The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-03-31
SUSPECTS MRS. HULL.
The Court Sums Up Evidence in
the Burdick Case.

Buffalo. n. Y, March 31.-Judge Muir /
ply handed down his findings in the
Burdick inquest today and declared
that the identity of the murderer had !
not been proved. The statement IS an
exhaustive review of the evidence
brought out during tn inquest.
Special attention is given 70 the let
ters exchanged between Arthur r. Pen
nell and Mrs. Burdick, particularly the
one containing a threat against Bur
dicks life Concerning these the judge
says;
Altogether the facts would in my
opinion, constitute just ground OF
suspicion on which q warrant could be
issued. we're he alive"
Referring to Mrs. Hun, Judge Muir
ply says:
''The action of Mrs Hull Oh that
morning (the morning after the muir
der) and her testimony on the stand has
/ caused me much thought and worry.
To my mind they are inconsistent with
q perfect want Of knowledge as to what
/ had actually occurred So little ap-
parent feeling for the dead man, such
/ an evident desire to cover I'D the crime
and no disposition whatever to aid the
authorities i'm experimenting the muir
/ derer may be eXnlainable. but it has
/ not been explained "
Speaking Of PennelIs relations with
Mrs Burdick. Justice Murphy says:
His of all others was the motive
mind already STEPPED in Wrong doing to
SO foul and cruel a murder He can
/ never be placed on trial nor can his
{ case ever be ludicialiV determined Let
US be as fair then to the dead as the
law presumRs us to be to the living. He
must be presumed innocent until proven
/ guilty"
Continuing Judge Murphy says
THE theory that Burdick had wo-
man guest in his den that night has not
i been sustained by the evidence 1t has
not disclosed single immoral act on
.srs Paine and HFiaa T4ut, hlnson are
completely exonerated in Mr.. Murphy s
findings, which in conclusion says.
1t Is our duty to censure Mrs. Eur
dick. But great as her wrong has been.
great is her punishment"
AT the beginning of his report Judge
Murphy certified that the cause of Bur.
/ dicks death was compound c0mmin-
uted multiple fracture of the skull
! That said fracture was the result OF
/ several blows by some person with =
dull-edged weapon delivered principally
ia the back of the head The saiG blows
were delivered With homicidal intent
and the identity of said person has NOT
been proved"
He reviews briefly the events of the
evening preceding the murder as
brought out in the testimony. which he
says does not show that anything un-
usual occurred in the House in the fore
part OF the night. The story of the
finding of Burdick's body next morning
and of the events preceding its discov-
/ cry 9 related by the different mem
beFs q the household. is told and the
discrepancies in the testimony of the
servants and Mrs. Hull are pointed out
Continuing to review the evidence
Judge Murphy mentions the testimony
of Dr. Marcy in which he said he sent
for Dr. Rowland. the deputy medical
examiner The two physicians had a
conversation in which Dr. Marcy said
if the death proved TO be suicidal il
would save his name and family 4
great deal OF scandal DR. HOwand
said:
II don't think it is suicide and Dr.
Marcy agreed with him Where is the
motive for this crime n asked Judge
Murphy, and then he takes up the re-
latiOns of Mrs. Burdick and PenneU
and Says it seems five years ago ON the
occasion Of visit TO New Haven by
the Burdicks and Pencils Mrs Bur
dick gave the love which belonged I'd
her husband TO another. She loved
Pennell and ne apparently became in-
fatuate5 with her Burdick learned the
truth and q separation followed but
becs use Of love for her children. he took
his wife back and forgave the author
Of his wrong upon his promise to leave
Buffalo.
This promise and the promise which
Mrs. Burdick made to her husband"
says Judge Murphy, were shamelessly
broken
Finally Mr. Burdiek told her she
the divorce which action she did not
care 10 defend as she wished to marry
Pennell who had agreed to secure q di-
vorce from his wife 3ennen, however.
induced her to defend the suit. Burdick
had been shadowing FenueM and Mrs.
Burdick and PenneM had detectives
shadoWing Burdjck-
50 far as appears from the evil
j dence," says the judge Pencil had
not succeeded ia compromising Burdick
in any way. Burdick, however. had a
lot of evidence. consisting of letters
written by Mr Pennen to Mrs Burdick
Of such q gushing. lovesick. impurtun-
ing nature that their publication meant
complete humiliation and social ruin to
their author. This Of all others. says
the Justice was the motive strong
enough TO incite desperate mind all
ready STEPPED in wrong doing to do so
foul and cruel . murder Did ne do it
, was he responsible for it2 He had
returned from the dead mans wife tha
day before the murder He was here
, that night He was very much excited
! the next morning and went and pur-
= / chased a revolver The clerks present
= at the saie state he did not appear at
: ali like himself
3 Closing the Joints in Salina-