Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1903-04-16
THE PENCIL CASE.
Whether Deaths Were Due to Acct
dentor Design Not Shown.
THE BURDICK MYSTERY NOT SOLVED.
Tho Statement Prepared by Arthur PEN
nell Before His Death - Declared He
Did Not Murder Bur,ilck- Yellow
Journalism Arraigned.

DuIaio, ~. L., April ll.-Ihe evil
dence given yesterday before Justice
Murphy at the inquest into the
deaths of Arthur R. Pennell and Mrs.
Pennell will not help the authorities
in any way to solution Of the Bur-
dick murder mystery. Whether the
tragedy at Genres stone quarry on
March 10, in which Pennell was killed
and Mrs. Pencil was fatally injured,
was due to accident or design was
not proven.
Thomas Penny, who has acted as
attorney for the Pennell family since
Arthur Pencils death, declared that
SO far as he was aware nothing in
the papers left by Mr.. Pennell would
throw any light upon the murder of
Edwin Burdick. When questioned re-
garding the alleged defalcations by
Pennell, Mr.. Penny declined to an
swer.
Evidence that will show defalca-
ton would simply be cumulative"
said Justice Murphy, after the evil
dence was all in. mo stronger mo-
tive could be proven than has already
been brought out here. But proving
motive does not establish suicide.
The court is prepared to announce
its findings"
Judge Murphy then delivered his
verdict as follows:
II find and certify: That Arthur
R. Pencil came to his death on the
10th day of March, 1908, as a result
Of injuries received while riding in
an automobile, the said automobile
plunging from an embankment into
the Genre stone quarry. That can
not determine from the evidence sub
mitted whether such plunge was &C
cidental or designed. That Carrie
Lamb Pennell came to her death as
a result of the said plunge Of the au-
tomobile into the quarry"
w. C. Omphelius, Pencils stenog-
rapher, produced typewriter copy
of the first draft of a statement pre-
pared for publication by Pennell be-
fore his death. The statement IL as
follows: as.
ITO the public: Now that the food
of sensationalism and yellow jour
nalism has lessened and that public
excitement has died down to calm
er consideration Of the facts and
events leading up to terrible trag-
edy which has recently taken place
in this city, I wish, in behalf OF my
self, but especially more in behalf
of others whose sufferings are even
greater than mine, to make this
statement.
lowing to the fact that my name
was so unfortunately at this time
connected with the pending divorce
proceedings, 1t was forced into great
publicity in connection with the
tragedy itself. So far as any posi-
BILE connection with that crime. was
concerned, 1 satisfied, think, the
district attorney and his assistants
thoroughly that l had nothing to do
with 1t, and since that time neither
has my house nor myself been under
suspicion or surveillance.
at now becomes incumbent upon
me to make some statement relative
TO nv connection with the divorce
proceedings. There was no truth in
the charges brought by the plaintiff
in that proceeding against the de-
PENDANT and myself. The charges
were absolutely denied under oath
and counter charges had been made
and in a short time the case would
have been quietly tried before
referee and settled.
"The relations existing between
the plaintiff and the defendant had
been strained for some time. Twice
he had unjustly attempted to make
her leave her home. My wife and
myself had taken her side in the
controversy that arose between them
and she had consulted me for legal
advice and protection. During TINS
time the man himself was in intimate
relations with woman whom he
desired to marry. For that purpose
Il was necessary to be free from his
wife. He discovered the fact that his
wife knew Of these relations by
gaining access to the safe deposit
vault where she kept her papers,
through forging a written order over
her blank signature and purloining
the keys from her.
"Being thus apprised Of the evi-
dence against him, he determined 70
anticipate her action by bringing an
action himself, in order that he might
have the appearance Of being the IN
iured party, and out Of the vindic-'
tiyeness and desire TO injure me as
much as possible he made me q de-
PENDANT in the action. His allega-
lions were properly denied and the
issues would have been squarely met
when his death occurred at the hands
Of some unknown woman whom ne
had invited TO his house at midnight.
Nothing more unfortunate could
have occurred for everybody IN
volved. As the entire matter necesI