Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-06
POLICE GOING SLOW
Hesitate to Make Arrest in
Burdick Case.
FEAR HABEAS CORPUS
MORALLY CERTAIN THEY KNOW
WHO KILLED HIM.
Still Hunting for Evidence Which
Would Stand the Test Before
Jury.
FEAR HABEAS CORPUS
Still Hunting for EVIDENCE Which

and that the person is "a woman, they Still
hesitate to make decisive move. Sugges-
tons that might give clue to the motive
for the murder have been eagerly sought
and sfted. Innumerable clues have been
followed. The police say many of these
have strengthened their suspicious until
they are almost positive of the identity of
the murderer, but material evidence Is
lacking. Other clues, have, either led to
nothing or resulted in more mystery. The
police are less communicative today, and
there is a widespread feeling that they are
at standstill for the present at least
In theory the police are in a position to
lay their hands upon the murderer at any
moment, but in direct evidence that would
warrant an arrest they are no nearer the
solution of the mystery than they were one
week ago when the murder was discovered.
Statement of an Official.
An official in position to know the exact
situation said: - q
In actual evidence which would support
an arrest we are as badly off as we ever
were. At the same time we are morally
certain who the murderer is
do you expect an arrest ,today?' he was
asked.
mo: not today, nor tomorrow, nor the
next day''s eis,s sr,,gs 20
when do you expect an arrest?"
wv men Facts tnat WOulQ convince d jury
are found to substantiate our theory. We
must have strong evidence when we arrest
anybody, for we know that as soon as an
arrest Is made lawyers are standing ready
to apply for a habeas corpus writ to rush
us into court and make us disclose our
case at the first jump
docs suspicion still point to a woman
at does 1t points to. one who had to
meet expenses amounting to about 500 a
month without any visible means to meet
them.
"Win you name her?".ssss
1--WE will name no names until 1t is writ
ten in the warrant charging the person
with murder in the first degree.
Perhaps the most interesting develop
ment in connection. with the crime itself is
the interview given by DR.. Marcy. in which
he saws that the victims head was not
only beaten to a pulp. but that the muir
derer carefully wrapped quilt around the
murdered mans body to smother any pos
sible cutlery. II the blows on the head had
not been fatal the victim certainly would
have smothered in the tight folds Of the
quilt around his head and the upper part
of the body
DR.. Paine Retains Counsel.
W. Webster Of Batavia, who was one
Of the attorneys for Howard Benham, has
been retained by DR.. Seth T. Paine. He
does not, say specifically that he Is retained
in view Of any complications involving
Mrs Paine In the Burdick murder case, but
in an interview he showed that he has been
in constant consultation with DR.. Paine
and stands ready to act promptly If any
act of the Buffalo authorities should
threaten the liberty of his clients wife, Mr..
Webster protested strongly against the
action of the police toward Mrs. Paine and
declared that they dare not arrest her.
Attorney George G. Miller. Swho drew Bur
dick VIII. and now has the document in
his possession, had a, talk with the dis
trict attorney today. He also talked with
left nj of Defecftra9 CnSack. Mr..
Miller wanted to know what was contained
in the report on the autopsy.
He got the desired information. 1t was
explained that il wars presumed Mr.. Miller
wanted the information for the purpose of
carrying onr the affairs of the estate
Today Mr.. Cusck made an interesting
admission regarding one of the details OF
the murder case On which heretofore he has
not talked Mr.. Cusack was asked II the
authorities had determined on the kind OF
weapon that was used In committing the
murder. =, f.st.-~
.'They have not" he replied. 81 am salts
fed. however. that the putter was not used
In committing the murder. statement
that the putter was used was made, but
do not believe that was the instrument"
He had no fixed opinion as to what kind
Of a weapon was used, and he was not sure
that it was carried away from the house
by the murderer. GA. .,tl.s.s.-
Evidence Points to a Woman.
1t is said on good authority, however
that the evidence relates to a woman who
was in severe straits for money. This wo-
man was not member Of the Burdick
household, but her name has been mention
ed frequently IN connection with the TRACE
dy Her necessity was such that when she
wished to get some housefurnishings she
bought her goods on the installment plan.
She also borrowed money from a money
lender. 1t was quite a large sum, and she
gave security for it.
The police when questioned regarding this
mortgage and the woman's embarrassment
10 find means of maintaining pretentious
house acknowledged that they knew Of the
fact ana had Investigated 1t. They knew
she had been Intimately acquainted with
Burdick and that she was in severe straits
1t was also stated that for short time be-
fore the murder a GOODNESS had sprung VI
between the woman and Burdick. 1t Is
known that one of the payments on the
mortgage was due about the time Burdick
was murdered. A lawyer who carries or
legal business for the money lender receiv-
ed the money for the payment due. This 1:
known beyond the shadow of doubt. II
may be that the payment left her penniless
and that she appealed to Burdick for more
funds. In any event the police believe the
straitened condition Is established. and they
are giving 1t the greatest Importance II
their inquiry into the motive for the muir
der The woman's circumstances and the
facl that Ii had been rumored that Burdich
was at the time paying more attention tc
duotner WOuldn, tHe ponce say, WOulu teUC
to make the woman both desperate and In
sanely Jealous.
Theory Of the Police.
The theory Of the police Is that the sus-
pected woman, finding that Burdicks af
fection for her had begun to cool. and tina
there was talk of his marrying another
upon securing his divorce. made an appoint
ment with BIrdick at his home On hel
arrival he conducted her into his cozy cor:
ner, where intrusion was least to be feared
The lunch found on the table was for her
They visited. no one knows how long. Hi.
Indifference toward her was not concealed
and, awaiting her opportunity, she struck
him down, and in her frenzy and passion
beat out his brains. Then she left.
Before leaving she searched the table fol
the letters which she had written to him
Finding them, she turned out the gas anc
stole away. In the meantime she had care
fully covered the body of her victim will
pillows and rugs.
District Attorney Coatsworth reiterate.
his statement that he Is satisfied as t,
who committed the crime" He declined (,
say whether or not the murderer lives II
the Elmwood district. but said 1t was hi
belief that only one person was in the den
when the crime was committed.
DR. Marcv,s Statement