Milford chronicle., 1903-04-03
MURDERER UNKNOWN
Verdict in Burdick Mystery Says
Slayer's Identity is Not Proved.
SUSPICION AGAINST PENNELL
Justice Murphy Says Facts Known
Would Justify Issuance Of Warrant
Were He Alive -M Mr.. HulI's Acts
Criticised-Mrs. Burdick censured.

were he Awe - Mr. HulIs HSts
critieised-Mrs. Burdlck censured.
Buffalo, N. Y, April Judge Muir
ply handed down his findings in the
Burdick inquest yesterday and de-
clared that the identity of the mur-
derer had not been proved.
The statement is an exhaustive re-
view of the evidence brought out dur
ing the inquest. Special attention is
given to the letters exchanged be
tween Arthur R. Pennell and Mrs. Bur
dick, particularly the one containing
a threat against Burdicks life. Con
cerning these the judge says: ALTO
gether these facts would, in my opin-
ion, constitute just ground of suspicion
on which a warrant could be issued,
were he alive"
OF Mrs. Hull he says: "The action of
Mrs. Hull on that morning (the morn
ing after the murder), and her testi-
mony on the stand has caused me
much thought and worry To my
mind, they are inconsistent with a
perfect want of knowledge as to what
had actually occurred. So little ap-
parent feeling for the dead man, such
an evident desire to cover up the
crime. and no disposition whatever to
aid the authorities in apprehending
the murderer may be explainable, but
has not been explained"
Speaking of PennelIs relations with
Mrs. Burdick. Justice Murphy said:
His of all others, was the motive
strong enough to incite a desperate
mind already stepped in wrongdoing
to so foul and cruel a murder.
"The theory that Burdick had
woman in his den as a guest that
night has not been sustained by the
evidence. 1t has not disclosed a sin
gle immoral act on his part. It por-
trays him as a loving father and more
than magnanir2ous and forgiving hus-
band. Mrs. Paine and Miss Hutchin-
son. whose names have been unfortu-
nately brought into this case, are, so
far as this inquest is able to deter
mine, completely exonerated."
After an exhaustive review of all
the evidence heard, Justice Murphy
says:
"The promises Mrs. Burdick made
to her husband we're shamelessly
broken. Mr.. Burdick finally told her
she must leave the house, and at
once applied for a divorce. Mr.. Bur
dick had been shadowing Mrs. Bur-
4 dick and Mr.. Pennell a long time. Mr.
PennelI had detectives shadowing Bur
dick. So far as appears from the evil
dence Pennell had not succeeded in
compromising Burdick in any way.
Not so with Burdick; he had long
list of places where meetings were
held. and batch of letters written to
Mrs Burdick by Pennell. Did Pennell
do It? Was he responsible for it?
"He had returned from the dead
mans wife the day before the murder.
He was very much excited the next
morning and went and purchased
revolver. The clerks present at the
sale state that at times he did not
appear at all like himself He went
to the Falls. and later he telephoned
for his wife to come and bring the
papers.
"In one of his letters to Mrs. Bur-
dick there is an express threat that
he would kill her husband. The cash
ier and bartender of a New York hotel
have testified that he said he would
kill a certain man if he went to the
RaIlows for it, His wife had written
warning letters Pennell had full
knowledge of the house and it would
have been an easy matter for him to
obtain a key thereto.
Altogether. these facts would, In
my opinion, constitute just ground of
suspicion on which. a warrant could be
issued were he alive. That would not
mean. however, that he was guilty.
Let us be as fair. then, to the dead as
the law presumes to be the living. He
must be presumed innocent until
prdXen guilty.
"Fhe opening of the windows from
the inside and no Cne having gone
through. as indicated by the snow and
Ice on the ledge. would indicate de-
sire on the part of some one to give
this crime the appearance Of a
burglars work. The person who wait
ed there to wrap the head Of his vic
tim in that blanket and pile Pillows
on his corpse was not burglar. Moth
ing has been missed from the house
excepting Burdick's watch.
much credit should be given DR..
John r. Rowland for his refusal to
entertain the suggestion of suicide.
at is our duty to censure Mrs. Bur
dick. But great as her wrong has
been. great is her punishment"
Judge Murphy stated yesterday af-
ternoon that ne will hold the inquest
into the death of Arthur R. Pennall
the latter part Of this week or the first
of next week.
G. F. Swift Is Dead.
Chicago, March 80. - GustaVus
Franklin Swift, president OF the Swift
Packing Company, died at his home
.f