The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-03-15
WHO SLEW BURDICK?
INQUEST AT BUFFALO SEEKS TO
DISCOVER THIS.
WITNESSES WERE EXAMINED
THOUGH LITTLE LIGHT WAS
THROWN ON THE TRAGEDY.

Ihey were Found - His Deduc-
tiOns-Mrs. Hull, BurdicI<'s Mother
fn-Law, the Principal Witness.
Buffalo, N. Y, March 14-Four wit
nesses were examined to-day at the
opening of the inquest into the death
of Edwin L. Burdick before Judge
Murphy. They were DIR. Rowland, as
sistant medical examiner, who was one
of the first to visit the Burdick home
on the morning of Feb. 26, after the
discovery of the murder; Detective
Holmlund, one Of the detectives from
headquarters, who visited the house
on the same morning; Mrs. Maria Hull,
Mrs. Burdick's mother, and Maggie
Murray, cook in the Burdick house
hold, the two women who discovered
Burdick lying in his den.
The other women, whose names have
been mentioned during the progress of
the investigation, including Mrs. Bur-
dick, Mrs. Paine, Katie Koenig, a maid
in Burdick's home, and Miss Romance,
Mrs. Arthur r. Pencils maid, were
in the court room, but they were not
called upon to testify.
The Burdick family was we'll repre-
sented by counsel, Hartzell & Hartzell
and John C. Hubbell looking after
their interests. District Attorney
Coatsworth conducted the examina-
ton of witnesses and Detective Cusack
sat beside Judge Murphy, prompting
him to ask several questions during
the day.
The most interesting witness of the
day was Mrs. Hull. She is a little
woman, with a nervous, but resolute
face, blue eyes and grey hair. She
was gowned entirely in black, and
wore long mourning veil, fastening
well back from her forehead. Not
withstanding her sixty-six years, Mrs.
Hull stood up under two hours of Sc
we're examination by District Attorney
Coatsworth with remarkable GOODNESS.
Witnesses Taken One at a Time.
The inquest into the murder of Ed
win l.. Burdick was begun in the Police
Court here to-day before Judge Muir
ply. The courtroom is small and only
limited number of persons were adj
mitted.
Among the first witnesses to appear
were Mrs. Seth t. Paine, Miss Bar
rett, the stenogi apher who boards
with Mrs Paine, and A. Carlson, an
other boarder at the Paine residence
Mrs. Paine was accompanied by eoun-
sci.
Only one witness at time was ad-
mitted to the court room. The inquest
began with the calling of DR.. How
land, assistant medical examiner, as
the first witness.
DIR. Rowland said he had been sum-
moned to the Burdick home by phone
ON the morning of Feb. u, shortly aft
er o'clock. DR.. w. H. Marcy met
him at the door and told him that
something had been going on there,
and that Mr.. Burdick was dead"
81 am not sure" continued DR..
Rowland, but 1 think he told me he
was not certain whether it was muir
der or suicide. He asked me to make
it out as a case of suicide, if possible,
as there had been a good deal of gos-
sip in the neighborhood respecting the
relations existing between Mr.. and Mrs.
Burdick."
The witness said he then examined
the body and told DR.. Marcy that it
was impossible to entertain the suicide
theory for a minute.
Rowland Described the Scene.
DR.. Rowland repeated the CONVERSE
ton he had with Mrs. Hull as to the
finding of the body of Burdick, the
finding of window open, the fact that
there were tracks in the snow outside
the window and the finding of the open
drawer.
Mr.. Coatsworth brought out the fact
that Burdick'S body had been moved
by the murderer after the crime had
been committed.
DIR. Rowland described the clothing
found in the room, the finding of the
luncheon, six-ounce druggist bottle
containing whisky, and a cocktail
glass. He could not say whether the
glass had been used. Witness saw no
weapon in the room.
What was your conclusion as to
whether Burdick was killed in the
den?" he was asked.
II think he was"
do you think he was killed on the
couch?"
81 think he was on the COUCH
''When he was killed was he lying
on the couch in the position In which
you found the body?"
"Judging from the location of the
wounds he must have been lying in
some other position at the time he was
struck"
Rowland Found Tuft of Hair.
"Dr. Rowland stated he found a tuet
of hair on the couch. He was of the
opinion that it was longer than Bur-
dicks hair.
DR.. Rowland stated that from the
condition of the body he was of the
opinion that Burdick was killed about
2 o'clock This is regarded as impor-
tant. as it would tend to nullify the
statements made to the district attor-
ney by officers Meyer and Reid regard
ing the lone woman"
In reply to another question, an af-
firmative answer to which would have
shown that woman had been in the
room, the doctor gave a negative re-
ply.
Replying to a question by one of the
attorneys representing the Burdick
family. the witness said his opinion
was that the blood found on the door
was thrown from the instrument used
In committing the murder.
Detective John M. Holmlund, who
followed DR.. Rowland on the stand,
described the scene in the den. and re-
lated the conversation he had with
one OF the maids. He found some let
ters and a revolver IN Burdick's coat.
The trousers, he said. were lying on
the couch and looked as II they had
been placed there carefully and folded
over.
Mrs. HuII's Testimony.
wF..tF A. .,.~thaw - Ar Yfssw-