The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-04-09
PENNELL'S PAST LIFE.
1t Will Be Dragged Before Pub
lie at Inquest Friday.

Buffalo N Y. April o--Justice Muir
ply and District Attorney Coatsworth
held a conference yesterday ON the Pen
nell inquest. which will begin at the
morgue at O'Clock Friday afternoon
The course of the public inquiry so far
as it could be learned was settled The
inuuests of Pencil and Mrs. Pennell
are to be held Jointly. The last known
statement Of Pennell in his own defense
in which he says a woman killed Bur
dick at midnight. IS to come out.
The question of suicide or accident is
not to be tried. so far as the district
attorney is concerned That part of the
case will be directed by Justice Mur-
ply The alleged defalcations. an
nounced as equalirg the total of Pen
nells life insurance, have nothing to
do with the death of Eurdick, and the
inquest will not be a. trial of a dead
man for sWindling, but that which III
any way may tend to throw light on the
murder of Burdick is to come out.
The letters Pennell wrote the state
ment he left behind and all other papers
that in any way touch uDOn or pertain
to the affairs Of Burdick are to be
brought out if the authorities can get
al them. Pennen's detective reports or
the ShadOwing of BUrdlck also are to
come out unless they have found their
way into hands beyond the reach of the
court. The fact about the trust fund or
bond from PennelI to Mrs. Burdlck also
may come out unless Attorney Thayer
on the stand pleads his privilege as at
torney for the dead man. Even ther.
it is for the court to decide whether the
plea is valid. and Justice Murphy Will
pass upon whether Mr. Thayer should
produce the papers in his possession at
the time of Pennells death.
It was intimated Wednesday that in
the event that those interested in the
Pennen estate are called upon at an Off
cia1 inquiry to divulge any information
the east an effort will be made to show
that the money which he obtained from
his friends and relatives was in the na-
ture of legitimate loans. In othor words
it may be asserted that funds to the
amount of about $500. 900 were ADVANCED
to him without any security whatever
HIS attorney. Wallace Thayer. admits
Penneh had no security to give for such
loans: that he possessed no real estate,
and had no bonds or stocks or mort
Cages.
Perhaps the s2ooooO which Pennell owed
70 friends and relatives in the east rep
resents money which they loaned to him 70
said Attorney Thayer today isn't it pos
sible ne was not guilty of any criminal
opera tions 2''
Mr.. Thayer was asked if PenneH had
ever possessed any securities which ne
900. and he replied that PenneH had never
to his knowledge possessed anything III the
do you consider that he could borrow
100000 from friends and relatives without
giving securities far N excess in value of
500. .0002'' Mr. Thayer was asked.
mo. 1t is not likely and that Is one rea-
sor why ] believe Penuell was a dcfaul-
ter was the reply
Mr.. Thayer says he has not yet opened
the sealed instructions left him by the
dead man.
''Pennell left written orders that they
should not be opened until the insura nee
money was PAID in said Mr.. Thayer.
4 therefore do not know what my Sc
cret Instructions are In the sealed pack
age are a number Of papers. ] do not
know what they consist of. DO not know
whether the bond drawn by Pennel to Sc
cure the payment Of $1,000 to Mrs. Burdick
is contained IN that package or not: in
fact I do not know yet whether the 81. 600
life insurance assigned to me in trust was
intended for Mrs. Burdick."