The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-03-17


in the murder of Edwin L. Burdick was
begun in the police court here today
before Judge Murphy The court room
is small and only 4 limited number of
persons were admitted. Among the
first witnesses to appear were Mrs.
Seth T. Paine, Miss Barrett, the stem
Ographer who boards with Mrs. Paine,
and a. Carlson, another boarder at the
Paine residence. Mrs. Paine was ac-
cOmpanied by Counsel. Only one wit
ness at a time was admitted into the
court room.
The inquest began with the calling of
DR.. HOwIand. assistant medical exam
iner, as the first witness. DR.. HOwland
said he had been summoned to the Bur
dick home by phone on the morning of
February 9th, 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 Il am not sure" continued
DR.. Howland, but | think he told me
that he was not certain whether it was
murder or suicide. He asked me to
make it out as a case of suicide, if pos
sible. as there had been a good deal Of
gossip in the neighborhood respecting
the relations existing between Mr.. and
Mrs. Burdick." The witness said he
then examined the body and told DR..
Marcy that it was impossible to enter
tain the suicide theory for minute.
DR.. HOWland repeated the conversation
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 tracks in the snow outside the
window. and the finding Of the open
drawer.
Mr.. COatswOrth brought out the fact
that Burdick's body had been moved
by the murderer after the crime had
been committed.
DR.. HOWIand described the clothing
found in the room, the finding of the
luncheon. a six ounce druggist bottle
containing whiskey and a cocktail
glass. He could not say whether the
glass had been used. Witness saw no
weapon in the room.
What was your conclusion as to
whether Burdick was killed in the
den2" he was asked.
Il think he was
DO YOU think he was killed on the
ccuch?"
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
wounds. he must have been lying in
some other position at the time he was
struck
DR. HowlanI stated he found a tuft
of hair on the couch. He was of opin-
ION that ii was longer than Burdicks
hair. DR.. HOWland stated that from
the condition of the body he was of the
opinion that Burdick was killed about
O'Clock This is regarded as impor-
t1nt. as il would tend to nulIify the
statements made to the district attor.
ney by Officers Meyer and Reid regard
tnG the lone woman"
In reply to another question an affir.
native answer to which would have
shown that a woman had been in the
room. the doctor gave a negative re-
ply. Replying to Il question by one Of
the attorneys representing the Burdick
family. the witness said his opinion
was that the blood found on the floOl
was thrown from the instrument used
In committing the murder
Detective John HOlmlund. who fol-
lowed DR.. HOWland on the stand. de-
scribed the scene in the den. and re
lated the conversation he had with one
OF the maids. He found some letters
and 4 revolver in BurdickS coat. The
trousers. he said. were lying on the
couch and looked as if they had been
placed there carefully and folded over.
Mrs. Hull. the mother of Mrs. Bur-
dick. was the first witness at the ar
letNOON session Mrs. Hull said that
BUrdick came into the dining room or
Thursday evening (the night of the
murderl. He had bottle in his hand.
She did not know what it contained.
nor did she see it again. She thought
II strange that it had disappeared.
Burdick and his daughter Marion were
in her room about 7:30. They talked
about the message from Mrs. Burdick.
She did not see Burdick again that
night, but heard him talking with his
eldest daughter whom he kissed good
night and went down stairs. She did
not leave her room again that night ar-
ter putting the children to bed abou,
$50. She got up the next morning al
her usual hour. 7:30, without being
called. The Murray girl called to her
that the front door was open and the
kitchen window was open and that she
had called to Mr.. Burdick and got nc
answer. Mrs. Hull averred that she
heard no voices after she went to bed
She did not hear the Murray girl come
In or hear the bell ring. When she
went to the den she said she opened