New-York tribune., 1903-02-28
SLAIN IN HIS HOME.
Il BUFFALO MYSTERY
Ed7cin L. Burdick; Struck Dozen
by' Unknoacn Viator.

Buffalo. Feb. 27.-Edwin L. Burdick, presi-
dent of E. L. Burdick & Co. and of the Buffalo
Envelope Company, murdered early to-
day at his home, in Ashland-ave., one of the
best residence streets Of the city. The theory
at first advanced that the crime the work
of a burglar abandoned the police
probed deeper into the case and tonight,
while they say they have several important
cleWs, arrest has been made.
Burdick was last seen alive last night al
1870 o'clock, when he bade the other members
of the household good night and started for
his room, apparently with the intention of re-
tirng for the night. This morning his body,
clad only in undershirt, was found lying on
a couch in a small room off the lower hall.
used by Burdick a smoking room. The
body was covered with rug and number
of sofa pillows The couch was saturated, and
the floor and walls Of the little den were be-
spattered with blood. Burdick's skull had been
crushed with some blunt instrument
A thorough examination of the house and
its occupants was made by detectives Moth
ing of value was missing. The outside door
was locked and the spring catch was in its
place when the servants arose this morning.
A kitchen window was partly raised but there
were no marks on the snow outside or upon the
window sill to indicate that any one had entered
there. All the other windows and doors of
the house were securely fastened. That shat
tered the burglar theory.
Some interesting discoveries were made in
other parts of the house. To begin with, no
weapon could be found anywhere. The BODY
was clad only in undershirt, and the
trousers and other articles of clothing which
Burdick had worn in his bedroom. on the
floor above. The bed had not been occupied
On the table in the smoking room the detectives
found bottle partly filed with whiskey and
the remains of a light luncheon Members OF
the family declare that BurdiCk never partook
of the food of which the luncheon was COM
posed and never drank liquor while eating
For who, then was the luncheon? the de-
tectives ask Chief Cusack of the detective
force gave out the following statement:
From what Investigations l have made, l
would conclude that Mr.. Burdick was called
downstairs by ring or a knock al the doII
after he was ready for bed. for he was clad ohly
in his underclothing. He evidently admitted
some one he knew WELL and took the visitor
into the den for talk and to partake Oh the
luncheon.
There are some signs of struggle. The fact
that two of the fingers of Burdicks left hand
were broken indicate that he put up his hand TO
ward off a blow which he saw coming. MI
Burdick was very fond of feminine company
The force with which the blows that killed Bur
dick were delivered. how ever. seems to pre-
clude the possibility that a woman delivered
them.
Mrs Burdick. the murdered mans wife. left
home two months ago. with the intention. it is
said of not returning On December 3 proceed
ings for divorce were flied in the County Clerks
office by MI BurdiCk 1t is understood that
Mrs Burdick went to Atlantic City. What
had with the crime the police do not presume to
say.