The Washington times., 1903-03-16
MRS. BURDICK TO FACE
MURDER INQUEST TODAY
Home Life of Murdered Man
to Be PrOOed.
WIDE SCOPE OF EXAMINER
Can Compel Answer to Any Question
He Desires to Ask-Preacher De-
nounces Pennell.

BUFFALO. y. Y. March 16.-With the
continuance. today. OF the inquest into
the death of Edwin L. Burdick. renewed
interest was added TO the case. It vas
expected that the prosecutor would call
TO the stand the widow OF the murdered
man and Mrs. Seth T. Paine.y
After the proceedings of Saturday
there was no doubt that a searchlight,
full and strong would be turned on the
home life of Burdick. for, under the law,
the district attorney has a latitude that
seems unbounded. He can ask questions
as 10 opinions and beliefs. and he can
demand answers, too. In the. FIRE pf
questions poured out on Saturday to
Mrs. Maria a. Hull, the elderly mother
in-law of the man who was killed, there
was no beating about the bush and no
saving of feelings. The innermost secrets
Of the Burdick home were gone into
So far. however, no public mention has
been made of the name of Arthur r.
Penreu, who was the correspondent
named by Burdick in his action for di-
voree and who, with his wife, went 20
his death in the recent automobile ac-
cident.
The description of the wounds on Bur
dicks head given by DR.. Howlsnd at the
inquest left no doubt that they were
dealt with a strong arm. The district
attorney brought out the TACT that.
while there were blood stains on the
door. as II spattered there by the
weapon as the assassin swung it back
to strike second blow. there was none
on the floor between the door and where
the body lay six feet away.
There were no fragments of glass
about to indicate that the man had
been slain with a bottle. and this was
considered significant. because II must
have been bottle os more than the
usual thickness TO cause the wounds
without breaking From the testimony
OF the medical examiner the weapon
used was a long one-one that the
slayer must have swung back as he or
she struck the fatal blows. That II was
the cocktail bottle Burdick is known TO
have purchased on the night before he
was killed is not though probable.
Clergyman Defends Mrs. Hull.
The rigid examination to which Mrs
moved her pastor. the Rev. Levi VI
I Powers. OF the Church of the Messiah, to
! write a strong statement irs defense OF
/ his parishioner Mr.. Powers prefaeed
this statement by saying that II seemed
improbable that the real facts in the
Burdick murder mystery would ever be
absolutely proven. but that the public
in short time would decide upon and
render its own verdict. In part the Rev
Mr.. Powers statement was as follows:
"All things are possible in crime
Physically. Mrs. Hull could have COM
mitted the murder provided she found
Burdick asleep. ] am morally certain
she never did. The only thing I have "a
criticise in the district attorney is the
examination OF Mrs. Hull. not at the in
quest before Police Justice Murphy, but
in the police station at midnight
Il suppose the object OF such an ex-
animation IS the hope and moral belief
that person is more apt TO tell the
truth when he OF she is worn out by
exhaustion. As the foundation OF truth
is accuracy, l believe people accused of
q serious crime have a right 10 be ex-
amined when in the full possession OF
their powers. II guilty. the more skill
fully they lie, but the worse it may be
for them.
Kindly Treated by Burdick
The situation for Mrs Hull was try
ing. but by no means such as 10 drive
her TO desperation. Burdick was kind
10 her. To me always and so far as
know 10 others. he always spoke OF her
in the highest terms
When urged 10 become reconciled to
his wife. on account Of HIS children, ha
replied that the grandmother had al
ways had the chief care OF them, and
that they were better on with her than
with their mother. The grandmother
knew this, and knew that the children
were better off with the father than
with the mother. All this. added 10
Mrs HulTs long years of blameless life.
makes me as certain as anything not
open TO personal knowledge can be, that
the district attorney Is on the wrong
track
Denunciation of Pennell.
Il am very sorry that the one person
OF sufficient motive is dead. PennelI is
dead l should keep silence II could.
Justice 10 the living no longer permits
IL. HIS conduct In life and in death does
not merit silence. lie was the betrayer
of an unusual friendship. Mr.. Burdick
named him as guardian OF his children
in a VIII made some years ago Mrs.
Burdfck's children called him Uncle Ar
thur He robbed this friend OF his wife
ruined her reputation. brought shame TO
his children. and now. by a death skill
fully contrived to deceive. leaves the
suspicion Of murder upon the mother of
the woman he has wrOnged.'
HELEN GOULD SAVED