The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-03-25

Mrs. Pennell Was One of Burdiclx's
Friends and Knew the House Well.

Mrs. Pennell Was One of Burdick's
Friends and Knew the House Well.
BUFFALO, March A-Mrs. Burdick took
the stand when the afternoon session of
the Burdick inquest began.
Mr.. Coatsworth showed Mrs. Burdick a
letter written from New York to Mr.. Bur-
dick by Mrs. Pennell on Dec. %, 1902. In IT
Mrs. Pennell asked Mr.. Burdick If he was
absolutely crazy in taking the burden of
pressing the divorce proceedings. She called
attention to the fact that Pennell did not
value life too highly and intimated that he
might commit suicide and take Mrs. Bur-
dick with him.
What did she mean by that?" asked Mr..
Coatsworth..
81 don't know" replied Mrs. Burdick.
In a letter written Dec. Is. 1902, by Mrs.
Burdick to Mr.. Burdick she told him she
intended to go to Atlantic City. The let
ter also contained a yelled threat at suicide.
She had never talked with Pennell about
putting himself out Of the way or of COM
hitting suicide herself
In another letter written by Pennell to
Mrs. Burdick from Portland, Ne. he ad-
dressed her as Dearest Allie, the night Is
beautiful and as | look up at the moon
try to put my thoughts away 1 love you
and must have you; fate is inexorable I'M
never be mine"
She had received letters from him written
in similarly melancholy mood. He was a
very emotional man.
ten by Pennell to Mrs. Burdick from Bos-
ton, in which he said: Dearest love, this
Is also a very hasty note. l got your let
ter. was not surprised that your note
was unhappy. We seem to be powerless
against our fate. But we had our oppor-
tunity and failed to take advantage OF it."
k,I
portunity and failed to take advantage
of It.? -
II don't know unless he was referring to
the time we went to Atlantic City and came
back again."
INTIMATIoN OF SUICIDE.
In another letter Pennell said his heart
dragged him to her, and would so long as
the breath remained in his body. How long
that was he did not care. II am never
happy now unless 1 am with YOU" he de-
clared
What did he ever say to you about put
ting an end TO his existence?'
Nothing definite
.'wen, what did he say of an indefinite
nature that would lead an ordinary person
to believe he contemplated suicide?'
He said he would rather be dead than
crippled or manned" He never told her
that he would commit suicide
What did he mean when he wrote that
you would be without defense when he was
gomez"
ST don't know"
Pennefl wrote one letter TO her from New
York in which he said he would be in Buff
falo the next day and making an appoint
ment with her at his office. This trip has
not been a happy trip to me-" he wrote.
'None is or can be without you. l shall
go on despairingly but calmly, for 1 am
not afraid of a fate which only your COM
ing 10 me will avert. / shall not see you
Saturday. If only could meet you alone
again. as I used to, then should be will
ing 10 die, for an hour with you is worth
death or life"
When she went to Niagara Falls on Dec
she had with her key TO the outer door
of their house. and she carried the key 10
New York and Atlantic City.
"And Mr.. Pennell also had a key to the
door?"
Not that know off,
where Is that key now?'
AT home"
.'Will you swear that PenneH did not
have that key in his possession while you
were In New York;
II will"
She said she did not have duplicates OF
the key made. nor did Pennell, and she had