Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1903-04-04
Decision in Burdick Murder Mystery
Given 0ut
SAYS HE WAS KILLED BY PfNSELL
The Statement Is riade That the Dead
Man Should Be Regarded Innocent
Until Proven Guilty.

Burdick inquest handed down by
Judge Murphy Tuesday while stating
that the identity OF the murderer OF
Edwin L. Burdick has not been proven,
practically charges Arthur Z. Penneh.
the dead lawyer. with the crime
Pennell had a stronger motive than
anyone else for putting Burdick out
OF the way. Judge Murphy says. and
all the facts brought out by the in
quest constitute just grounds FOR the
issuance OF warrant against Penneu
IL ne were alive. The verdict is soft
ened somewhat so far as il relates TO
Pencil by the statement that II Pen
nell was alive he would be given tho
presumption of innocence until
proven guilty
In the opinion q Judge Murphy.
Burdick had no woman guest in his
den" on the night Of the murder and
/ the crime was not the work OF a bur-
/ gia-. He exonerates Mrs. Gertrude b.
Paine and Miss Hutchison from any
connection with the crime and in COM
clusion criticises Mrs. Maria A. Hull.
and censures Mrs. Burdick. the form
er FOR her attitude toward the au-
thorities and the Inconsistency OF her
actions with the theory that she hat
no knowledge OF the murder Judge
Murphy statei this afternoon that he
will hold tn, inquest into the death
OF Arthur r. Pencil the latter part
OF this week.
The story OF the fndisg OF Bur-
Burdick's body in the morning and Of
the events preceding its discovery
as related BY the different members
OF the household is told. ani the dis
crepancy in the testimony OF the ser
wants and Mr. Hull is pointed out.
Where is the motive for the
crime?" asks Judge Murphy. aud then
he takes up the relations OF Mrs. Bur
dick and Pennol and says that IL
seems that five years ago. on the oc-
casion OF a visit 10 New Haven by
the Burdicks and Pencils. Mrs. Bur
dick gave the love which belonged
: 10 her husband 10 another. She loved
Pencil and he apparently became in
fatuated with her" Burdick learned
the truth and a separation followed.
but because OF love for her children
! he took his Wife back and forgave the
: author OF his wrong upon his promise
= Id leave Buffalo. This promise and
e the promise which Mrs. Burdick made
G 10 her husband" says Judge Murphy.
E. were shamelessly broken" Finally
: Mr.. Burdick told her she must leave
Il his house and he applied Cor d.
= vorce from his wife. Pennen however
i induced her TO defend the suit Bur
- a. q
:. Mrs. Burdick and Penneu had de,ec-
r. uves shadowing Burdick
j. so far as appears in the evidence.
e SAYS Judge Murphy. "Pennen had not
succeeded in compromising Burdick
= any way Burdicz. however. had a
lot Of evidence. consisting OF letters
e written by Pennen 20 Mrs. Burdick OF
= such q gushing. love-sick. Emporium
n ing nature that their publication
IN meant complete humiliation AID so
ID clal ruin 10 their author. This OF al
|. others" says the justice. was the mo
- tive strong enough 10 incite a des
of perate mind already stepped in wrong
OF doing. 10 so foul and cruel a murder
p Did he do Il? Was he responsible 70
- it, lie had returned from the dea'
as mans wife the day before the murder
He was here that night. He was YER
much excited the next morning an
went and purchased a revolver Tn
clerks present at the sale state az tina
e. time he did not appear at ali like hin
~ self
The Judge tells Of Ponnell's visit
er the Falls on the morning OF the di'
"a covery OF the murder. of his messag
= 10 his wife TO bring the papers an
Ns Of their failure to return for dinns
cir that evening Continuing. the juds
Ter says in one OF Pencils letters
Mrs. Burdick there was a threat II:
he would XIII her husband. The cas-
Ter and bartender OF a hotel also test
fed that he said he would Kill &C
y3n tain man and Mrs. Pencil had wri
est ten Burdick a warning letter. Pc
lco / nell had complete knowledge OF q
Burdick home and considering his T
lations with the family IL could ha'
al been an easy matter for him TO o
Is. tain a key thereto Altogether the
III facts would IN my opinion constitu
just grounds OF suspicion on which
te- warrant could be issued were he air.
lei That would not mean. however, III
he was guilty. He would have {
- right % a trial" the report continu'
- He can never be placed on trial hel
nor can his case ever be Judicially {
terDined Let US be as fair then
the dead as the law presunes US
Inc be 70 the living. he must be presum