The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-03-21
MRS. BURDICK WILL
NOT DEFEND PENNELL
Breaks Long Silence With
Significant Denial.

BUFFALO. March Flor the first
time since she returned 10 her home on
Ashland Avenue. where her husband was
murdered. Mrs Burdick. the widow.
broke silence today to deny that when
she was called to the stand al the in
quest Monday. she would say that in her
belief Arthur R. Pennen was not the
murderer
Mrs. Burdick has maintained a strict
seciusiOn- The statement that she would
seek to clear the name Of Pcnnell was
attributed TO her attorney. Frederick B.
Hartzel. Il had hardly been made pub
lie before HartzeII denied IL, and Mrs.
Burdick spoke only long enough TO say
that IL was untrue.
On the other hand. there are strong
indications that members OF the Burdfck
family will endeavor to fasten the crime
upon PenneIl. and impress upon the pub
lie ths theory that the latter committed
suicide in order 10 hush the matter m.
one sign Of this is found in a statement
issued yesterday by Attorney HartzeU.
The death OF the Pennells." said
he. has a very important bearing on
the case. Ii cannot be dismissed in
considering the murder. do not UNDER
take to say whether the bearing xas
that OF cause and effect. merely as
sert that anyone considering the death
Of Sir- Burdick must keep in mind tia
fate OF the Pencils Everyone must
form his own conclusions.
Some viii conclude that the cause
OF the death OF the Pencils lay in the
Burdick murder; others will contend
that the murder and the quarry acct
dents are condolences. All L say In
that the two are 10 be considered to-
gether. The conduct of Mr.. PennelI be-
fore the murder has an important hear
ing on the case, too. The Newspapers
have told what that conduct was
The authorities regard this as an en-
deavor 10 thrust responsibility upon Pen
nell as an attempt TO divert suspicion
from other quarters. and 70 hush the
case Up. While the high officials do
not deny that Pencil may have been
connected with the crime in come way.
they are disinclined TO accept the theory
that his death was anything but an ac-
cident
Speaking Of the many reports Of new
suspects and new theories, Superintend-
ent OF Police Bull yesterday said: We
are not looking for some person or per
sons who have not yet been mentioned
in the case We have not changed our
theory ia the slightest degree
The case is precisely where II was
week ago No Roadway has been made in
the getting of evidence; no progress has
been achieved in The following up OF
clues. As 10 whether the case will al
ways be a mystery I will say that I
hardly think il Will
Or. Danser. the medical examiner,
said last evening that a cocktail bottle
never could have made the wounds which
killed Burdick. II was possible, he said.
tor a Ratchet or a golf putter 10 have
caused the wounds. which in his opin-
Ion, were made by an instrument with a
sharp edge
More is becoming known OF the last
meetings of Burdick and Pennell. when
the man named as correspondent in the
divorce suit sought TO have IL discon-
tinued. The last meeting was IN De-
cember after Mrs BurdIck had been sent
away. Burdick sought another inter-
view but it was refused
Having refused a last interview with
Pencil II is thought doubtful that Bur-
dick would have admitted him to his
home after 1890 O'Clock at night
A report reached District Attorney
Coatsworth yesterday 70 the effect that
not long before the murder a friend
OF Pennelis called upon Burdick and
told him that unless the divorce suit
against Mrs Burdick were dropped
bloodshcd might result No names we're
mentioned