The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-03-27
Who VIII Not Return a Verdict Pos
sibly Until Close OF the Pen
nell Inquest.
NEW WITNESSES EXAMINED
PREACHER AND TWO DETECTIVES
ON THE STAND THURSDAY.
Mrs. Hull Also Examined Again and
Part of Her Testimony Contra
dicted-The Chemists Report.

into the death of Edwin l.. Burdick, who
was murdered just a month ago to-day In
his home in Ashland avenue. ended this
evening. At the close of the inquest Judge
Murphy announced that an official inquiry
into the death of Arthur r. Pennell, who
has figured prominently in the Burdick in
quest, would be begun on Monday.
The Burdick inquest has served to develop
several theories relative 20 the crime, but
the investigation has not added anything
more than an appearance OF reasonaDility
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 satisfaction
that the name Of Mr.. Burdick has been
lifted from the mire in which 1t was nrst
dragged and that his character has been
shown In it's true light. The evidence
brought out under the examination OF wit
nesses by District Attorney Coatsworth
has shown Burdick 10 have been loving
father, always willing to sacri1ce MS own
happiness and pride for the sake OF ms
children, that he was the victim or raise
friendship, broken pledges, and, in face OF
ii all. a forgiving. indulgent husband
The efforts OF the authorities to nix the
crime upon some one will not end with the
inquest. At the same time there Is now III
tie hope of success in this undertaking.
Judge Murphy said after court adjourned
this afternoon that his Judgment IN the
case would not be handed down until Mon
day or perhaps later In the week. 1t is
possible that he may issue warrants Tor
the arrest of John Doe" and Jane Roe"
II Judge Murphy sees fit to take such action
the district attorney Will be obliged 10 SUD-
NIT the whole case TO the grand jury.
THREE NEW WITNESSES.
Three new witnesses appeared on the
stand to-day. They were Rev. L. NJ. Pow
ers, pastor OF the Church of the Messiah,
where the Burdick family and Mrs. Hull
were regular attendants. and Detectives
Cornish and Coughlin, who were the first
policemen to arrive at the Burdick home
when the crime was discovered Mrs. Hull,
Carol Burdick and Maggie Murray, the
Burdick cook. were recalled to straighten
out IL possible conflicting testimony given
by them while ON the witness stand.
The report of City Chemist Hill was read
by the district attorney. 1t stated that
no poison was found in the cocktail bottle
in the stomach of the dead man, thus
disposing of the theory that Burdlck was
poisoned and also that there were no blood
stains on the golf stick taken from the
Burdick home after the murder, which
eliminates the golf stick as the possible
weapon with which Burdick was killed.
The Rev. NJ. l.. Powers was the first wit
ness He said that Mrs. Hull and the Bur-
dicks were members of his church congre-
CATION. On two separate occasions he had
talks with Burdick concerning the latter's
domestic affairs. The first one was at Bur
dicks Office about three weeks prior to the
murder. He called voluntarily to talk with
Burdick about the matter, which. the wit
ness said. had become common talk at
that time" Mrs. Hull also has discussed 1t
with him once during a call the minister
made at the house. Asked to repeat the
conversation with Mrs. Hull, Mr.. Powers
said: ''She told me her daughter had LETT
ing She said her daughter was not with
out fault, but that she was not alone to
blame either; that II knew . the ne w sno1e
was all her daughters" Mrs. Hull, he said,
did not ask him to speak to Burdck about
occasion that he visited Burdick he walked
Up home with him so that he was with him
about an hour. Burdick told him about
everything that has come out in this ex-
What did he tell you that has not come
outr'
THREATENED SUICIDE.
'.He told me that Pennell had threatened
to commit suicide IL the divorce suit was
not withdrawn. and that Pennell had sue
ceeded in impressing the sincerity of his
threat upon Mrs. Burdick to such an ex-
tent that she had believed him and induced
Burdick to go to Pennell and tell him that
IL he would go out of town he would call
everything square. think he said Pennell
had given a written promise to leave town.
He told me that he Tad made up his
mind to make public all the letters that
Pennell had written TO Mrs. Burdick, and
he impressed upon me how ridiculous Ii
would make Pelnell appear"
The witness said he asked Burdick to
withdraw the divorce suit and to take his
wife back. but he concluded from the man 5
reply that he would not DO SO under any
had very kindly feeling for Mrs. Hull.
He thought a good deal of her. He told me
send her not to Foada os
tinued the witness. "and that she should
always have a home with him. One reason
dick back was that Mrs. Hull always had
had the chief care of the children and they
would continue to be under her care
Mr.. Powers said his second call upon Mr..
Burdick was mainly regarding a business
aDo you know whether Pennell ever
made any threat against Burdick?" asked
Mr.. Coatsworth.
mo. All / know is that have an i'm
preston that Pennell said to some one that
IL the divorce suit was not withdrawn
something would happen. / would not care
to swear that anybody ever told me that.
1t Is simply an impression which l have. .
Mr.. Powers was then excused.
CAROL BURDICK RECALLED.
Carol Burdick. the thirteen-ye ar-old
daughter of the murdered man. was re-
called. Replying to the district attorney
questions she said she arose about 7:30 on
the morning following the murder. The first
person she saw was her grandmother GO
ing down stairs The latter had her skirt
on. The young witness said first that she
reached the hall through the door of her
own room. Then she admitted il was
through the door OF her fathers room
She went out that way because the door
OF her fathers room was open and IL was
easier to get out that way. Continuing. the
the nall she heard her grandma and Mag
gle Murray talking. At first she could MOI
remember what they were talking about
but being questioned she said she heard
them say: "Why, he has not been I'm his
he'd all night" and 'his den door is closed .
Alice said why. heard papa go down
stairs a little while ago" The witness said
n was Alice and not she tCaroD who said
this. Asked 40 whether anybody had
talked 10 her since her fathers death as
to how he was killed. the witness said,
she did not hear that there was anything
the matter with her father until after DR.
Marcy came. Grandma told her he was IN
She could not recall who slept with grand
ma the right before the murder.
Attorney Hartzell objected 10 the district
attorney pressing the witness. when the
court said: I'VE don't care for any sug.
gestions from you. You are here only
thrlugh courtesy. When we thinis the dis
triet attorney Is going too far, shall STOP
him. don't see. anyway. why you should