The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-03-13
MRS. PENNELL DEAD.
Investigation Shows That Death
Seems to Have Been Accidental.

Buffalo, n. Y, March 11.-Mrs. Ar
ity hospital tonight at 8 o'clock. Fol
hours today the surgeons worked over
the unconscious form Of the injured
woman. A faint twitching Of the eye
lids or a murmur of pain were the only
signs of returning consciousness percep-
tible during the twenty-four hours, the
injured woman was in the hospital
ward. Except for a few incoherent
words, uttered when she was first taken
to the hospital. Mrs. Pencils lips did
not move.
Mrs. Abbie Y. Pencil, j. Fred PEN
nell, mother and brother of the lead
man. and Henry w. Lamb, j brother
Of Mrs. Pennell, arrived in the city this
afternoon from New York. They were
at once driven to the Sisters hospital.
They were admitted to the ward where
Mrs. Pencil lay unconscious and stood
beside her for fifteen minutes. During
that time the injured woman did not
move. They left the ward n were
taken to the Pennell home on Cleve-
land avenue All callers at the Pennell
house this afternoon were denied admis-
sion. At s o'clock ]. Fred Pencil, Mr..
Lamb and Thomas Penney, eX-district
attorney and a former partner Of Mr..
Pennell, vent to the Austin building
and searched the desk of the dead nan
A policeman who has been on guard
ever since the fatal accident occurred
stood by while the search was being
made. A number of important docu-
ments were found, including a will OF
recent date. The automobile which
carried Mr.. Pencil and his wife in the
plunge to the bottom of the stone quar-
ry on KenSington avenue last night,
was practically examined today. The
brakes and levers were given particu>
larly close attention. Experts in the
construction and manufacture of auto
mobiles were called in. The result Of
the examination left no doubt in the
minds of any Of the men present that
Mr.. Pencil did everything in his pow>
er to regain control of the vehicle when
it careened. The brakes were tightly
set; the power Indicator pointed to
reverse" and the track of the wheels
in the soft earth on the ridge
the street pavement and he quarry
showed that the wheels were turning
Wnen the machine spec IOT-
ware to destruction.
Prior to the examination of the auto-
mobile which was made by employees
of the concern that sold the vehicle
to Pencil, Medical Examiner Danser
visited the place where the accident oc-
Cured. Afterwards he said. "Pennell
put on the brake of the automobile in
the effort to stop the fatal plunge into
the genres quarry last night. / have
examined the ground on the edge of the
quarry. The right wheels had plough
ed up the ground, while the left made
a smooth track. From these indications
1 should judge Pennell had tried to stop
the machine"
Ever since the Burdick affair, Pen
nell had spent most of his time at home.
He was named as correspondent in the
| divorce suit that had been instituted
by Burdick, and the act prayed on
his mind. He was cast down by its
revelation after the tragedy and the
consequences to himself in connection
with the tragedy caused him great anx
iety and subjected him to a continuous
ervou strain. He spent every mo-
ment Of his time that he could in the
company of Mrs. Pencil since the
murder. It was his custom to take a
ride with Mrs. Pennel in his automo-
bile every morning and afternoon.
Nearly every evening also he n Mrs.
Pencil tool long walks.
superintendent Of Police Bull when
asked if the death of Pennell would az
feet the investigation of the police in
the Burdick case, replied: Il think
not"