Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1903-03-15
BURDICK INQUEST
NOW IN PROGRESS
General Public Is Excluded
From Court Room.
IMPORTANT WITNESSES TESTIFY
Ne One Directly Accused of Murder as
Yet, But Inquest Expected to Devel-
op Something Of Importance-Thor-
ounh Investigation 10 Be Made.

Yet, But Inquest Expected to Devel-
op Something Of Importance-Thor.
ough investigation To Be Made.
Buffalo. n. Y, March 1.-THE in
quest into the murder Of Edwin L.
Burdick was begun in the police court
here today before Judge Murphy.
The court room is small and only a
limited number Of persons were ad-
mitted. Among the first witnesses to
appear were Mrs. Seth T. Paine. Miss
Barrett. the stenographer who boards
with Mrs. Paine, and Carlson, another
boarder at the Paine residence. Mrs.
Paine was accompanied bS counsel.
Only one witness at a time was admit
ted into the court room. The inquest
began with the calling Of DR.. HOwland,
assistant medical examiner, as the
first witness DR.. Rowland handed
TO Judge Murphy the report Of the
medical examiner on the death OF Bur
dick, which stated the cause Of the
death.
Under the law We are compelled to
hold this inquest" said Judge Muir
ply we charge no one with this
crime. The purpose of this investi-
CATION is TO lay this crime, if posi-
bic. at the door Of some one.
DR.. Howland was examined by Dis
trict Attorney Coatsworth. He said
- l-o5 Loo~ -.,,,,,,,.or,a.5 - 4ha R17v.
dick home by telephone on the morn
ing of Feb. q, shortly after s o'clock.
Dr.. w. H Marcy met him at the door
and told him that something had been
going on there and that Mr.. Burdick
was dead. I am not sure. continued
Dr.. Rowland, but I think he told me
that he was not certain whether it
was murder or suicide. He asked
me TO make it as a case Of suicide. if
possible, as there had been a good deal
Of gossip in the neighborhood respect
ing the relations existing between Mr..
and Mrs Burdick.
The witness said he then examined
the body and told DR. Marcy that ii
was impossible to entertain the sui
eide theory for a moment Asked as
10 what other conversation he had
with Dr. Marcy, the witness said the
former told him Of the divorce pro
ceedings in the Rurdick family
Dr. HOWIaRd repeated the COnveTsa-
tion he had with Mrs. Hull as TO the
finding Of the body Of Burdick, the
finding of q window open, the fact
that there were no new tracks in the
snow outside the window and the find
ing Of the open drawer.
The witness said that DR.. Marcy told
that he found the window curtains in
the den down and being unable TO
raise them, tore them down. He
also told me that quilt had been
wrapped three times about the head
Of the murdered man. said DR.. How
land, and that he found pool of blood
on the floor. Mr.. Coatsworth brought
out the fact that Burdick's body had
been moved by the murderer after
the crime had been commmitted. Dr.
Rowland described the clothing found
in the room. the finding of the lunch
con- six ounce druggist bottle con
tanning whisky and a cocktail glass. He
could not say whether the glass had
been used. He had seen Detective
Holmlund take a letter from Burdicks
pocket.
4 heard Dr. Marcy say" continued
the witness. that Mrs. Hull was sub.
ject to heart failure. While Mrs. Hull
was giving her statement she occa-
sionany hesitated and at such times
DR.. Marcy prompted her"
Witness saw no weapon in the room.
What was your conclusion as to
whether Burdick was killed in the
den?" he was asked.
Il think he was"
"Do you think he was killed on the
couch?"
Il think he was on the couch"
When he was killed was he lying
on the couch In the position in which
you found the body?"
Judging from the location of the
remains he must have been lying in
some other position at the time he was
struck"
Detective John w. Holmlund de-
scribed the scenes in the den and re-
lated the conversation he had with
one Of the maids. He found some let.
ters and a revolver In Burdick's coat
The witness had talk with DR.. Mar.
cy. The doctor, he said gave him
the impression that he wanted the
matter kept quiet. He did not want
the affair made any more public than
was necessary.