The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-03-27
CLEARS NAME 1NoF sURDlcK / talueSt Does Nothing More, $ However. THE MURDERER NOT KNOWN Investigation Into Death of the
 Pencils is Next. verdicts for "John Doe" and "Jane Roe" May Be Issued by Judge
 Murphy-Then Grand Jury
 Must Act.
THE MURDERER NOT KNOWl

Buffalo, N. F., March 2s.-The inquest into the death of Edwin L. Burdick. who was murdered just a month ago today in his home in Ashland Avenue. ended this l afternoon.
 At the close of the inquest. Judge Mur- phy will announce that an official in- quiry into the death of Arthur R. Pen nell, who has figured prominently in the Burdick inquest, would be begun Mon- day. The Burdick inquest has served to de- velop several theories relative to the crime. But the investigation has not added anything more than an appear ance of reasonability to any of these theories. Aside from the failure of the authorities to secure evidence bearing directly upon the commission of the crime or to establish the identity of the murderer, there Is a feeling of satisfac- ton that the name of MT. Burdick has been lifted from the mire in which it was dragged and that his character has been shown in its true light. The Character of Burdick. The evidence brought out has shown Burdick to have been a loving father; | always willing to sacrifice his own hap piness and pride for the sake of his chill | dren; that he was the victim of false | friendship. broken pledges and in face of 1t all, forgiving. indulgent husband. The efforts of the authorities to fix the | crime upon some one will not end with | the inquest. At the same time there Is l now little hope of success in this under l taking.
 Judge Murphy said after court ad- l journed this afternoon that his judg- ment in the case would not be handed down until Monday or perhaps later in the week. It is possible that he may issue l warrants for the arrest of John Doe" | and Jane Roe." If Judge Murphy sees | fit to take such action, the District Attor- ney will be obliged to submit the whole case to the grand jury.
 l Three new witnesses appeared on the stand today. They were the Rev. L. M. Powers, pastor of the Church of the Mes siah, where the Burdick family and Mrs. Hull were regular attendants. and De- tectives Cornish and Coughlan, who were | the first policemen to arrive at the Bur dick home when the crime was discov- | cred. Mrs. Hull, Carol Burdick and Maggie Murray, the Burdick cook, were recalled to straighten out, if possible, conflict 1 ing testimony given by them while on | the witness stand.
 Bloody Finger Prints.
 Detective Cornish said he noticed what resembled bloody finger marks on the | dead mans legs.
 Did you notice the crackers. the tarts and piece of cheese on the table in the den." he was asked.
 Yes. sir
 What do you say as to whether there were any crumbs on the plate?"
 There were no cracker crumbs what ever on the plate or table or on the floor. The crackers had not been eaten in the den."
 Did you notice whether the cocktail glasses on the table had been used?" l T noticed that it was very sticky on | the outside. Even the stem and the base | of the glass were coated with a sticky | substance as if the contents of the glass l had run over.''
 Detective Coughlan said he examined | Burdick's bedroom and found a vest on the sofa in the bedroom. In one of the | pockets was a roll of bills containing $4. | in the vest.
 | The report of City Chemist Hill was | read by the District Attorney. It stated l that no poison was found in the cocktail | bottle or in the stomach of the dead man. this disposing of the theory that Burdick was poisoned. and also that there were no bloodstains on the golf stick taken from the Burdick home after i the murder, which eliminates the golf stick as the possible weapon with which Burdick was killed.
 Before today's hearing began 1t was announced that Mrs. J. D. Hull, mother | of Mrs. Burdick, the Rev. l.. M. Pow ers pastor of the Church of the Messiah, where the Burdicks attended. and City Chemist Herbert M. Hill, would testify.
 Preachers Statement.
 The Rev. MT. Powers recently made a statement over his signature defend ing Mrs. Hull and accusing Pennell, then dead, of the murder of Burdick. It is said, however. that it was not so much on account of this accusation that he was subpoenaed. but because he was | Burdicks pastor. He knew the mur- dered man we'll Burdick. it is said had talked to him of his troubles. and of Pen nell and even of the letters Pennen had written to Mrs. Burdick.
 Scandalmongers Seated.
 Every seat in Judge Murphys court was occupied when the inquest was re- | stunned, but there was no crowding. The scandals revealed by the testimony of the witnesses on the stand have become an old story and public interest in the Inquest is on the wane. the general belief prevailing that no arrest will follow the present proceedings and that nothing in the nature of material evidence bearing dlrectN upon the murder of Burdick will be forthcoming.
 Testimony of Rev. L. M. Powers.
 The Rev. L. M. Powers was the first witness He said that Mrs. Hull and 7 Rf congregation. On two separate occa- sions he had talked with BurdIck con- corning the Iatter'S domestic affairs. The first one was at Burdick's of4ee about three weeks prior to the murder. He called voluntarily to talk with Burdick