The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-03-27

Buffalo, n. Y, March 24.-"Have you
received any information as to who
killed your husband?"
No sir
You swear you have no knowledge
or information as TO who killed him."
Il do"
These questions were addressed to
Mrs. Alice Hull Burdick this afternoon
by District Attorney Coatsworth, at
the inquest into the death of her aus
band. The answers were returned by
Mrs. Burdick in a calm, clear voice.
The questions came abruptly, while the
district attorney was drawing from
Mrs. Burdick information about her
relations with Arthur r. Pencil She
had denied that Pennell took her key
to the front door of the Burdick home
while they were in New York together
n had duplicates made of it. The
district attorney put the question re-
gariing the key to Mrs. Burdick in a
number of different forms, but the IS
wers always were emphatic denials that
she or Pennell had ever ordered dupli-
cate keys made or that the keys had
left her possession during her last exile
from home.
Mrs. Burdick was calmer ard more
collected today than yesterday, while
testifying. She left the stand at Ais.
To complete the examination of every
one known to have been in the Burdick
home OH the night of February 18th.
when Edwin l.. Burdick was murdered,
the district attorney today called to the
stand the two youngest Burdick chill
dren, Carol and Alice, aged respectively
thirteen and ten years. The district
attorney questioned the children close
ly about the events that occurred at
their home on the night before and the
morning after the murder of their faith
er. The children displayed no mora
sign of emotion han did their Crane
mother or mother, or older sister while
talking about the terrible death Ct their
father. Their recollection of the hap
penings at the time of the tragedy was
rather hazy and Il don't remember"
was usually the answer they gave when
the district attorney pressed them close
ly on any point.
Before leaving the stand Mrs. Bur-
dick took occasion to say in reply to
questions from her attorney, that moth
ing improper or immoral had occurred
between her and Pencil. At the same
time she said her husband was fond of
the society of other women and for
sOme reason not quite clear, said that
Mrs. Pennell was quite familiar with
the dining room and den in the Bur-
dick home.
There was an occasion about two
years ago when you and Mr.. Burdick
mad quite an alteration at your house?'
asked Mr.. C~Oatsworth, when Mrs. Bur-
dick had taken her seat in the witness
chair.
Yes sir" was the reply.
And after that it vas necessary for
him to wear a piece of court plaster
on his head?"
mo SIR"
Did not you at that time strike him
over the head with a chair?"
Il did not"
You received a letter from your hus-
band from indianapolis in January last
Yes sir"
II will read it. Received a letter to-
day from A. r. p, of the contents of
which you are familiar. 1 shall decline
to have any interview with him."
In that letter Burdick said he did not
intend to come home again: Mrs. Bur-
dick wrote a letter in reply, in which
she pleaded with her husband not to
-, bie la+arpoi y n +ion +o 81 fnr N
divorce. She made an appeal on behalf
of the children, declaring that the di-
vorce proceedings would crush the chill
dren, especially Marion. MY God. Ed,
that must not be. You cannot be so
cruel to us. You have been generous,
continue to be So the letter concluded.
Mrs. Burdick said she remembered
having written it. 1t was dated Janu-
airy 9th. 1902. Mrs. Purdick i she
had an interview with her huGband af-
terward at his office. She asked him
to return to his home. He said he in
tended to.
1t was right after that that you had
all those clandestine meetings with
Pencil, was it,"
Not right after, no."
But soon after?"
We'll, he sought me constantly"
On what date was it when you
jumped out of the window on Seventh
street,"
December End"
What church did you go to after
that"
The Church of the Ascension"
What did Burdick say to you when
you returned home that night?'
Il told him I had been to church. He
said he knew where I had been and he
asked me why 1 did not let him in when
he knocked. I said 1 would have if l
had known it was him.. He then told
me that I would la to leave the
house and he advised me to cOmmuni-
cate with Pennell." Mrs. Burdick said
she saw Pencil that same night. She
went to his office and Mr.. Burdick ac-
companied her. II remained away for
several days" she continued, land then
went home. 1 had another talk with
Mr.. Burdick and he told me that I
.oroot, IN tLot -;rL+p