The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1903-04-02
THE BURDICN VERDICT
Judges Findings Will be a Closing
commentary on Famous Case.
PENNeLL INQUEST POSTPONED
Dead Mans Friends Making strenu-
Gus Efforts to Block It Permanently.
No Arrests viii be Made and No
Warrants Issued.
Warrants Issued.

" 81 @'ieS iSoANN
Buffalo, n. Y, March 3i.-Justice
Murphy is TO announce his findings in
the Burdick inquest in the police court
today. No arrests will be made: no
warrants will be issued. The court s
findings viii be interesting as a closing
commentary on the famous case. The
inquest was closed formally bv Judge
Murphy yesterday after hearing the
testimony Of Quinn and King. the
former bartender and cashier of the
Hotel Roland. in New York about
Pencils alleged statement TO them
OF his willingness to kill one man. and
even ii he went to the gallows for it.
NO other witnesses were called.
The Pencil inquest which Judge
Murphy had announced would begin
yesterday morning. was postponed in
definitely. The reason announced
was the absence of witnesses from
the city. District Attorney Coats
worth was in court. and said he was
ready to go ahead and that the post
ponement was not at his request. one
witness was absent from the city. Hs
was Wallace Thayer. Pencils attor-
ney and confidential friend up to the
time of his death. 4 dozen or more
witnesses in the Pencil inquest were
present. ready to give their testimony.
so. If deemed advisable the inquest
could have proceeded and at some
later day Mr.. Thayer could have been
examined
More or less pressure has been
brought 20 bear by friends of the Pen
nells to avert the inquest and post
pone il indefinitely. If not block il per-
maqently. The efforts. OF course. had
no weight with the court. and Judge
Murphy's decision not to hold the in
quest at present was based on all the
circumstances of the case. When the
Pencil inquest will be held. if at all
is not yet settled. When It is held
the probability that neither in Pen
nelis papers nor effects viii anything
be produced to throw light on the ar
fairs of Burdick or to add any valua-
bic information TO the Burdick case
The Pencil heirs have been reluctant
from the outset TO have any OF the
dead mans papers made public When
Justice Murphy was about 10 begin
the Pencil inquest last week at the
close OF the Burdick inquest Attorney
Thomas Penney appeared before
Judge Murphy in private and argued
earnestly against beginning the in
quest az that time. and opposed hold
ing any inquest Mr Penney insisted
upon the postponement and Judge
Murphy yielded, but announced TO Mr..
Penney. and also from the bench, that
the Pencil inquest would begin yes
terday morning After considering
the matter and learning that Attorney
Thayer was out of the city. Judge
Murphy postponed the Pencil inquest
indefinitely
Judge Murphy's course in no way
will affect his hearing at any future
time any evidence on the Burdick
case or Pencil inquest If he should
deem it advisable to hold one. Even
after announcing his findings in the
Burdick case he could reopen the case
at some future date and hear evidence,
If the police should discover addition
al information of value. even if the
interval should be a lengthy one.