The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-03-06
Authorities Keep Close Watch on
Woman Know to BE Close
Acquaintance Of Burdick.
HEAVY DEBT HANGS OVER HER.
Payment Due About the Time O:
the Murder May Have Made Her
Penniless-Man's Attentions
Turned Toward Another.

Buffalo. n. Y. March j.-"Orr case he"
not been weakened in any way; it has noe
been strengthened. That l regard as &
good sign"
These words. uttered BY District ATTORNEY
Coatsworth. when he left his Office this at
terroon. after another day of probing IL
the Burdick murder mystery. briefly sum
marizes the situation tonight.
The woman susIected Of the murderer
Edwin l.. Burdick 10 under the watohfuI
eyes of some If the most watchfui detec-
tives in the city. She cannat escape.
When the authorities are satisfied that
they have suffic ent evidence to convict she
will be placed under arrest. Consequently
they can continue the work Of weaving q
web of evidence about the person whom
they believe to re guilty and at the same
time not ruin the chances of conviction by
a hasty T-ove.
Attorneys office to-day of their own Volt
ton or went there accompanied by detec-
tives: The rule established by Mr.; Coats
worth net to d.vulge the names OF his CALL
erJ has been rigidly adhered to.
ONE VISITOR KNOWN
One OF the callers was known TO several Of
those who saw him enter the attorneys Of
flee This is Fitch D. StoweIl, Mr. Bur
dicks brother-in-law. Burdick's sister, was
Stowelrs wife.
The District Attorney said that Mr.. sto-
Burdick family and members. Ii is under
stood that nothing having an immediate
bearing on the tragsdy was disclosed
spoken OF evidence in his possession that
would sugges. a motive for the crime
other than the fear OF disclosures that
would likely be made in divorce proceed
ings- What the evidtice is the authorities
will not say.
1t is said on good authority. however. that
the evidence relates to a woman who was In
severe straits for money.
This woman is not a member of the Bur-
dick household. but her name has been
mentioned frequently in connection with the
tragedy. Her necessity was such that
when she wished to do some house fur
nishing she bought her goods on the INSTALL
ment plan.
BORROWED MONEY.
She also borrowed money from a money
lender. 1t was quite large sum and she
gave security for 1t. The police. when ques-
tened regarding this mortgage and the
womans embarrassment to find means OF
m aintaining pretentious house. acknowi-
edged that they knew the fact and investi-
gated It,
They knew that she had been intimately
acquainted with Burdick and she was in
severe straits. 1t was also stated that for
short time before the murder cool
ness had sprung UP between the woman and
1t is known that one of the payments on
the mortgage was due about the time Bur
dick was murdered A lawyer who carries
received the money for the payment due.
This is known beyond doubt.
It may be that the payment left her pen
niless. and that she appealed to BurdicE
for more funds. In any event the police
believe the fact Of straitened cireum-
stances is established. and they are giving
into = motive for the murder.
The womals circumstances and the fact
| that II had been rumo-ed that Burdick was
at the time paying more attention to an,
other woman. the police say. would ten3
TO make the woman both desperate anG
insanely jealous.