The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1903-03-25
MURDERED MANS WIFE
Says Husband Forced From
Her Her Private Letters.


pondent-Letter Read In Which Pen
nell Said He Felt Like Killing Bur
dick-expected to Marry Pennell.
Buffalo, March 24-Never since the
inquest into the murder of Edwin J.
Burdick began has there been such in.
tense interest in the proceedings as
was manifested yesterday afternoon
in the fourth session held by Police
Judge Thomas Murphy, to determine
by whose hand the head of the envel
ope manufacturer was crushed in on
the night of the 26th of February in
his home at 101 Ashland avenue.
At 2:15 O'clock Judge Murphy en-.
tered the police court room and took
his seat for the resumption of the in.
quiry. George G. Miller, attorney for
Edwin l.. Burdick, was at once put
upon the stand and sworn. His ex
animation was for the purpose of get
ting upon the record the divorce ac
tion instituted by Burdick against his
wife, with Arthur R. Pennell, core.
spondent.
Attorney Miller said he was law.
yer living in Buffalo. 81 became ac
quainted with Burdick 20 years ago
and two years ago l became his at
torney," said Mr.. Miller
"Two years ago this spring he called
on me with relation to his domestic af
fairs. He discussed a divorce action
against his wife. wrote letter to
Mrs. Burdick who was at Atlantic
City, l think. Last summer had sew
eral interviews with him and then be-
gan an action, the summons being
served on Dec. 3, 1902. Mrs. Burdick
was then in her house at 101 Ashland
avenue. | prepared and served the
complaint on Attorney Bartholomew
on Dec. IS. Absolute divorce and Gus.
tody of the children was asked for.
FNiSWSIS EH DINOTSC Quit
"On Jan. 8 Mrs. Burdick served an
answer and on Jan. Mr.. Pennell
served an answer. The answers con-
tanned general denials of the charges.
On Jan. 23 an amended answer was
served on behalf of Mrs. Burdick On
Feb. II | had an amended complaint
served.
mo answer to the amended COM
plant was served. | had an informal
talk with Mr.. Thayer, of Thayer, Jack
son & White, who had been substitute
ed as attorneys for Mrs Burdick."
did you have any conference with
regard to the procedure?"
Eyes, we agreed that as soon as the
case was at issue we would apply pri-
vately for a referee talked often
with Burdick"
"On the Thursday evening of the
murder did he call?"
yes; he came in at $50 and stayed
until G. No; he did not state he had
any appointment with anyone that
night
about the time the action was CON-
menced Mr.. Burdck said Mr.. Pennell
wanted to see him"
"Mr. Burdick was somewhat nervous
and carried a revolver, but | never
heard him say that he feared harm
from Pennell. He simply said he
felt better to carry a revolver |
don't know whether he carried the re-
volver in the city as well as out"
Zone or two conferences were held
between Burdick and Pennell in my
office" said Miller. "Pennel made
one or two statements from which an
intimation of suicide could be- drawn"
Nothing Found In Furnace.
Henry ]. Orrett, the man who at
tended Pennell's furnace, testified that
he was there on Friday morning, Feb.
27, and met Pennell in the cellar, and
that the latter shook the furnace and
put on coal. Saw nothing unusual in
the ashes
Lizzie Romance, servant at the Pen
nell house, was again called and went
over the events there on the days pre-
ceding and after the murder OF Bur-
dick and also was questioned about
the conduct of Mr.. and Mrs. Pennell
on the day of their tragic death at the
quarry Nothing new was elected.
Mrs. Burdick, the widow a little,
thin sharp-featuIed woman, was then
called to the stand. She appeared
pale and wasted. She said she would
be AZ years old the 30th day of this
April She was married to Mr.. Bur
dick in 1886 They had three children.
Alice Hull Burdick testified that in
1898. while attending the Yale COM
mencement exercises Pennell drew her
into a doorway, in the dark, and
kissed her. She identified a letter
sent to her by Pennell from Shelter
Island, September II, 1900, but said
she could not recall having received
! it. Pennel1 said it was sweet sur
prise" to find her gloves in his coat
pocket and kissed them because they
had touched her and held her hands"
The same letter made an appointment
to meet her in Buffalo the next day
at 81. 2, g." She admitted meeting
Pennell by appointment at two or
three houses in Buffalo
She knew Pennell at the time was
carrying about locket with her photo
graph in it. MY darling, my love,
my life" were some Of the express
sions used by Pennell in his letters
to Mrs. Burdick Mrs. Burdick said
that her husband first became aware
| of her intimacy with Pennell January