The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-03-26
From Trend of Examination
This Morning, District
tOrney Seems to Think
Front Door and Kitchen
Window Were Opened
From Inside.
Clergyman Asserts That
One Year Before Burdick
Murder Arthur PenneII
Had Spoken of Suicide.
Wife Forced TO Defend
Divorce Suit.

Divorce Suit.
BUFFALO. \. y. March 2s.-Did some
person go down the stairs CT Edwin L.
Burdicks home on the morning he was
murdered, before the other members
Of the household we're about. and leave
the front door and kitchen window
opened to create the impression that
the crime was committed BY some one
from the outside?
From his line Of examination AZ the
inquest today il was evident that II was
an answer 20 this question that Dis
trict Attorney Coatsworth was seeking.
He recalled 70 the stand Mrs Maria ~
Huh. the mother-in-law; Maggie Mur-
ray. the servant. and little Carol Bur-
dick. the twelve-year-old daughter. AMI
put 70 them more searching questions
as 10 what vent on IN the house on the
morning of the murder
That Open Window.
he was particularly anxious to find
out when and where the Murray girl
first told Mrs Hull that the door and
the windows were open Ms. Hull had
said and repeated that she was told
. first while she was in the bathroom.
The servant was just as emphatic that
she had told her while Mrs. Hull was in
her own room Much Importance was
attached 10 a remark alleged TO have
been made by one OF the little girls
OF the house TO this effect. why. heard
papa 20 down stairs little while ago.
Mrs Hull said she had never heard
the remark The servant said she was
positive that she had heard il. and that
ii Was made BY Carol Burdsck carol
Bfrdiok said she had heard her younger
sister. Alice. say something to that ef-
feet. but denied that she had made IL
herself
Interest Maintained.
With the opening OF the last DAYS
proceedings OF the inquest more than
the usual crowd Of women hocked into
the musty little courtroom All were
particularly anxious 70 see Mrs. Maria
A. Hull. the mother-in-law OF the mur-
dered man. She was expected To ex-
plain away. if she could. the discrepa1-
cies in the stories told by herself and
some OF the children as 70 what oc-
CURED in the Burdick house on the dav
Another important feature Of the
days program was the reading OF the
detailed report OF the city chemist on
his autopsy on Burdick's body. Before
court opened Detective Holimlnd had a
conference with Superintendent Of Po-
lice Bull. after which he hurried away
in cab from police headquarters. Il
was reported that he had gone 10 serve
new summons on an important wiz
ness IN the case.
Pencil Threatened Suicide
The Rev Levi NJ Powers. OF he
Church CT the Messiah. which the Pu--
dicks and Mrs. EuIl attended. was ,he
first witness. He said that he had talk
ed WIKI Burdick regarding his domestic
affairs about two weeks before his
death Tae witness had known That
there was something wrong in the faaa-
lily He Jaiiocd 20 Burdick for an hour.
he told me Of the letters ne had in
his possession. He said that when ne
trouble hrst started Penneu had threat
ened 20 XIII himself He told me that
at that lime ne went TO Pencil aud
told him 20 braSe Up and leave tovn.
This was about q year before the mar
der he said PenneH was forcing Mrs.
Burdick 20 defend tho suit. and thar
she had told him Il ras not her fauic
If 80 was contested When she went
away she agreed NOT 70 contest it,"
Burdick Was Troubled.
Herbert II. Rice business man OF
Indianapolis. and conadant OF Edwin l.
Burdick las written 20 District Attor-
uey Coatsworth telling him Of his last
talk with Bv~dick.
The latter was in the habit OF visiting
indianapolis frequently. and OF all the
persons he met. none was so close 10
him IS II. II. Rice. The last visit Bur
dick made 10 Indianapolis Was on Janu-
AIRY -.
"AJ this time said Mr.. Rice. Bur
dick was troubled about his family ar
fairs. re had learned OF the many clan
destine meetings between PenneIl and
Mrs Burdick- and it preyee on HE
mind.
Determined on Divorce
"IIc was determined he would Eet a di-
vorce. but he Oanted 70 keep Penneu
and Mrs. Burdlck guessing for a tine
before occurring g.. He was conscious
that detectives followed MIN constantly.
bur he carried himself with such con-
sistent pTopriety that no evidence vas
secured against him
"Burdick knew that Fenneu had On
more than one occasion threatened sui
eide. BuTCfck was crushed an heart
broken ard when ] asked him yhv he
did not Kill the -nsn who had wrecked
his home he said such a thing could
not be thought of because of the chill
drou