The Savannah morning news., 1903-03-17
PRETTY GIRL TOLD
WHAT LITTLE SHE KNEW ABOUT
THE BURDICk MURDER.
DAUGHTER OF THE VICTIM
wITHSTOOD THE FIRE OF THE
ATTORNEYS QUESTIONING,

the Mystery-Her Answers Were
Brief and POinted-Dr. Marcy
Told Why He Wanted the Death
Declared Suicide-Cabmnn Gave
Ills Testimony, as Did IA Domestic
of the Burdick Home.
Buffalo, N. Y. March 16.-Miss Ma
rion Burdick, the pretty rosy-cheeked
daughter of Edwin L. Burdick, was
the most interesting witness at the in
quest before Judge Murphy to-day
Marion is 16 years old and bears n
striking resemblance to her mother.
Like Mrs Hull she volunteered no in
formation. She answered in mOnosyl-
tables whenever possible. 1t was yes"
or no" When those replies would not
suffice she used as few words as pos
sible. She was not easily confused, and
there was no sign of agitation or emo
ton when the District Attorney ques-
toned her closely regarding the events
that occurred at the time her father
was murdered.
Attorney Coatsworth began by
speaking kindly to the girl. and care,
fully choosing his words in putting
questions to her. Later he fired ques-
lions in rapid succession, all of which
were met with replies both sharp and
decisive. At one time. when the dis
trict attorney asked the same ques-
tiop several times, the girl caused a
murmur in the court room by raising
her voice sharply in a clear emphatic
81 don't know" Nothing of Importance
was elected from her while she was
on the stand and the district attorney
finally gave up in despair.
Had Faith in Her Grandmother.
She said that Grandmother Hull first
Informed her that her father was i'll
IN his den" That was before DR..
Marcy arrived and before Mrs Hull
knew positively, according to her own
testimony, that it was Burdick lying
on the couch. The district attorney
tried to get Marion to tell why she
apparently took so little interest in
her fathers illness when she was told
of it by her grandmother. Marion
replied she knew that when it was
proper for her to know Grandmother
Hull would tell her. She loved her
father, and he had always been good
there was anything wrong in her not
inquiring about his illness or that she
should have done differently.
Marion admitted that she knew of
the divorce proceedings instituted by
Mr.. Burdick against her mother. She
sympathized with her father, but
would not admit that she thought he
was right in driving her mother from
home Neither would she admit that
she knew of her mother meeting Ar
thur r. Pennell.
DR.. William NJ. Marcy, the family
physician and the first person to see
the dead body after the murderer COW
cred it up, was the first witness of the
day. DR.. Marcy admitted that he told
DIR. Rowland, the medical examiner,
that if it was suicide or looked suici-
dial, it would be all the better for the
family to make it out a case of sui
eide. Later he agreed with DR.. How
land that the suicide theory was I'M
tenable.
What About That Suicide.
DR.. Marcy was sharply questioned on
his suicide statement and telling why
he made it, said:
'Well, l thought it would save Bur-
dicks good name. | saw him almost
disrobed, lying on the couch, and
saw the lunch on the table, and it all
looked very shady, especially as the
divorce proceedings had been started"
The witness said Mrs. HUH had not
asked him at any time how Burdick
had been killed.
To Justice Murphy, DR. Marcy said he
was Of the opinion, judging from the
lunch, etc, that Burdick's murder had
grown out of the divorce proceedings.
lie thought he had had woman visi-
tor there.
In response to Attorney Hartzelrs
questions, DR.. Marcy said he had come
TO the conclusion that Burdick was
killed between midnight and one o'clock
in the morning.
when you first looked at the body.
did you see the wounds on the head,
and brains scattered about?"
Yes, sir"
"And you had the idea that it might
be case of suicide?"
We'll. I did not know, 1 had not con-
sidered."
The fact that there were pillows
piled up on the body was confirmation
of your suicide theory"
oh! No! Did you ever know Of a
man to commit suicide and then pile
pillows on his body?"
No; of course not"
The examination of DR.. Marcy end
ed at this point 1t was not as severe
as had been expected.
servant Woman Testified.
Katie Koenig, a domestic in the Bur
dick family, told in detail of the events
or the evening, beginning with the ar
rival of Mr.. Burdick with a cocktail
bottle, which she had not seen since
he took II into the kitchen. substan-
TALLY as published heretofore. She
mad never heard a quarrel i'm the house
and did not know that the relations
between Burdick and Mrs Burdick
We're strained until after the murder.
Attorney Hartzell brought out the
interesting fact that the gas I'm the
hall and IN the den was lighted by an
electric appliance. BY pressing the
button the gas could be lighted BY
pressing another button II Was extin-
guished. On the night after the muir
Der, u was found that the electric arr
Tangemeut in the den did not work
An investigation showed some one had
turned OF the gas Boz the den. inst sad
on "kiihgulsbing b By means Of the
button
TIE attorneys purpose in bringing
pui this fact was 70 show that Who