The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1903-03-26
Mrs. BTRDICk On STAND
Wife Of Murdered Man Called Upon
to Tell Her Story.
LOVE LETTERS FROM PEMNsLL

WIN TSnneI-Sub-
jected to Rigid Examination
Buffalo. y. Y. March "a. - Mrs
Alice Hull Burdick, widow of Ed
win l.. Burdick. underwent a merci-
less examination by District Attorney
Coatsworth yesterday afternoon at The
resumption OF the inquest into the
death of her husband. who was muir.
dered on February %. Mrs Burdick
was on the stand when court adiourn-
ed. With package OF letters in bis
hands. some of which were written fo
Mrs. Burdick by Arthur r. Penneu
correspondent in the divorce proceed
ings instituted by Mr.. Burdick and
olher communications between Mr.
burdick and his wife Mr. Coatsworth
forced Mrs. Burdick TO tell the story
OF hcr relations with Pencil from the
time he first made love to her in New
Haven in 1898 until 1901. when those
relations were renewed. after Buraicl
had forgiven his wife and had taken
her back To his home for the sake of
thelr children. Mrs. Burdick was
ceathly pale while on the Witness
stand. She answered questions in a
low. faitering tone, evading a direct
answer whenever possible. and reluct.
antly admitting facts when the dis.
urict attorney pirilessly read extracts
OF the love letters written TO her nv
arthur r. Pencil.
witness did not recall a letter from
Fenneil written in New Haven in ION
IN which he said: Yesterday | was al
the gateway on the campus grounds
where more than two years ago drew
you in the darkness. This place is
ensnrined to me-
The district attorney produced the
Ietter and handed it to the witness.
who trembled violently.
DO you recognize it as Pennelrs
handwriting"
es. whispered Mrs Burdick.
And you recall the incident nowq~
Yes. sir"
Mrs Burdick. in recalling the incl
dent. confessed that Pencil went into
a doorway, drew her in. took her in
his arms and kissed her She thought
she demonstrated.
Mr.. Coatsworth showed the witnass
another letter written from New York
by Pencil ana addressed to Mrs
burdick She said il was his hand.
"ri.ing' but she did not remember
having received it,
i will read it and see if IT will re.
fresh your recollection: AS looked
into your beautiful eyes last night
feared there was some trouble hidden
there. / did not know but I feared
II was because of some other reason
than because was going away. If
there was, dearest. | wish You would
tell me. There is that in the manner
of your husband toward Won that
makes me fear some times that
might kin him DO you remember
receiving that letter."
mo. sir"
Mrs. Burdick said she did not know
whether her husband was aware of
,he TACT that she was receiving letters
from Pennell Her habit had been to
keep her letters locked in a box. Her
husband first knew of her intimacy
with Pennell, she thought, on January
l. 1901. when she told him in renlv
TO a question. that she had been walk
ing with Pencil. = He told her she
was very imprudent She agreed with
him then, and did now.
Did you take some letters from
that box and give them to Burdick?"
II unlocked it"
How did you happen to unlock ito"
He took me by the throat"
Her husband had not started the
divorce proceedings. 1t was she that
wanted a divorce from him. She had
no love for him, but did love Pennell
whom she expected to marry. He had
a wife, but he expected they would
be divorced. In reply to a question
as to whether Mrs. Pennell had con-
sented to divorce. she said:
Sometimes she did. and sometimes
she didn't"
Mr. Coatsworth showed her a letter
written by her from Atlantic CITY. Nav
q, 1901, in which she begged TO be
taken back. promising never to see
Arthur, and that she would be
loving and true wife. In the letter
she said she could not promise that
Pencil would leave town, but de-
olared he would do what she said
Mrs. Burdick admitted she wrote the
letter in good faith. and that she did
not keep her promise. Another letter
was read in reply to one from Burdick.
In which he had evidently declined to
take her back.
Several other letters written bv
Burdick and Mrs. Burdick were then
read. They related to Mrs. Burdick's
appeal to be taken back, which was
finally accomplished. She admitted
meeting Pennell in another house after
being taken back.
II was after the incidents related
bv Mrs. Bnrdick yesterday that Mr.
burdick sent ner away from nome the
second time. Her second exile from
home began last Thanksgiving and
lasted until after the murder of her
husband.
Drowned IN Sight OF Scores OF PeopIe.
Wheeling. w. Va. March "A. 49,
Charles Arnptt son Of Colonol axoo.t