The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-03-26
TOLD RICE
 HIS STORY Burdick Confided With Indianapolis { n. NEARLY HE'S l-BRoKEN
 F x Wife and Perg il Trumped up Charges gainst Him.
The Two Had Promised to Cease Meeting Clandsstinely, But Failed Twice to Keep Their
 Agreements, He Said.


 Burdick. the murdered Buffalo manu- facturer. confided his troubles to Herbert Rice. advertising manager of the Nordyke and Marmon Company, in this city. only a few weeks before his dead body was found in the Burdick mansion.
 Mir. Burdick and MT. Rice were per- sonal friends. The formers last visit here was January 27, when he called on Mir. Rice He appeared troubled and he took the first opportunity to unbosom himself to MT. Rice.
 He said Pennell and his wife went to Buffalo and were taken into society,"" said MT. Rice. "and that the acquaintance of his wife and himself with the Pennells soon rtpened into friendship and the Pen nells had the freedom of the Burdick home.
 "He said Pennell was a brilliant chap socially and that he admired him and knew his wife admired him also. He said Pennell and Mrs. Burdick seemed to en- joy each others company particularly, but that he had no suspicious at first
 Had Cladestine Meetings.
 
 that Penneli and Mrs. Burdick were hav- ing clandestine meetings. He said he confronted both Mrs. Burdick and Pen nell with accusations, and both confessed to having had improper relations.
 "On promises of Pennell to leave Buff falo and the promise of his wife not to meet Pennell again. Burdick said ne agreed not to take any action in the mat ter. Neither promise was kept he said. When Burdick learned of the matter he threatened to bring suit for divorce. Again the guilty ones pleaded with nim' he said, and on the solemn renewal Of the promises first made, he again let the matter rest These promises also were broken. he said. Burdick said he found | A sIip of paper containing list of meeting places and dates made out in cipher On | this paper was one address and date Bur dick thought he deciphered correctly.
 "Accompanled by detectives he went to the address and found Pennell and Mrs. Burdick together.
 He determined to obtain divorce. he said. Burdick held a conference with Pennell and Mrs. Burdick, and Pennell and the woman agreed that they would not contest the suit for divorce. but would aid in securing 1t in quiet way to avoid notoriety as much as possible. Instead they put uetSStlNeS oA e'S NA~S'A of Burdick, having resolved between themselves that they would contest the suit.
 "Burdick said the detectives followed every move he made and trumped up a lot of false evidence against him which involved his friends, respectable people, of whom he thought great deal.
 Trumped Up Evidence. "Rurdick did not know of the evidence obtained against him until after the de- tectives had reported to Pennell and Mrs. Burdick They then endeavored to get him to withdraw his suit for di- vorce, threateing to use such evidence as would tend to besmirch the character of several respectable persons.
 MT. Burdick said that this evidence was all untrue.
 He said Mrs. Burdick called on him and pleaded for the privilege of having the children with her and that he con- sented to let her have one at a time, if she would deliver the false evidence into his hands she had prepared against him and not to make use of 1t. This she refused to do. He said Mrs. Burdick | told him that she loved Pennell in a way she could never love him.
 He said that on more than one occa- sion Pennell had threatened to commit suicide. Burdick was heartbroken and completely crushed. Tears stood in his eyes as he told me of his troubles" MT. Rice said he asked Burdick why he did not kill the man who had wrecked his life and Burdick replied that such a thing could not be thought of on account | of the children. MT. Rice has written District Attorney Coatsworth of Buffalo telling him of Burdicks confession to | him. with A view of contradicting the evidence that tends to besmirch Burdick' 8 character. Rice said Burdick had no bad habits that he knew of, and that he always considered him an estimable