The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-03-26
BURDICk CASE
COMES TO END.
The Investigation Resumed
After Days Adjournment.
Mrs. Hull and Burdick's Pastor
Among Witnesses.
DEATH OF PENNELLS.
Police Have Accumulated Many
Important Details
Relating to Actions Immediately
Preceding the Tragedy.
An Inquest Is to Be Held
Immediately.
DEATH OF PENNELLS.
Police Have Accumulated Many
Important Details
Relating to Actions Immediately
Preceding the Tragedy.
An Inquest Is to Be Held
Immediately.

Buffalo. N Y, March 26-When the
inquest into the murder of Edwin L.
Burdick was resumed this morning the
expectations were that it would end
today unless unforeseen sensations
should develop in the final examination
of witnesses.
Before today's hearing began it
was announced that Mrs j. D. Hull,
mother of Mrs. Burdick; the Rev. L. NJ.
Powers, pastor of the Church of the
Messiah, which the Burdicks attended,
and City Chemist Herbert NJ Hill would
testify The Rev. Mr.. Powers recently
made a statement over his signature
defending Mrs. Hull and accusing Pen
nell, then dead, of the murder of Bur
dick. 1t is said, however, that it was
not so much on account of this accusa-
ton that he was subpoeaned but be-
cause he was Burdick's pastor He
knew the murdered man we'll Burdick,
it is said, had talked to him of his
troubles and of Pennell and even of the
letters PenneH had written to Mrs. Bur
dick.
Every seat in Judge Murphy's court
was occupied when the inquest was re-
sumed. but there was no crowding. The
scandals revealed by the testimony of
an old story and public interest in the
inquest is on the Wane. the general be-
lief prevails that no arrest VIII follow
the present proceedings. and that moth
ing In the nature of material evidence
bearing directly upon the murder of
Burdick will be forthcoming
PASTOR TESTIF1ES.
The Rev. L. NJ. Powers was the first
witness He said that Mrs Hull and
the Burdiczs were members of his
church COngrega ton On two separate
occasions he had had talks with Bur
dick concerning the latter's domestic
affairs. The first one was at Burdick's
Office about three weeks prior to the
murder He called voluntarily to talk
with BurdiCk a bout the matter which
the witness said had become common
talk a that time
Mrs. Hull also had discussed it with
him once during a call the minister
made at the house. Asked to repeat the
conversation with Mrs. Hull Mr.. Pow
ers said:
she told me her daughter had left
home and that a suit for divorce was
pending. She said her daughter was
not without fault, but that she was not
alone to blame either; that if I knew
the whole thing, / would not believe
that the fault was all her daughter !"
Mrs. Hull, he said, did not ask him
to speak to Burdick about withdraw
ing the divorce suit On the first oe-
I casiOn that he visited Burdick he walk
ed up home with him so that he was
with him about an hour Burdick told
him about everything that has come
out in this examination.
What did he tell you that has not
come out2"
He told me that Pennell had threat
ened to commit suicide if the divorce
suit was not Withdrawn and that Pen
nell had succeeded in impressing the
sincerity of his threat upon Mrs. Bur
dick to such an extent that she had be-
leved him and induced Burdick to go
to Pennell and tell him that if he would
get out of town he would call every
thing square I think he said Pennell
had given a written promise to leave
town.
HE told me that he had made up his
mind to make public all the letters that
Pennell had written to Mrs Burdick
and he impressed upon me how Tidicu-
lous it would make PenneH appear"
HUNTING FOR MILLS
Pittsburg. Pa. March 26.-At the re-
quest of the Buffalo police the authori
ties of this city are trying to locate
Edwin NJ. Mills. former resident OF
Buffalo. who is wanted in connection
! with the murder of Edwin L. BurdlCk
The Buffalo police are looking for-the
man whom they suspect of having
brought the woman to Buffalo who act
ed as a decoy in the attempt to lure
Gurdlck to house where evidence
CouIo be secured which would block
his suit for divorce. The telegram
stated that Mills had been in this city
( for several days. and that he was
! thought to be stopping at one of the
+ principal hotels
A description from Buffalo gave :.
/ very neager outline of the man wanted
and the police have not as yet located
him.
The witness said he asked Burdiek to
withdraw the divorce suit and to take
/ his wife back, but he concluded from
+ the mans reply that he would not do Sc
under any circumstances. Burdick, Mr.
! Powers said. had very kindly feeling
i for Mrs Hull: he thought a good deal
/ Of he-.
He told me she was not well. ana
that he had offered to send her to Flor
4 ida or California" continued the Wit
ness and that she should always have
a home with him One reason BurdiclS
gave me for not taking Mrs. Burdici1
/ back was that Mrs Hull always had
they would continue to be under her
care
Mr.. Powers said his second call upon
Burdick was mainly regarding a busi-
ness matter.
do You know whether Penneu ever
made any threat against Burdick p
asked A9r Coatsworth-
NO All 7 know is that I have an
1 impression that Pennell said to SONS
one that If the divorce suit was not
Withdrawn something would happen. I
/ would not care to swear that anybody
[ ever told me that It IS simply an i'm
/ preston which I have
Mr. Powers was then excused.
CAROL BURDICK ON STAND.
Carol Burdick, the 13-year-old
daughter Of the murdered man, was re-
called. Replying to the district attor.
ney's questions she said she arose about