The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-03-06
SURE ESLAYER
 IS A WOMAN Little New in Burdick sUS CT UNDER WATCH Dlo lct Attorney Thinks He Y Has Solved Problem. As Yet, However, He Has Not Evid- ence to Convict, and Conse-
 quently No Arrest Has
 Been Made.

Buffalo, N. r.. March 5.--"our case has
 not been weakened in any way; it has not 1 been strengthened. That l regard as a l good sign"
 | These words uttered by District Attor- | ney Coatsworth when he left his office
 this afternoon after another day of prob | ing in the Burdick murder mystery sum-
 marizes the situation tonight.
 The woman suspected to have knowl-
 edge of the killing of Burdick is under surveillance and cannot escape. When | the authorities are satisfied that they | have sufficient evidence to convict. she will be placed under arrest. Several persons called at the District Attorneys office today but nothing new | was learned by the police. Suspicion now attaches, the police say. to woman who was in strengthened cir eumstances. She had been closely relat- ed financially with Burdick. She had to make a payment on furniture with which she furnished her home. The payment was made after Burdick's murder, The | open drawer suggests that this woman. being neglected by Burdick for another woman. killed him to secure money and to avenge her jealousy. This woman is also under surveillance.
 District Attorney Sure.
 District Attorney Coatsworth reiterated today his statement of last night that he was 'satisf1ed as to who committed the crime" He declined to say whether the murderer lived in the Elwood district, but said 1t was his belief that only one per- son was in the 'den' when the crime was committed.
 There will be no arrest" he added, until we have sufficient evidence to con- vict. if we succeed in obtaining that evil dence.
 Before final action is taken" he con- tinued. there will be a thorough, com prehensive. pairistaking, rigid review of the entire case from beginning to end. The entire situation will be gone over carefully. After that, action win be ta- ken.''
 And that action will be?'
 "An arrest. It will be an arrest in which We will stake all to win or lose. I am hopeful of winning. In my own mind am thoroughly convinced as to who committed the crime, but as I have said our evidence. thus far is simply clrcum- stantial. No. I will not say yet whether the person whom suspect is a man or a woman"
 Mrs. Seth T. Paine of 492 Elmwood Avenue. whose picture was found in Bur dicks den, declared in an interview to- day that she knew nothing about that tragedy and that she was at home all the night of the murder. This fact, she said, she could prove by her servants.
 House Closely Watched.
 A house in the Elmwood district is be- ing watched day and night The police decline to say why they are watching the house. Last night for the first time the detectives were withdrawn from the New York Central and other stations. This move is regarded as strong evidence that the police believe they know where the murderer Is, and that there is no danger of escape. An important fact which the | police have known all along, but not made | public. Is that on the morning when the | body of Burdick was discovered. the top drawer in a table at the head of the couch | where the body lay was open. Little | significance was attached to the fact at | the time, for the reason that it was | known almost at the outset that robbery | was not the motive for the crime But | associated with facts and circumstances | uncovered since then, 1t looms up, the | police believe as most important clew. |
 When the police reached the Burdick | house on the morning of the murder the | top drawer in the table was open. The | police noticed 1t. Later in the day when | their investigations reached that point, |
  dick house closely, concerning that open | drawer. They were informed positively | that nothing had been disturbed; that the | drawer was open when the body was | found. In the drawer were found some let | ters and papers and odds and ends. The | letters and papers were disarranged and | on the floor of the den were some papers | which indicated that they had been drag ged out of the open drawer and left where bax falI ha hot oiv lot ters were taken from this drawer. They are confident that they are on the right track. What is more, they claim to have in tLeir possession at the present time last and strong card which they have not yet played.
 Mrs. Payne Talks.
 Mrs. Seth T. Payne of 492 Elmwood Av- enue, whose picture was found In Bur dicks den. has made a statement. Her name has frequently been used in con nection with the investigation into the murder. Her home has been searched and she has heen questioned by the po- lice. While in MT. Coatsworth's office the cabman who met an unaccompanied on Ashland Avenue on the night of the murder was taken into the room.
 Mrs. Payne said: "I know absolutely nothing of the murder. I have no theory as to who did or how 1t was done.
 Both my husband and knew the Bur dicks. Yes. we also knew the Pennels and the Warrens. My husband and l have visited or called on the Burdicks and they have called on us. My name has not appeared as a correspondent in any action for divorce by Mrs Burdick against MT. Burdck I never called alone on MT. Burdick at his house.
 "The last time l talked with MT. Bur lick was last Thursday fthe day bafora the murder) It was over the telephone and he asked me about a matter that was purely social and did not relate In any way to an appointment. I told him I would let him know the next day and on Thursday did call him up on the phone and that was the last time I talked with lim.
 "On Thursday evening I had dinner. IS usual between and o'clock I did not go out of the house after dinner. Some people live In the house with us.