Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-19
PENNELL MADE THREAT
WROTE FRIEND he MUST KILL
BURDIcK.
Important Testimony Expected From
Next Witnesses to Be Examined
Mrs. Hull Reported Ill.

A dispatch from Buffalo, N. T., last night
regarding the inquest overs the murder of
E. L. Burdick says: It is expected that the
inquest will be concluded next Monday I'M
less some new evidence oftimportance de-
velops this week. Mrs. Bufdick, Burdick' S
furnace man and the man who tended the
furnace for the Pencils will probably be
called on Monday.
1t is stated on good authority that the
district attorney will also pace in evidence
letter alleged to have been written to
Mrs. Burdick by Arthur L. Pencil some
months ago. The letter was found in the
Burdick home when the search Of the house
was made by the police. In the letter the
following words occur: Il feel that must
kill Ed Burdick."
It was learned today that Mr.. Pencil left
a will in which Mrs. Pencil Is named as
sole executrix In the event Of her surviving
rhree alternates are named to act should
Mrs. Pennell die first. In view of the fact
that Mrs PenneN died soon after her hus-
band was killed, it was suggested that the
executors named in the will be allowed to
act. The matter has not been definitely
settled and an administrator for the estate
may be appointed by the court
When Mrs. Burdick comes to the stand
Monday she will probably be called upon
to identify the letter mentioned above. She
knew both the dead men, Burdick and PEN
nell, probably better than any one person
in the world, and her testimony promises
to be the most important and interesting of
the entire proceedings.
The details of the strained relations be-
tween the two dead men were gathered
after the murder Of Burdick and before the
death of Pennell. Pennell stated frankly
to the authorities that the relations between
himself and Burdick were strained, very
strained" In fact, after the MURDER of
Burdick Pencil spoke to others than the
authorities of the hostility between himself
and Burdick. On the day he was first ar
ranging to give out statement for publica-
ton he spoke Of part of what he intended
to say.
"It deals with Burdick,'" said Pennell, re-
ferring to this part Of the proposed state
ment. Some say that 1t comes with Ill
grace from me to abuse a dead man, but
Burdick was no saint, and when the time
comes when I must make a statement in
the newspapers in defense Of myself in
tend to let people know just the kind Of man
he was and then perhaps some Of them will
turn a little of their time to him that they
are now deyoting to prying into my affairs.
l did not like him, and he did not like me-
and we both knew it. and have told the
police frankly that we were not on good
terms. His death, coming at this time, was
one Of the worst things that could have
happened to me-"
Notwithstanding all the talk about PEN
nell. however, the authorities are not con-
senting calmly to dump the Burdick trag-
edy on dead man. There area number
Of points to be considered before any such
branding of a dead man becomes f1nality
or even is accepted as a part solution OF
the mystery.
One of the criminal authorities is quoted
as saying: -s,. - =
There are several reasons to believe
three things: First, that the murder was
committed by more than one person; sec
ond, that at least one of the persons i'm
plicated was entirely famili lar with the in
terror of the Burdick home, and what,
perhaps is most important Of all is Chird)
that the murderer or murderers had no
fear Of interruption while at their work
or Immediately afterward.
"On the first point I do not care to say
much. AS to the second point, familiarity
with the interior of the house, may point
to the fact that after the work was done
the murderer washed his or her hands, and
therefore must have known where a wash
basin was to be found. That he or she
washed his or her hands Is sure, for, al
though there was blood on the inside knob
of the den door. there was no blood on the
knob Of the outer door to the house, which