The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-04-22
A. R. PENNELL A DEFAULTER
He is hIIegej to Have Embezz.cd
Trust Funds.
HAD ALSO PLANNED SUICIDE
Iho BslIsf Strong In Buffalo That To
Deliberately Rode Over tho Precipics
Vhen Hs and HIS Wife Were Killed
eseiE.Iessruetion Said to oher Him
Only Way to Avoid Disgrace.

Only Way to Avoid Disgrace.
Buffalo. n. UT Is said here that
Arthur r. Penneil. one Of the pronin-
ent characters connected with the Bur
dick murder mystery. and whose acci-
dental death only added to the mystery.
was 4 defaulter In more than $500
and that for two years he had lived
| with thought Of suicide. 1t was said
that at the time OF the Pan-Americ1n
Exposition for days he tried to find
death In a way that would make 1t ap-
pear accidental. and that when the op-
pcrtunity offered he had not the cour.
age to make the move.
All this has made tine belief stronger
that Pennell deliberately rode over
the edge Of precipice in an
automobile with his wife on March
10. There are few persons In Bur
faio who think Pencil and his wife
plunged to their death rs the result or
an accidental twist Of the steering
gear. The sympathy that was attached
to his memory has been slowly slipping
away, until now only those who had
been most intimate with him In the
days of his honor and respect stout!y
defend his name.
The startling story came out follow.
Ing q dispute over the disposition of the
large sum In which Pencils life was
insured. It was said the young lawyer
induced friends In the East to give him
money for investment. spent the princi.
pal and paid interest out OF his own
pocket.
Incidentally. It has been confirmed
that Pennell MADE provision for the
payment OF $4,000 Of his life insur-
ance to Mrs. Burd!ck. This was the
possibility discussed SO thoroughly by
the public at the time Of the inquest
before Justice Murphy. and on which
point curiosity was never satisfied.
In his will Pennell named his brother.
]. Frederick Pennell. rs administrator.
To him he left sealed Instructions that
after his death he should make good in
full out Of the estate all the losses
which had been sustained through the
alleged defalcations. In the story pub
lished In a conservative local paner It
Is said Pennell carried more than $780,
900 insurance. so that his Eastern cred
itors might he paid.
It Is said Pennell planned two years
ago to throw himself in front Of train
at Peekskill. He stopped of at Peeks.
kill on the way back to Buffalo from
New York. His nerve failed him when
he stood face to face with death. and
he went his way.
Seif-destruct!on appealed to Pennell
rs the onl::. way to avoid disgrace dur.
ing the Pan.American Exposition. 1t Ia
alleged. and for days and days he
sought favorable opportunity.
1t now appears there We're two life
policies which had not been handed
over to the administrator. One was
for S15. 900. the other for $4,000. These
policies had been assigned by Pennell
to Wallace Thayer. an attorney. In
trust. The insurance companies on
advice of counsel held up payments.
Pennelrs brother went to the nttor-
ney to find out the nature OF the trust.
Mr.. Thayer said he could not talk. as
he had sealed instructions from the
dead man as to how he would dispose
Of the moLey. and that as lawyer he
could not reveal the facts. Mr.. Pen.
nell urged that as administrator he
was entitled to know the full facts he.
fore he could consent to have the
money paid over. but Mr. Thayer re-
fused to see the force Of this argument,
and kept lis silence.
As a result Thomas Penney. counsel
for Pennell's estate. charged the In.
surance companies not to pay the $25..
600 to Mr.. Thayer. 1t now seems prob
able the money will be paid into the
courts unless the insurance companies
take a Glance Of paying 1t either to
Mr.. Thayer or to Mr.. Penney.