk

          “Fifteen jurymen and Coroner McNichol did their best last night to ascertain why Crown Attorney Washington consented to a delay of one week in the inquest into the murder of Miss Ethel C. Kinrade, which took place a week ago this afternoon. The inquest was opened last in the Police Court in No. 3 Police Station.

“The jurymen were all on hand, the Coroner was on time, 8:15 o’clock, and in addition to the principals Inspector McMahon, Constable Robert Lentz, a dozen newspaper men and three backbenchers were in the court room.

“At 8:20, Constable Lentz called for order and read the familiar form – ‘Oyez! Oyez!’ etc. The jury was polled and the fifteen answered ‘Present!’

“There was an air of expectancy for a moment, and then Coroner McNichol started the proceedings.

“ ‘Gentlemen, I’m sorry, we will be unable to proceed to take evidence tonight, for I think the evidence we could get from the witnesses at present available might be very valuable to the police in helping them to get at the bottom of this affair.

“” ‘I have a certificate from Dr. James White, to the effect that Mrs. and Miss Kinrade will be unable to attend to give evidence for at least a week. We simply have to accept it. I would suggest at the expiration of this week we meet again, and I hope they may be able to attend. It is no use going on now. One reason that the adjournment is asked for is that the Crown Attorney prefers to have the evidence taken in a certain order, as it will then be of benefit in cross-examining the following witnesses.’

“R.B. Spera, foreman of the jury, asked if it was necessary that the adjournment should be made for so long a time.

“ ‘Yes,’ replied the Coroner, ‘but the officials are anxious to have it go on at once.

“ ‘Where are we next week,’ asked Juror John Wells, if the doctor gives another certificate?’

“ ‘We will have to discuss that then,’ said the Coroner.

“ Is this adjournment not a handicap on the police in their work?’ asked Foreman Spera.

“ ‘I think it is,’ said Coroner McNichol.

“ ‘I understand that these ladies have left the city,’ remarked Juror Byrne.

“ ‘Only temporarily,’ said the Coroner.

“ ‘How do we know that?’ queried Juror Brown.

“ Well the Crown Attorney is satisfied , as they have been served with subpoenas,’ patiently explained the Coroner.

“ ‘Did the Crown give them permission to go?’ queried Juror Jas. Reding.

“ ‘I do not know,’ said the coroner.

“Juror J.J. Guy wanted to know if evidence taken by the Crown Attorney or some person appointed by him would be acceptable to the inquest.

“ ‘No evidence can be considered except what is given in this court,’ Dr. McNichol remarked in a weary tone

“Juror W. Ellis remarked at this juncture that there was no need to worry about the appearance of the ladies on account of the good detective force in Hamilton and Ontario.

“Foreman Spera wanted to know if Monday was too soon to continue the inquiry.

“ ‘The certificate will hold good then as now,’ explained the coroner.

“  ‘If that was my sister I would want to get at it as soon as possible.’ Remarked Juror Wilson.

“ ‘Is there anything to prevent them leaving Toronto?’ Juror Wells wanted to know

“ ‘If they made any attempts to avoid the inquest, they would likely be detained, as they are material witnesses.’ stated the coroner.

“This closed the discussion, and Coroner McNichol explained there was nothing to do but adjourn for a week, and this was accordingly done.”¹

“Another Week at Working Details : Police Have Little to Report in the Kinrade Case, But They Are Quite Hopeful : The Virginia Developments Do Not Change the Aspect of the Case Much”

Hamilton Times.    March  04, 1909

 

The  friends of Miss Florence Kinrade were ware of her trips to the United States during 1908, but their impression was that “Flossie’ had been hired as a soloist in the Manchester Presbyterian Church.

However a reporters with a newspaper in Norfolk, Virginia did some investigating:

“Miss KInrade first appeared in public at the Orpheum theater in Portsmouth last summer, and was known as Miss Mildred Dale, She was stopping with friends at Virginia Beach, where she occasionally sang, and somebody who heard her recommended her to Manager Butler, of the Orpheum.

“He prevailed on her to sing the illustrated songs at the cosy little family theater, and she soon became a great favorite with the Portsmouth people. Later in the season, a company of amateurs was formed to present light comedy sketches at the Orpheum, and she consented to try her hand at this work. Although it was her first effort in this direction, she showed ability, and always appeared to advantage in everything that was presented. She continued with the Orpheum until last fall, when she returned to her home in Hamilton, Ont. and later came back to Portsmouth and was a member of the same company of amateurs that put on light sketches at the Pastime, another family theater. She left Portsmouth for her home in Hamilton a short while before Christmas. During her entire stay here, she was held in the highest esteem by the best people of Virginia Beach and Portsmouth. It was not until she returned home that her real name was known, except by a few of her most intimate friends.”¹

 

 

1909 - Kinrade Murder Part 5a

 

“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

 

 

1909 Kinrade Murder - Part 4

 

“After the first twenty-four hours had passed without any solution of the murder mystery being in sight or any theory advanced that would seem to fit in with the stories which the police had been able to gather of the crime, the public mind began to turn to the inquest as the only means of getting the necessary information on which to base a theory that would hold together. Now the question is will the chief witnesses be in a condition to be examined tomorrow night?’

Hamilton Times.    March  02, 1909.

Tuesday’s Hamilton newspapers which appeared on March 2, 1909, were still very much focused on the shooting death of Ethel Kinrade. The focus was primarily on the condition of her sister:

“Of course, Miss Florence Kinrade will be the chief witness. She has been in a state of hysteria almost ever since the shooting, whenever any reference was made to the deplorable crime, and has been under constant care of the family physician, Dr. James White.

“ ‘I should strongly advise against trying to examine her tomorrow,’ said Dr. White when the Times asked about her condition today. ‘The sight of the crowd in the court room, the officers of the law, and the grim old court would be almost sure to set her off again, and then nothing could be accomplished.’

“Yesterday there was a story around the streets, and it seemed to have reached almost everybody’s lips, that the ordeal was proving too great a mental strain for Miss Kinrade and that she was likely to lose her reason. ‘Nothing of the kind,’ said her physician when asked about it. ‘She becomes hysterical and that is all.’

“Dr. McNichol, Coroner, stated today that the inquest would go on tomorrow night. If medical certificates are produced to show that the necessary witnesses are not in fit physical condition to attend, an adjournment will be granted.”

Hamilton Times March 2, 1909.

The detectives had attempted to gain some useful information from Florence concerning the matter, but their interview did not go well:

“While the detectives were examining Florence Kinrade at her house on Herkimer street, a rather surprising thing occurred. When the officers were questioning the girl about the man who did the shooting, she became quite hysterical, and began to cry, ‘There he is; there he is.’

“A young man who was staying in the house came into the room, and tried to keep her quiet by placing his hand over her mouth. Detective Bleakley pulled his arm away. Miss Kinrade broke down shortly after, and the officers were obliged to leave.

“The incident was very remarkable, and impressed the officers. Of course, her exclamation had no reference whatever to the young man who was then there, but seemed to be directed to some person she saw as in a vision

“After the officers left, she became quite hysterical and her screams could be heard on the streets.”

Hamilton Times . March 2, 1909

All three Hamilton daily newspapers, the Times, the Herald and the Spectator vied intensely with each other concerning the Kinrade case.

The Times on its editorial page had this to say regarding the Herald:

“This unhappy tragedy has given the yellow journalist and the camera fiend the time of their lives, and they have made the most of it. Last night the Hamilton Herald had the following editorial paragraph :’Not sympathy but morbid curiosity drew most of those five thousand people to the KInrade home yesterday to witness the funeral of Miss Kinrade. What satisfaction could be obtained from a view of the coffin and the mourners and the hearse, it is hard to understand.’ Yet, may I ask the ghoul, what satisfaction could be obtained from a view of the coffin, the grave and the mourners and hearse pictured on the front page? It is hard to say.”

Hamilton Times    March 2, 1909.

Reporters constantly were badgering the Hamilton Police about the case, but little hard information was given them, although there seemed to be optimism that the case was well in hand:

“Is the Kinrade murder mystery near a solution?

“There is reason that it is, and the police practically promised this morning that there would be important developments, perhaps in a week. This is a broader admission than they have made at any time since they have taken charge of the case. While they refuse to disclose what they have up their sleeve, they hint that the murder will not remain a mystery long

“Chief Smith, who yesterday afternoon declared very emphatically that he had his own conclusions, that could not be divulged at present, was very optimistic this morning.

“ ‘There will be developments in the case, all right,’ he said, but further than that he declined to discuss it.”

Hamilton Times. March 2, 1909

One theory which had become public concerned Florence Kinrade’s recent stay in the United States, particularly in the state of Virginia:

“A point elaborated upon in a morning paper tells of a quarrel Florence had with her sister about a man in Virginia. Miss Florence could not remember this at first, but told the detectives before they left that there was a man in Virginia from whom she received letters two weeks before Christmas, when she returned home. Ethel did not approve of this man, according to the report. An officer who was present during the examination said it was quite clear that this was nothing more than an ordinary disagreement between sisters over such matters.”

Hamilton Times. March 2, 1909.

While the officer, at least publicly, gave little importance on a quarrel between the sisters, that matter would be brought up later.

As March 2, 1909 came to end, it was fully expected that during the evening  the next day the coroner’s inquest into the circumstances surrounding the death of Ethel Kinrade would begin.