The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-03-20
Mrs. Burdick Will EXonerate
Pennell on Witness Stand.
Said To Have Been Chok-
ed and Cruelty Treated
BY Her Husband.

BUFFALO, March 20.--Notwithstand-
ing the making public of portions of a
letter alleged TO have been written by
Arthur r. PenneIl TO Mrs. Burdick. in
which he is reported to have said: L
feel that I must kill him. (meaning
Edwin L. Burdick). it Is understood that
when the widow goes on the witness
stand at the inquest. Monday next, she
will exonerate PenneII from all blame in
the murder of her husband. II is said
that District Attorney Coatsworth will
ask her the direct question, as to wheth-
er she believes Pennell had anything TO
do with the killing OF her husband on the
morning of February %.
According TO statements already made
by Mrs Burdick. she is convinced Of
the innocence OF PenneIl. She declares
that he has been maligned by the au-
tborities and the public.
Engages Private Detectives.
1t is said today that Mrs. Burdiok has
become so incensed at the action OF the
authorities that she, with other mem
hers Of the family. have engaged detec-
lives OF a local agency to clear up the
mystery.
II has been learned from a friend OF
Pennell that some time after December
1900. the time when the alleged threat
ening letter was written. Burdick seized
his wife in their house one night and
choked her until she signed a paper. OF
the contents OF which she was not aware
Il was an order OF the safe deposit com
pany where Mrs. Burdick had private
drawer or box. and il gave Burdick ac-
cess 10 the drawer and its contents
Armed with this paper. Burdiek secured
property Of his wife. which included
letters from PenneIl 20 Mrs. Bcrdick
and reports Of detectives on Burdiek 5
movements.
Penneli's Influence Over Mrs. Burdick.
Although this incident occurred AFTER
PennelI had written alleged threats
against Burdick. II Is understood that
the choking episode was not the first
which made PennelI believe that Mrs
Burdick was being treated harshIy by
her husband. Pennell had a great infiu-
ence over Mrs BSSrdicK so great that he
is credited with having caused her to
write the letters in which she asked her
husband 70 take her back the first time
she was in exile Mrs Burdick was a
subject OF much concern to PenneH. and
the thought that Burdick had treated
her harshly or had kept her from her
children is thought 10 have cost PEN
nell his peace OF mind
Burglar Theory Revived.
Pen1eIls friends and Mrs. Burdick.
II is stated. have Joined hands
in an endeavor 70 prove that
burglar killed BurdIck. They argue
that the murderer entered by
the kitchen window. which was found
open the morning after the murder. al
though the maid had left It fastened the
night before; that on entering Burdiek's
room he found his waIstcost and ap-
propriated the gold watch: that he came
upon Burdick in his "deE" and struck
him down with Jimmy or some other
tool that burglars carry Then
he forgot about plunder and was glad
TO escape with nothing but the watch
and chain found in the upper room.
The police ridicule the burglar theory
and say it fails to account for many OF
the known facts developed In the case.
They say that a burglar would never
have missed the $40 in cash in a pocket
OF the wsistcost from which the watch
and chain were taken. They are more
than ever convinced that the murder
was committed by some person familiar
with the house and that the watch and
chain were taken as a blind to Eug-
gest the burglar theory.