The murder of Francis Roy Kniffen

[dhaskett]

Eleanor “Nellie” Louise Haskett was born in Simcoe, Ontario, Canada on 14 May 1866 to Robert Haskett (1827 - 1905) and Margaret Ellen Ryan (1833 - 1920). Her grandfather was David Haskett (My g-g-g grandfather). Francis Roy Kniffen was born on Feb. 10, 1876, Ontario, Canada to Thomas James Kniffen (1851 - 1898) and Emma Jane Gilbert Boughner (1859 - 1918).

Eleanor Louise married Francis Roy Kniffen and had 4 children. Frank was a street car conductor in Detroit.

Just a few months after arriving in Detroit, Nellie murdered Frank in 1910 by hitting him on the head, and fracturing his skull. She died on Apr. 25, 1944 in the state hospital in Ionia County, Michigan, aged 78. She was buried at Oakview Cemetery, Royal Oak, Oakland County, Michigan.

I'm looking for more information about the death of Frank, any court case that may have followed, and any informtation about Nellie after she murdered Frank. I have tried to find newspaper articles about the murder, but no luck yet.

Thanks,

David

[shellyesq]

This appears to be Frank's death certificate (where he was listed as Franklin A. Kniffen) - http://cdm16317.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/p129401coll7/id/698952/rec/4  His death date was 19 Dec. 1910, so that might narrow down the time frame for newspaper articles.

[shellyesq]

There are a few articles reporting the murder on http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/  Try the advanced search option and don't fill anything in except for the part where it says "with the words ... within 5 words of each other" and type in Nellie Kniffen.

There are also some articles reporting the murder on www.newspaperarchives.com.  It's a subscription site, but I believe non-subscribers can view 2 articles per day for free.  Searching for Nellie Kniffen or Frank Kniffen in the first & last name spots should bring them up. 

There's a death notice for Frank mentioned here - http://www.elginogs.ca/Home/ancestor-indexes/newspapers/st-thomas-newspapers/stdt-1910-nov-dec

[Priscilla]

You may have visited Find a Grave website already - but if not click on the following link.  There are photographs of both them.

http://www.rootschat.com/links/0s2s/

[dhaskett]

Great information, thanks shellyesq and Priscilla!

David

[dellasha]

I don't know if you have found what you wanted, but Roy Kniffen was a descendant of my great-grandfather, Thomas L. Kniffen and my husband and I researched the murder in the Detroit newspapers.  I transcribed all the articles we could find and I will be happy to send them to you if you will e-mail me directly email address removed please exchange private information by Private Message  ^(*) Della Shafer

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