The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-03-27
CONFIDED HIS TROUBLES.
Burdick Told an Indianapolis Man
all About Matters That WOrrned
Him.

Burdick, the murdered Buffalo manu-
facturer confided his troubles to Her
bert H. Rice, a business man in this
city, only few weeks before Mr.. Bur-
dicks death. Mr.. Burdick and Mr..
Rice We're personal friends. The for
mer made frequent business trips to
Indianapolis. His last visit was on
January 9th, WIN he called on Mr..
Rice. He appeared troubled, and he
took the opportunity to unbosom him.
self to Mr.. Rice.
He led me to a quiet corner in the
factory said Mr.. Rice, "and began
telling me his troubles, prefacing his
remarks by saying that he did not
know why he should tell them to me,
but 1 was so far from Buffalo that it
would be all right. He talked of his
wife and PennelPs attentions to her.
He said Pennell and his wife went to
Buffalo and were taken into society and
that the acquaintance of his wife and
himself with the Pencils soon ripened
into friendship. The families were to-
gether a great deal, they played golf,
attended dances and parties, and the
Pencils had the freedom of the Bur
dick home. He said Pennell was a
brilliant chap socially, and that he ad-
mired him and knew that his wife
admired him also. He said that PEN
nell and Mrs. Burdick seemed to enjoy
each others company particularly, but
that he had no suspicious at first. Bur.
dick said he afterwards learned PEN
nell and Mrs. Burdick were having
clandeStine meetings. He did not state
the source of his information, but he
said he confronted both with accusa
ton and both confessed to having had
improper relations. On promises of
PenneIl to leave Buffalo and the prom
ise of his wife not to meet Pennell
again. Burdick said he agreed not to
take any action in the matter. Neither
promise was kept, he said as Pennell
remained in Buffalo and Mrs. Burdick
soon was meeting him again.
when Burdick learned of the mat
ter, he threatened to bring suit for di-
vorce. Again they pleaded with him
he said, and on the solemn renewal OF
the promises, Pennell stayed in Buffalo
and continued to meet Mrs. Burd1ck.
Mr. Burdick said he found slip of pa
per. containing a list of meeting places
and dates made out in cipher. On this
paper was one address and date Burr
dick thought he desciphered correctly.
Accompanied by detectives, he went to
the address and found Pennell ana MRS.
Burdic together.
With this evidence he deter
mined to obtain a divorce, he said. Bur-
dick held a conference with Pennell and
Mrs Burdick and Pennen and the Wo-
man agreed that they would not con-
test the suit for divorce, but would aid
in securing it in quiet way to avoid
notoriety as much as possible. They
promised to file an answer to his COM
plaint without delay. They did not
file the answer however, but instead
put detectives on the track of Mr.. Bur-
dick. having resolved between them
selves that they would contest the
suit
Burdick said the detectives followed
every move he made and trumped up
a lot of false evidence against him,
which involved his friends, respectable
people, of whom he thought great
deal.
Burdick said he lived at a hotel,
apart from his wife for some time and
the detectives knowing this, drew con-
clusions adverse to his moral character
and made the most of it. "Burdlck did
not know that he was being watched
bv the detectives He told me that he
was in a state Of distraction and that
he sought the society of his friends for
relief from his state of depression. He
said that he had taken highly respect
| able women riding in his automobile
and had stopped at reSpecta bic eating
places: that ne had met his friends on
| the street and had treated them to soda
and candy and that he had played golf
and attended social functions. He SAID
| that he could see readily how persons
| intent on doing him wrong, could mis-
| construe his actions and impugn his mo-
| tiVes.
"Burdick did not know Of the evil
dence obtained against him until after
! the detectives had reported to Penneli
and Mrs. Burdick. They then endeaV-
| ored to get him to withdraw his suit
| for divorce, threatening to use such eEl-
dence as would tend to besmlrch the
character of several respectable per-
sons Mr.. Burdick said that this evil
dence was all untrue. He told me that
| he conducted himself with propriety
| and had done nothing that would re-
| fleet on his moral character He desired
| TO protect his friends and his children.
| He said Mrs Burdick called on him
| and pleaded for the privilege of having
| the children with her and that he con-
sented to let her have one at time, IL
| she would deliver into his hands the
| false evidence she prepared aSdlnS'
! him and agree not to make use OF 1t
| which she refused to do. He SAID MRS.
| RrIrdick told him that she loved Pen
| Sell in a way she could never love hlrn.
He said that he could now realize that
| there had always been something LACK
| ing in her affection for him. He mao
provided her with a good home, ahu
! they had lived happily until Pennef
He said that on more than one oc-
casion Pennell had threatened to com
nit suicide. He said that while the
| Pennells were in the east, Mrs. Pen
| nell had written him a letter, pleading
| with him to drop the divorce proceed
ings. stating that if he did not. there
would be a double suicide, that of her
self and Arthur. About the last thing
that Burdick said to me was, that he
had about decided not to push his suit
for year or more, in order to keer
Pennen and Mrs. Burdlck guessing
Burdick was heart-brOken and com
nletely crushed. Tears stood IN his
eyes as he told me of his troubles
Mr.. Rice said he asked Burdick why
he did not hill the man who had wreck
, ed his life. and Burdick replied tina
such thing could not be thought of
on account of the children. Mr.. Rice
has written District Attorney Coats
worth at Buffalo, telling him of Bur
, dicks confession to him with view o
, | contradicting the evidence that tend