New-York tribune., 1903-04-11
THE PENNELL VERDICT.
ALL STILL II MYSTERY.
Dead Nan Tried to Justify 4ctions
an Statement.

of Arthur R Pennell and Mrs PenneIl was
brought to a close at 5:15 o'clock this afternoon.
Justice Murphy announced his findings imnedi-
ately after the last witness had been excused
He said
1 find and certify that Arthur R. Pennel came
10 mis- death March 10, 1913, as
result of injuries received while riding in an
automobile. the said automobile plunging from
embankment into the Genres stone quarry
That 1 cannot determine from the evidence sub
mitted whether such plunge was accldentai OF
designed.
That Carrie Lamb Pennell came to her death
as result of the said plunge of the automooile
into the quarry.
Nothing brought out during the inquest
that would tend to clear up the Burdick mys-
terry.
The absence of j. Frederick Pennell from the
city precluded the possibility of placing in evil
dence any papers left by the dead man, as
Thomas Penney. attorney for the Pennell family.
stood upon his professional privilege, and de-
clined to questions relating to them put
by the District Attorney.
The most interesting testimony given was
that of Wallace G.. Omphelius. who was Pen
nelIs clerk. Mr.. Pennell he said, got out
statement for publication. but took the manu-
script to make corrections. and witness
did not see 1t again. He said that j. FREDERICK
Pennell found the revised copy of the state
ment He did not know what had become of it.
ment as transcribed from his stenographic
notes Mr. Coatsworth read it. 1t was prepared
on the Saturday following the murder, and was
addressed to the public. 1t follows
To the Public: Now that the food Of sensa ton
rif rSIic au eNcitement has died down to calmer
sideration Of the facts and events Leading up &c 20 IA
this city wish in behalf Of my5e fa BUT TSpe
even greater than mine, to make this state
nately at this time connected with the pending di-
ety in With the tragedy Itself So far
as any possible connection with that crime was
ney and his associates thoroughly that had moth
ing to do with it. and @ since 56at ee me neither 0 s mas
veillance. After being out for short time in the
at home, as shown by the evidence Of M my
was soon acquitted both by the public and the au-
thorties of any connection with the crime.
some statement relative to my connection with the
yorss @ Tfs oss II this o5 tba aad W m it
must be remembered that those who are living have
greater than the rights Of the dead There was no
truth in the charges brought by the plaintiff n
that proceeding against the defendant and myself
The charges We're absolutely denied under oath
time the case would have been quietly tried before
The relations existing between the plaintiff and
the defendant had been strained for some time
leave her home Ny wife and myself had taken her
side. in the controversy that arose between them
lection. During this, time the man himself was in
TO marry For that purpose it was necessary to
be free from his wife He discovered a. the fact fact
/ access 10 the safe deposit vault where she kept
over her blank signature. and purloning the keys
from her Being thus aPPrlsed 3I the & eVidshee t1
by bringing an action himself in order that ne
party and out of vindctiveness and desire TO in
jure much possible he made me a de-
erIy denied and the issues would have been square,
some unknown woman, whom he had invited TO MS
house at midnight ,, ,. z
tor everybody involved as the entire matter neces-
raG nfce M bI pIn wod not have been so great
but truth and yellow Journalism are at opposite
published she & Which n had b6s no Boszbs
Of these misrepresentation must be taken up
~' FirstIIn reference to the office which was al
legged TO have maintained in Ellcott Square. That
office was leased and furnished by ne me under
be given, 10 enable him to do collection ousi,
an offer Of saIaried position in another city
which he desired 10 accept l arranged therefore
the office nor was it used meeting place
sec6nd~In reference to the alleged statements of
a New-York detective agency. whose main bust
crets to the public l desire to say that. without
bv any person any statements on the part OF such
agency tending to reflect in any upon either
myself or any other person involved are unquali-
fedy false and have no basis in fact They
made I'D OF unfOunded statements of this
class of spies. which have become of such doubtful
value that in the courts it is now almost held
Thrd-During the pending of the divorce action
it became necessary for me to consult with the
d,{6 For {9at a psee ere in NewYork or Atlantis
CITY but in such cases he absolutely proven
these meetings were in such places and crcum, 1Go
than the purpose of transacting the affairs rela-
Fina1lT il NAV be said that the crime is as great
Il mystery to the writer as to any one. That the
tndn peoPie more especially women who
tirely undeserved 1t and great wrong has been d2ne
and must suffer most for that must thank the
fta n violate every principle OF truth honor chiv
airy justice and sanctity in those efforts to make
a9n @ one Of the sckenng things of modern
civilization
DIR E. G. Dancer the medical examiner was
the first witness called. He described his visit
to the quarry, where he viewed the body OF
Pennell.
A number of witnesses gave testimony rela-
tive to the actions Of Pennell before the auto
mobile plunged into the quarry. Their state
rnents contained nothing which tended either
to confirm or disprove the theory of suicide
There were several sharp remarks exchanged
ha+,veen Mr. Penney and Justice Murphy.
Thomas Penney. PennelIs counsel, was then
called He thought he first went TO Penneils
house on the morning of March II. with Fred
erick Pennen From the house they went 10
PenneIl's office
Odd you examine any papers In Pennelrs
oir0e ~ MD Fred Pennell? Al don't think
did the clerk Mr. Ompheius? Al do not
know that ne did Some boxes were taken out OF
| a safe and put back
Mr. Penney then stated that he was willing
to give all the information he had that had any
bearing on the Burdick case. but he would de-
mand his privilege as attorney for the estate.
m refuse to be questioned relative to the Pen