The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1903-03-25
Letters Read
By Attorney
While Defending Herself Witness
Decries Character Of Her
Dead Husband.

Buffalo, " ". March 24.-"Haye You
received any Information as 10 who
Killed your husbaniT
ma, STR"
You swear you have no knowledge
or Information az 10 who Killed him."
II do"
These questions we're addressed to
Mrs. Alice Hull Burdick this afternoon
by District Attorney Coatsworth at the
inquest into the death OF her husband
Answers were returned by Mrs. Bur-
dick In calm, clear voice. The aues-
,ions came abruptly, while the dis
trict attorney was driving from Mrs,
Burdick information about her rela-
tIons with Arthur Pennell.
she had denied that Pennell took her
key 10 the front door Of the Bnrdlck
home while they were In New York to-
Gether. and had q duplicate made OF
It, The district attorney put the ques-
tion recording the key to Mrs. Burdick
In number OF different forms. but the
answers were always emphatic denais
that she or Pennell had ever ordered u
duplicate, or that the key had left her
possession during her last exit from
home.
Mrs. Burdick was calmer and more
collected today than yesterday while
testifying.
70 complete the examination OF every
one known 20 have been In the Burdick
home, on the night OF February 26,
when r. l.. Burdick was murdered the
district attorney today called 10 the
stand the two youngest Burdick chill
dren, Carol and Alice, aged respective
ly Is and 10 years. The district attor-
ney questioned the children closely
on the events that occurred on the
night before and the morning after
the murder Of their father The chill
dren displayed no more sign of emo
tion than did their granmother, mother
or older sister, while talking about the
death OF their father.
Their recollection of happenings at
the time Of the tragedy was rather
hasy, Il don't remember" was usual
" the answer they gave when the dis
trict attorney pressed them close upon
any point.
Mrs Burdick's testimony covered the
week in which Burdick was murdered,
and the name Of A. r. Penneh was con
stnntly upon her lips. She trusted
him implicitly In everything. The dis
Irlct attorney read a number OF letters
written to Mrs. Burdick by Pennell,
IN which he said life was not worth liv-
ng without her and that death would
rot be unwelcome.
She knew nothing of the document
ound in her safety deposit vault bind
9ennell to pay her $4,000 In the event
Il being unable to marry her. Although
t was among Mrs. Burdick's private
,apers in the vault, she claimed to
iave been ignorant Of its existence.
Mrs, Burdick declared that the last
me she saw Pennell was on Tuesday |
,eforc the murder. He left her that
light In Atlantic City, arriving In
3uifalo Wednesday, She was inform
d of Mr.. Burdick's death by messoge |
rom Mr.. Hull on the following Friday.
nd Fastening to her home she reached
ere Saturday morning,
A brief note of sympathy from PEN
ell came to her house that day. She
lever heard from him or say him, she
aid, between that time and the day
10 was killed, by his automobile plung-
ig into the stone quarry.
Before leaving the stand Mrs. Bur-
lex took occasion to say in reply to
uestions from her attorney that moth
lg improper or immoral had occurred
etween her and penneli. At the same
me she said her husband was fond
( the society Of other women, and for
ome reason not quite clear she said
nat Mrs, Pennell was quite familiar
18th the dining room and den" In the
urdick home.