A CANADIAN TRAGEDY.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9463, 4 June 1909, Page 6

A CANADIAN TRAGEDY.

MYSTERIOUS GRIME.

Ottawa, April 1. The whole country, from Atlantic to Pacific, is at present profoundly agitated over a murder which took place in Hamilton. Ontario, during the past month. It is always dlfficult to understand why a score of tragedies are given no more than passing notice, while another, for no particular reason, fastens itself suddenly on the imagination. Yefe so it is. In this instance the circumstances have given rise to a problem, and that seems to be the essential element in creating a more or less enduring sensation—albeit every murder that is not committed openly has its mysterious and perplexing features.

Florence and Ethel Kinrade, daughters ofJPrinoipal Kinrade, werer in their luxurious home on Herkimer avenue, in the chief residential section of the city, when the crime occurred. The time was between 3 and 4 o’clock io the afternoon. They were both well known yonng ladies, handsome and well educated. Florence had gained considerable local reputation as a singer. What took place is known only from the story of this yonng lady. She says that a ring of the bell took her to the door, where she found a shabbilydressed man. She took him to be a tramp. He poshed his way in, and demanded money. She; went upstairs. , where her sister' Ethel was dressed for the street, and took a bank bill from her ‘ purse. She warned Ethel not to go downstairs ; bat the latter would not heed. She went down and immediately shots were fired. When Florence came down Ethel was lying dead in thehall, with three ballets in her head and four in her heart. The former rushed out of the back door, re turned, engaged in a scuffle with the assassin, escaped to the side verandah, was polled back into the bouse, and then saw the murderer go out of the door and disappear down the street. '

All this took place in broad daylight and in a populous neighbourhood. When the father was sent for. be asked, “Was it the man from Virginia?” The mother had for two or three days noticed a man hanging about the front of the house, and at the time of the shooting had gone to the police station to ask for protection. These axe the salient facta in the crime, and upon them everybody is just now engaged in building up theories as to who did the killing. The tramp theory is not generally believed. 3f the object were merely robbery, it is held that the shooting was uncalled for. The young ladies were alone, and did not offer resistance. If Ethel had done anythlng'to thwart the robber, any one of the* shots fired must have killed her Instantly. Why were seven ballets pat into her body? Moreover, the firing of the revolver was likely to give an alarm, ‘and that is the last thing a mere thief would wish to dolt is argned that whoever committed the mnrder had a motive apartfrom robbery, and hence nearly everybody to-day believes that this shocking crime is the outcome of some wild love affair. Few doubt that the name of the criminal is known to at least Florence. If so,, why does she shield him? Therein lies the mystery. The coroner’s inquest has hot yet been held, owing to the serious condition of the family in whose home the murder occurred, but it is not expected to disclose any circumstances with which the public mind is not already familiar Meauwhile the case is the talk of the land, and everywhere one hears the call for a Sherlock Holmes to> step in . and unravel what is certainly a serious puzzle.