New-York tribune., 1903-03-26
BURDICRS SIDE OF CASE.
COnfded His Troubles to q Friend sn
Indianapois IN January.

Indianapolis, March 25-E. L. Burdick, the
murdered Buffalo man. conhded his troubles 10
Herbert H. Rice a business man in this city,
only few weeks before Mr. Burdck's death
Mr.. Burdick and Mr.. Rice were personal friends.
The former made frequent business trips to
Indianapolis. His last visit was on January ~
when he called on Mr.. Rice. He appeared
troubled and he took the opportunity to un-
bosom himself to Mr.. Rice.
He led me to a quiet corner in the factory.
said Mr.. Rice, and began telling me his
troubles. prefacing his remarks by saying that
he did not know why he should tell them to me-
but I was so far from Buffalo that it would be
all right He talked Of his wife and Pennefs
attentions to her He said Pennell and his wife
went to Buffalo ard were taken into society, and
that the acquaintance Of his wife and himself
with the Pencils ripened into friendship
The families were together a great deal; they
played golf, attended dances and parties ana
the Pennes had the freedom of the Burdfck
home.
He said Pennell was a brilliant chap socially,
and that he admired him and knew that his
wife admired him also. He said PenneH and
Mrs. Burdick seemed to enjoy each others COM
pany particularly. but that he had no sus-
pfcions at first
.Burdick said he afterward learned that Pen
nell and Mrs Burdick were having clandestine
meetings He did not state the source or MS
information but he said he confronted both with
accusations and both confessed to having nao
improper relations.
ION promises of PenneIy to leave Buffalo ana
the promise OF his wife not to meet PenneH
again Burdfck said he agreed not to take any
action in the matter. Neither promise was
kept. he said, as Pennell remained in Buffalo
and Mrs Burdick soon meeting him again.
when Burdick learned Of the matter he
threatened to bring suit for divorce. Again
they pleaded with him, he said, and on the SOL
emn renewal Of the promises he let the matter
rest once more. Notwithstanding these prom
ises. Pennen stayed in Buffalo and continued 20
meet Mrs. Burdick. Mr.. Burdick said ne found
a slip of paper, containing a list Of meeting
places and dates, made out in cipher On this
paper was one address and date Burdick
thought he deciphered correctly Accompanied
by detectives he went to the address and found
PenneH and Mrs. Burdick together.
With this evidence he determined to obtain
divorce, he said. Burdick held a conference
with PenneH and Mrs. Burdick. and Pennell and
the woman agreed that they would not contest
the suit for divorce but would aid in securing
1t in a quiet way, to avoid notoriety as much as
possible. They promised to file an answer to his
complaint without delay. They did not file the
answer however but instead put detectives on
the track of Mr. Burdick. having resolved be-
tween themselves that they would contest the
suit.
"Burdick said the detectives followed every
move he made and trumped up a lot OF false
evidence against him. which involved his
friends. respectable people, Of whom he thought
a great deal. Burdick said he lived at hotel.
apart from his wife for some time and the de-
tectives, knowing this. drew conclusions ad-
verse to his moral character ana Ildue Tie
most Of it.
''Burdick did not know that he was being
watched by the detectives He told me that he
was in state Of distraction and that he sought
the society of his friends for relief from MS
state Of depression. He said that ne had taken
highly respectable women riding In ms auto
mobile and had stopped at respectable eating
places; that he had met his friends on the street
and had treated them to soda and candy. and
that he had played golf and attended social
functions. He said that he could see reaoliy
how persons intent on doing him wrong could
misconstrue his actions and impugn ms nlotlEes'
"Burdick did not know Of the eVidence t,C,o1 0o1
tanned against him until after the detectives
had reported to Penneu and MRS Bur9lck.
They then endeavored to get him to Withdraw
his suit for divorce, threatening 10 use such
evidence as would tend to besmirch the charac-
ter of several respectable persons Mr. BurdiGk
said that this evidence was ,s al 9ii1ruf itb 80
priety and had done nothing tnat "ouid IelleCI
upon his moral character He desired 10 pro-
feet his friends and his children.
'.He said Mrs. Burdck called on him ana
pIeaded for the privilege of having the children
with her and that he consented to let ner nave
one at time If she would deliver into ms
hands the false evidence prepared agalnsI MIN
and agree not to make use OF II, Wn1cn sne re-
fused to do. He said Mrs. Burdlck told MN
that she loved Pennell in way she could never
love him ,: .,,o+ .hera
He said that he could now realize tnat tnere
had always been something lacking IN ner aHec,
tion for him He had provided her with gooo
home and they had lived happily until Penneli
disrupted their family relations. , ~
that more than one occasion
nell had threatened 10 commit suicide. he salo
that while the Pennells were in the East MIS-.
PenneIl had written him a letter, pleading with
him to drop the divorce proceedings, starnS
that if he did not, there would be double
suicide-that Of herself and Arthur. About the
last thing that Burdick said to me was that ne
had about decided not to push his suit for a
wear or more. in order to keep Pennell and Mrs
Furdick guessing. Burdick was heartbroKen
and completely crushed. Tears stood in his eyes
as he told me of his troubles
Mr. Rice said he asked Burdick why ne dld
not kill the man who had wrecked his llfe ano
Purdick replied that such a thing could not De
thought of on account of the children MI
Eice has written District Attorney Coatsworth
at BuffaIo telling him Of Burdicks confession
IN him with a view Of contradicting the evil
dence that tends to besmrch Burdick's charac-
ter Rice said that Burdick had no bad habits,
that he knew of, and that he always considered
him an estimable man.