The Savannah morning news., 1903-03-27
CLOSED The INQUEST
NO MORE EVIDENCE TO SHOW HOW
BURDICK DIED.
PENNELL INQUEST is NEXT
THAT WILL BE COMMENCED MON
DAY MORNING.

amiRed on the Concluding Day of
the Inquest.
Buffalo, N. Y, March 26.-The inquest
into the death of Edwin L. Burdick
who was murdered just a month ago
in his home on Ashland avenue, ended
this afternoon. At the close of the in
quest, the judge announced that an Of
fetal inquiry into the tragic death of
Arthur r. Pencil, who has figured so
prominently in the Burdick inquest,
will be begun next Monday.
The Burdick inquest has served to
develop several theories relative to the
crime that had been suggested many
days ago, but it would be hardly cor
rect to say that the investigation has
added anything more than an appear
ance of reasonability to any of these
theories.
Aside from the failure of the author
tiles to secure evidence bearing direct
ly upon the commission of the crime
or to establish the identity of the muir
derer, there is a feeling of satisfaction
that the name of Mr.. Burdick has been
lifted from the mire in which it was
first dragged and his character shown
in it's true light. The evidence brought
out under The examination of witnesses
by District Attorney Coatsworth has
shown Burdick to have been a loving
father, always willing to sacrifice his
own happiness and pride for the sake
of his children; that he was the victim
of false friendship, broken pledges, and
in face of it all, forgiving, indulgent
husband.
q
the crime upon some one, will not end
with the inquest At the same time
there is little hope of success in this
undertaking, and the murder will prob
ably go down in criminal history as
one of the great unsolved mysteries.
Judge Murphy stated after court adj
3ourned this afternoon that his judg
ment in the case will not be handed
over until Monday or perhaps later in
the week. 1t is possible that he may
issue warrants for the arrest of John
Doe" and Jane Doe" If Judge Muir
ply sees fit to take such action. the
district attorney will be Obliged to
submit the whole case to the grand
jury.
All Knew the story.
Every seat in Judge Murphy's
court was occupied to-day when
the inquest into the murder
sumed, but there was no crowding.
The scandals revealed by the testimony
of the witnesses on the stand have be-
come an old story and public interest
in the inquest is on the wane. The gen
eral belief prevails that no arrest will
follow the present proceeding.
Rev. L. M. Powers was the first wit
ness. He said that Mrs. Hull and the
Burdicks were members of his church.
On two separate occasions he had talks
with Burdick concerning the latter's
domestic affairs. The first one was at
Burdick's office about three weeks
prior to the murder He called volun-
tarily to talk with Burdick about the
matter, which, the witness said. had
become common talk at that time"
On the first occasion Burdick told
him about everything that has come
out in this examination.
What did he tell you that has not
come out?'
Had Threatened Suicide.
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
believed him and induced Burdick to
go to Pencil and tell him that if he
would get out of town, he would call
everything square. l think he said Pen
nell had given a written promise to
leave town.
He told me that he had made up
his mind to make public all the letters
Pencil had written to Mrs. Burdick
and he impressed upon me how ridic-
ulous it would make Pennell appear"
The witness said he asked Burdick
to withdraw the divorce suit, and to
take his wife back, but he concluded
from the mans reply that he would
not do so under any circumstances.
Burdick, Mr.. Powers said, had a very
kindly feeling to Mrs Hull He thought
good deal of her.
Mr.. Powers said his second call upon
Mr.. Burdick was mainly regarding
business matter
do you know whether Pennell ever
made any threat against Burdick?"
asked Mr.. Coatsworth.
mo. All know is that I have an
impression that Pencil said to some
one that if the divorce suit was not
withdrawn something would happen.
would not care to swear that any
body ever told me that. 1t is simply
an impression which 1 have"
Mr.. Powers was then excused
Little Daughter Again Examined.
Carol Burdick, the 13-year- old
daughter of the murdered man, was
recalled. Replying to the district at
torney's questions, she said she arose
about 7:30 O'Clock on the morning fol-
lowing the murder. The first person
she saw was her grandmother, who
was going downstairs. The latter had
her skirt on.
The witness said that when she
came into the hall she heard her
grandma and Maggie Murray talking.
At first she could not remember what
they were talking about, but being
questioned, she said she heard them
say why, he hasn't been in his bed
all night" and his den door is
closed" Alice said, why heard pa
pa go down stairs a little while ago"
Asked as to whether anybody had
talked to her since her fathers death
as TO how he was killed the witness
said. mo. do not know how he was
killed"
Mrs. Hull was recalled, and the Dis
trict Attorney pointed out that when
on the stand before she had testified
that she was In the bathroom when
Maggie Murray told her the den door
was closed and the kitchen window
was open, while Maggie Murray tssu-
ned that they were IN Mrs. Hulls room
(Contipued on Flfth PaReD